Tour de France champion Alberto Contador has moved to Team Saxo Bank for 2011 Bjarne Riis confirmed today Tuesday.  Speaking at a press conference he announced his big signing commenting - “I think I can contribute to polishing this diamond (Contador) even further.”

The team had been in doubt following the announcement that Saxo Bank would be pulling out from sponsorship next year and Riis had been scrambling to replace them as title sponsor (apparently successfully) but news that Contador would be joining the team got them to change their mind.

The team had been led by the Schleck brothers with Andy coming second for the second consecutive race but they have jumped ship to a new Luxembourg based team under former Riis number two Kim Alexander.  It is unsure who else will leave the team but Cyclingnews are saying that it looks likely that Jens Voigt and  Stuart O’Grady will be joining the Schlecks along with some other team and staff members.

For his part Riis is playing his cards close to his chest refusing to say who will be joining Contador on the team next year.  When he joined Astana he took a number of Spanish climbers with him and it is likely that the likes of super-domestique Benjamin Navarro will move too.

The team has a new sponsor too in US computer software company SunGard who will make up the title of SaxoBank-SunGard.  Specialized will remain as bike sponsors but will not be title sponsors.

The move also opens up the market regarding the possible Santander team.  It had been rumoured that with the closure of the Caisse D’Epagne  squad, a new Spanish team under Bank Santander would be formed and that they were seeking Contador.  This is only the start of the transfer season but already we have one of the biggest names moving.  Already the 2011 Tour is looking interesting…