O'Grady to lead Saxo Bank at Tour Down Under

South Australia's Stuart O'Grady, will lead a strong and competitive Team Saxo Bank at the 2009 Tour Down Under in January. He is the only rider in the race's history to have won the event twice.

"Stuart O'Grady won the inaugural Tour Down Under in 1999 and again in 2001," said Race Director Mike Turtur. "Stuart has had the taste of victory here twice before and I know he will hit the race hard, looking to add a third title.

"It is always great to see Australian cycling champions competing in a UCI ProTour event on home soil."

O'Grady rebounded from serious injuries sustained in a crash at the 2007 Tour de France to have a strong 2008 season. He showed good late-season form by winning the Herald Sun Tour in October.

O'Grady will be joined by fellow Australian rider Matthew Goss and German Jens Voigt.

"Matthew has had an outstanding start to his cycling career since turning professional in 2006," said Turtur. "Germany's Jens Voigt will also be a powerful support to O'Grady, having taken out a stage win in this year's Giro d'Italia. Voigt has the propensity to attack the race and has an extremely positive attitude to cycling."

Frank Hoj will make his return to Team Saxo Bank at the Tour Down Under. He was previously a member of the Danish team in 2004.

Team Saxo Bank for the Tour Down Under: Stuart O'Grady, Jens Voigt, Nicki Sørensen, Kasper Klostergaard, Matthew Goss, Frank Hoj, Anders Lund under Team Manager Kim Andersen.