Stuart O’Grady signs on for two more years at CSC-Blaxo

By Agence France Presse

Australia’s Stuart O’Grady has inked a new deal with CSC that will keep him with the Danish outfit for another two years, the team announced Wednesday.

O’Grady, one of the most successful Australians in the peloton and a former winner of the tough Paris-Roubaix one-day classic, was thought to be winding down towards eventual retirement.

However, the 35-year-old Adelaider admitted the lure of another two years with one of the world’s most successful teams was too enticing to pass up.

“The results I’ve achieved here I wouldn’t have been able to get anywhere else and at the same time I’m extremely happy to have been a part of all the triumphs my teammates have achieved,” said O’Grady.

“I’ve had my fair share of crashes throughout the last couple of years, but the team has always allowed me the time it took to recover and been there for me through tough times.

“Our friendship and the mutual respect between the riders is very unique and it’s the main reason for my extension. I look forward to the next two seasons and I’m happy to work for the world’s best cycling team.”

O’Grady crashed out of last year’s Tour de France and took months to recover from his injuries.

Earlier this summer he was an integral part of the team which helped Spaniard Carlos Sastre to beat Australian Cadel Evans to the Tour de France yellow jersey.

Sastre has since announced he will join the new Canadian outfit Cervelo for the 2009 season.

CSC owner Bjarne Riis, who has attracted a new sponsor, Saxo Bank, said O’Grady was “extremely valuable” to the team “both in terms of his results but also his vast experience.”

“He’s one of the most experienced riders on the team and he’s also the type of rider who can decide a classic or a stage in the Tour.

“I’m really happy we get to keep Stuart with us for the next two seasons and I know we’ve secured ourselves a key player for the classics as well as the big stage races,” added the Dane.

FILED UNDER: Road