Astana, Team Saxo Bank, Milram and Agritubel to race SRAM RED at 2009 Tour

The 2009 edition of the Tour de France will not only feature many of cycling’s current favorites on SRAM RED, but will also include the best Tour rider ever. The lightest, most efficient, and most ergonomic gruppo will be the equipment of choice for Team Astana, Team Saxo Bank, Milram, and Agritubel.

SRAM RED was the choice of Lance Armstrong when he returned to the sport after nearly four years out of competition. Also, Team Saxo Bank made the switch in March, in the heart of the Classics season, discarding their previous componentry, and quickly adopting SRAM’s top-end RED gruppo.

Introduced in the fall of 2007, SRAM RED remains the innovations leader with exclusive features including reach adjust, carbon shift and brake levers, carbon cage front derailleur, customized cable routing, ceramic bearings in the bottom bracket and RD pulleys, and Gore semi-sealed cable system, all standard.

Team Astana will have seven-time champion Lance Armstrong (USA) to lead alongside 2007 champion Alberto Contador (ESP). Contador remains a heavy overall favorite, but we certainly should expect something special from a champion like Armstrong. Look for this team to take over the race in the final week, and then spend most of their time on the front. Also, look for their top riders including Levi Leipheimer, to challenge in the time trials and lead in the mountains.
Frame — Trek Madone // Componentry — SRAM RED

Team Astana — 2009 Tour de France start list
Alberto Contador (ESP)
Levi Leipheimer (USA)
Miguel Moreira Paulinho Sergio (P)
Gregory Rast, (SWI)
Haimar Zubeldia (ESP)
Yaroslav Popovych (UKR)
Dmitriy Muravyev (KAZ)
Andreas Klöden (GER)
Lance Armstrong (USA)

Team Saxo Bank will be lead by Liege winner Andy Schleck (LUX). The younger of the two Schleck brothers, Andy excels in the mountains and his TT skills are improving. He and brother Frank were two of the first on the team to ride SRAM RED, adopting it immediately and excited at the ergonomics, control, and the shifting precision. Another top Saxo Bank rider is the ‘Swiss Time Machine’ Fabian Cancellara, who will try and dominate the Tour’s TT’s on SRAM’s 1090 R2C (return to center) aero shift levers.
Frame — Specialized // Componentry — SRAM RED

Saxo Bank — 2009 Tour start list
Fabian Cancellara (SWI)
Stuart O’Grady, (AUS)
Frank Schleck, (LUX)
Nicki Sørensen, (DK)
Jens Voigt, (GER)
Chris Sørensen, (DK)
Andy Schleck, (LUX)
Erik Larsson Gustav, (S)
Kurt-Asle Arvesen, (N)

Team Milram will be lead by Tour veterans Ciolek, Wegmann and former yellow jersey wearer Gerdemann hunting down breakaways and take advantage of RED’s shifting speed and precision during the sprints. Frame — Focus // Componentry — SRAM RED

Team Milram - 2009 Tour de France start list
Markus Fothen, (GER)
Linus Gerdemann, (GER)
Niki Terpstra, (Nl)
Fabian Wegmann, (GER)
Peter Wrolich, (A)
Peter Velits, (SVK)
Christian Knees, (GER)
Johannes Fröhlinger, (GER)
Gerald Ciolek, (GER)

Team Agritubel will hope to repeat last year’s yellow jersey, which put a tremendous spotlight to the French team. Leader Christophe Moreau will again seek a top overall finish as he makes his final appearance in le Grand Boucle. Frame - Kuota // Componentry — SRAM RED

Team Agritubel — 2009 partial Tour de France start list
David Le Lay, (FRA)
Christophe Moreau, (FRA)
Maxime Bouet, (FRA)

Special upgrades and unique design and color schemes will be seen on several top riders bikes throughout the Tour. SRAM has been busy making sure that the various colors of the Tour will match the RED componentry of the riders.

Look for updates and insights everyday on www.theroaddiaries.com. SRAM staff will be posting from the inside, upside, backside and underside of the Tour for the entire three weeks.