Fuglsang looking to ride Tour in 2010

Jakob Fuglsang is looking forward to riding the Tour de France in 2010 in only his second year with Team Saxo Bank. “There is no Tour guarantee built into my new contract, but I have however been promised that I will ride the Tour de France,” he said.

The 24-year-old, who comes from a successful mountain biking background, joined Saxo Bank in 2008. He had four wins this season, with a stage win and the overall title in both the Tour of Slovenia and the Post Denmark Rundt. His contract has been extended for another two years, through 2013.

In 2010 the young Dane will focus on the Ardennes Classic to build up for the Tour. “But that does not mean I have a ticket to France,” he told the Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet. “The Tour is a huge goal for me, but I must also show that I can ride strongly enough.”

Fuglsang had other offers for 2011, some of which involved more money, but he elected to stay with Bjarne Riis' team. “You can't look at everything in dollars and cents. Of course, it would have been better if there was more money in the agreement with Riis, but I enjoy being on the team and there is enough money that I'm not going to suffer.”

There is another advantage, he said. “High salaries also bring more pressure and it is mentally tough to perform in every race. Now I have space to take it quietly, and it is better for my development as a rider.”