Big Tasmanian talent Richie Porte is the latest in a string of Australian cyclists to confirm he will compete at the 2011 Santos Tour Down Under. He will race with his new team Saxo Bank SunGard.

“Porte has come a long way since he competed at our race in 2008 with the UniSA-Australian national team,” says Mike Turtur, Santos Tour Down Under Race Director.

“When he turned professional in 2010, Porte had an exceptional start to his professional career, leading the Giro d’Italia for three days and capturing the Maglia Rosa leader’s jersey.

“For Porte to win the young rider classification and to lead the Giro d’Italia for three stages is an exceptional achievement in a Grand Tour, especially in his debut year as a professional.

“He’s a huge talent and could be Australia’s next big hope for the Grand Tours after Cadel Evans retires.”

Saxo Bank SunGard will also field 2003 Tour de France sprint champion Baden Cooke who hails from Victoria, and Juan Jose Haedo, one of the fastest sprinters in the peloton.

Nicki Sorensen, former Danish champion and stage winner of the Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana, will also be part of the line-up.

“Both Cooke and Haedo are great sprinters and their presence adds to the strongest field of sprinters ever assembled at the Santos Tour Down Under,” says Mike Turtur.

“Saxo Bank SunGard is coming to Adelaide with a very strong team and some great sprinters and they are obviously hoping to have a successful start to their WorldTour season.”

The Saxo Bank SunGard team will be led by Team Manager Bradley McGee (AUS) and includes the following riders:

Richie Porte (AUS)
David Tanner (AUS)
Brian Vandborg (DEN)
Juan Jose Haedo (ARG)
Sebastian Haedo (ARG)
Nicki Sorensen (DEN)
Baden Cooke (AUS)