Saxo Bank extends with Steensen

Saxo Bank youngster André Steensen has been re-signed by the Danish squad for another season. The 21-year-old was delighted with the announcement, which comes after some good results in 2009.

"I am riding for the team I ideally want to ride for so I'm really happy to sign the contract for another year with Team Saxo Bank,” he said. “There’s a great team spirit and I am always enormously eager to meet with the other riders on the team to compete.

“The strong relations between us are motivating for me and I am sure that it lifts everyone's performance to a higher level,” he added. “Next year I will seek to create even bigger results and avoid injuries.”

Steensen’s next race will be Paris-Brussels on September 12th. He enjoyed a top 10 finish on Tour de Wallonie’s Stage 1 in 2009. The strong results this season followed a long period of injury last year.

Team owner Bjarne Riis said he’s happy to have the young Dane on his team for another year: "For me it was obvious that we would extend the contract with André,” said Riis. “He is the youngest rider on the team and we have not yet seen all his potential. He is undoubtedly extremely talented, but he has unfortunately over a long period of time been affected by injuries.

“But this year he has shown great development and we are looking forward to seeing how far we can go with his great talent,” said Riis.

Steensen joined Saxo Bank in 2008 from the Glud & Marstrand Horsens squad. He is the older brother of 19-year-old Nicolai, who also competed with some success in the sport.

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