Team Saxo Bank has signed a three year extension of the contract with 25-year-old Chris Anker Sørensen who has been a part of the team since his first professional contract was signed in 2007. The Dane has shown himself to be a skillful climber taking stage wins in both the Dauphiné Libéré and the Österreich-Rundfahrt in 2008. In 2009, he was always a solid and loyal help to Andy and Fränk Schleck in the Ardennes classics, and not least during the Tour de France. Now, he gets the chance to show his talent as a captain.

“Chris has an obvious potential which he repeatedly has been demonstrating at top level throughout the season. He has been through a really exciting development this last year and extending his contract with another three years was natural to me. In May, the time is ripe for him to even have a chance of running his own chance as a leader of the Team Saxo Bank line-up for the Giro d’Italia, “says team owner Bjarne Riis from the training camp on Furteventura.

“I am extremely pleased to extend my contract so I can stay with the Team for another three years. The amazing team spirit and the way Bjarne and the rest of the team thinks ahead and innovatively with an eye for the best equipment and training methods is beneficial to my future development and I know that I can continue that development at Team Saxo Bank. I will, to some degree, continue to fill out the role as a helper for the Schlecks but I am also grateful to Bjarne for letting me take on the role as a captain in the Giro d’Italia, “says Chris Anker Sørensen, adding:” As a Dane, I am, of course, proud to continue at a major Danish team.

The new contract expires by the end of 2012.