Wanted: All-rounder with time trialling abilities

Chris Anker Sørensen is hoping to deliver the win for CSC-Saxo Bank

Chris Anker Sørensen is hoping to deliver the win for CSC-Saxo Bank (Image credit: Gepa-Pictures)

By Bjorn Haake

The 18th Post Danmark Rundt will be run over 890 kilometres in five days and six stages. The only split stage is on the penultimate day and will see the riders tackle a road race in the morning, followed by a time trial in the afternoon. The lack of mountains will be compensated by the conditions, with lots of winds necessitating some typical echelons. A good all-rounder with time trialling abilities should be the number one favourite.

Last year's winner Kurt-Asle Arvesen (CSC-Saxo Bank) will not take the start, as he recovers from a successful, but tiring, Tour de France. Number one will therefore be worn by Matti Breschel, who won the second stage last year. The question on everyone's lips will be if anybody can stop CSC-Saxo Bank in its home race. Nobody has been able to prevent the team, which also dominated the Tour de France, from winning since 2003. That year, Gerolsteiner's Sebastian Lang took the honours. The German squad, still looking for a sponsor, would dearly like a repeat performance in its quest to find a sponsor.

Breschel's team-mate Chris Anker Sørensen finished fourth in the recent Österreich Rundfahrt and will have good chances of taking the overall title here in Denmark. CSC-Saxo Bank has three foreigners on its team. Swede Gustav Erik Larsson will eye the time trial. Argentinean Juan José Haedo is looking forward to some sprint wins. US boy Jason McCartney can rival Larsson in the race against the clock and/or win a stage in a breakaway.

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