Riis sells cycling team to Russian sponsors

When the UCI World Tour season starts next year, there will be no Danish-owned team on the roster

When Albert Contador and his fellow Team Saxo-Tinkoff (TST) teammates saddle up for next year’s UCI World Tour pre-season preparations, they won’t be riding for a Danish team any longer. Instead, they will ride under Russian banners.

Bjarne Riis, TST’s long-standing team owner, shocked the Danish cycling community on Monday by announcing in London that that he has decided to sell his cycling team to Oleg Tinkoff, the owner of TST’s co-sponsor Tinkoff Credit Systems.

Riis, who will continue on as sporting director of the team, said Oleg Tinkoff would be the sole owner of the team and Tinkoff Credit Systems would become the main sponsor, with Saxo Bank becoming a secondary sponsor.

“It’s a great day for my team and a day that I have been dreaming of for a long time,” Riis said in a press conference. “With Oleg’s purchase and the resources that come with it, we can make a world-class team. The ambition is to become number one in the world, and I think we can fulfil that goal in the coming years.”

READ MORE: Riis knew about doping

Tinkoff-Saxo from 2014
Oleg Tinkoff was elated with his latest purchase, saying that he was delighted that Riis would stay on and that the future indeed looked bright for the team.

“I want to congratulate Bjarne. It’s fantastic news for both of us. I’ve always had a dream to work with Bjarne Riis because he is the best business partner,” Tinkoff said in a press release. “We started as sponsors of Team Saxo Bank, and today I am very happy because I’ve bought the team and kept Bjarne on as manager.”

Riis is estimated to have earned about 45 million kroner from the sale of his team, which will from 2014 be called Tinkoff-Saxo.

TOP STORIES

  • “No one seems to stand up for internationals”

    “No one seems to stand up for internationals”

    “To some extent, Denmark is not fair to internationals.” Nichlas Walsted, 34 years old, is the CEO of Swap Language, a provider of Danish lessons to more than 10,000 internationals. Tens of thousands of people follow him, and he advocates for internationals: “Because no one else does. I can’t think of a single politician or well-known person in Denmark who stands up for them,” he says.

  • Busy Copenhagen Airport nets a nice profit for the Danish State

    Busy Copenhagen Airport nets a nice profit for the Danish State

    Almost 30 million passengers travelled to or from Copenhagen Airport in 2024. The profit was 1.4 billion DKK and both figures are expected to grow in 2025. Expansions continue, and investments are being made in continued progress

  • Copenhagen ranked 4th for career growth

    Copenhagen ranked 4th for career growth

    Copenhagen is ranked as the fourth-best city in the world for career growth, according to an analysis by EnjoyTravel. This ranking considers various factors such as living costs, salary levels, workforce availability, and overall quality of life. Copenhagen is noted for its blend of historical and modern elements, particularly in the green energy sector, which influences job opportunities.

  • Greenlandic election seen as positive by experts

    Greenlandic election seen as positive by experts

    Last night’s Greenlandic election resulted in a surprising landslide victory for the moderate party Demokraatit, who won 30 percent of the votes – a 20 percent rise for the party since the last election.

  • Greenland moves to the right

    Greenland moves to the right

    A very surprising election gives victory to the right-wing opposition party Demokraatit. The incumbent center-left coalition loses spectacularly. Greenland – and Denmark – anxiously await upcoming government negotiations

  • Raise the voice of internationals. Take the survey and share your experience in Denmark.

    Raise the voice of internationals. Take the survey and share your experience in Denmark.

    Copenhagen Capacity has launched a survey for all internationals living in Denmark to find out if they are happy here and what challenges they face. The Copenhagen Post is the media partner for this initiative. You can find the survey below in the article.

Connect club

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.

Sign up here

Career

  • Copenhagen ranked 4th for career growth

    Copenhagen ranked 4th for career growth

    Copenhagen is ranked as the fourth-best city in the world for career growth, according to an analysis by EnjoyTravel. This ranking considers various factors such as living costs, salary levels, workforce availability, and overall quality of life. Copenhagen is noted for its blend of historical and modern elements, particularly in the green energy sector, which influences job opportunities.

  • Data shows that non-Western immigrants have saved local economies in Denmark

    Data shows that non-Western immigrants have saved local economies in Denmark

    A study reveals how only the massive influx of non-Western immigrants has saved many areas in Denmark from a decline in the workforce and a consequently shrinking economy

  • Long-term unemployment is double for non-Western immigrants

    Long-term unemployment is double for non-Western immigrants

    An analysis from the Labour Movement’s Business Council shows that the rate in long-term unemployment for non-Western immigrants is 1.8 times higher than for Danes. In other words, a chronic unemployment situation is way more probable for non-Western internationals.

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Contact us

Jobs