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A strong and competitive Team Saxo Bank, led by South Australia’sStuart O’Grady, will take to the start line at the 2009 Tour Down Under.

Race Director Mike Turtur highlighted that Stuart O’Grady is the only rider inthe Tour Down Under’s history to have won the event twice.

“Stuart O’Grady won the inaugural Tour Down Under in 1999 and again in2001,” said Mike Turtur.

“Stuart has had the taste of victory here twice before and I know he will hitthe race hard, looking to add a third title to his crown.

“It is always great to see Australian cycling champions competing in a UCIProTour event on home soil.”
Stuart O’Grady, who had a strong 2008 season after recovering from a seriesof serious injuries, will be joined by fellow Australian rider Matthew Goss andGernam Jens Voigt.

“Matthew has had an outstanding start to his cycling career since turningprofessional in 2006,” said Mike Turtur.

“Germany’s Jens Voigt will also be a powerful support to O’Grady, havingtaken out a stage win in this year’s Giro d’Italia.

“Voigt has the propensity to attack the race and has an extremely positiveattitude to cycling.”
Frank Hoj will make his return to Team Saxo Bank at the 2009 Tour DownUnder. He was previously a member of the Danish team in 2004.

Team Saxo Bank riders for the 2009 Tour Down Under includes: StuartO’Grady (AUS), Jens Voigt (GER), Nicki Sorensen (DEN), KasperKlostergaard (DEN), Matthew Goss (AUS), Frank Hoj (DEN) and AndersLund (DEN). Kim Andersen (DEN) will be the Team Manager.

2009 Tour Down Under: FAST FACTS

Team Saxo Bank (DEN) www.teamcsc-saxobank.com

RIDERS
51. O’GRADY Stuart AUS
52. VOIGT Jens GER
53. SORENSEN Nicki DEN
54. KLOSTERGAARD Kasper DEN
55. GOSS Matthew AUS
56. HOJ Frank DEN
57. LUND Anders DEN

TEAM MANAGER
ANDERSEN Kim DEN

DID YOU KNOW?
• Stuart O’Grady won the inaugural Tour Down Under in 1999 and again in 2001. He is the only rider in the Tour Down Under’s history to have won the event twice.
• Stuart O’Grady won the Paris Roubiax in 2007, making him the first Australian rider to win the ‘Hell of the North.’
• Stuart O’Grady, Jens Voigt and Nicki Sorensen all competed in the 2008 Tour de France, contributing to the overall win of the event by their team mate Carlos Sastre.
• Jens Voigt has won two stages of the Tour de France in his career and won Stage 18, (Mendrisio – Varese) of the 2008 Giro d’Italia.
• Jens Voigt was awarded line honours in the Mountain Competition of the 2008 Tour de Pologne, making him a strong contender for the Tour Down Under’s Škoda King of the Mountain jersey points.
• Nicki Sorensen is the current Danish National Champion; a title he also held in 2003.
• Matt Goss finished fifth at the Australian National Road Championships in 2005 at just 20 years of age, and he won Stage 2 at the 2008 Tour of Britain.
• Frank Hoj will make his return to Team Saxo Bank IT Factory at the 2009 Tour Down Under. He was previously a member of the Danish team in 2004, before leaving to spend two years each at Gerolsteiner and Cofidis.
• Kasper Klostergaard was signed to Team CSC Saxo Bank in 2005 as a stagiaire, an amateur rider who is taken on by a professional team during the season.
• Anders Lund was born on 14 February 1985 – St Valentine’s Day.