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Davis to defend Tour Down Under title with new team

Roar Pro
6th January, 2010
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Australian cyclist Allan Davis has plenty of reason to celebrate after signing to join crack Pro Tour team Astana led by Tour de France champion Alberto Contador.

Davis’ two-year deal will see the defending champion contest this month’s Tour Down Under with his new Kazakh-owned team which also employs his older brother Scott.

Davis is the only rider to have competed in every edition of the South Australian race and won the 2009 event while riding for the Quick Step team.

Relations with Quick Step management appeared to sour during the year when he was controversially dumped from the team’s Tour de France line-up the day before the start in favour of Belgian sprinter Tom Boonen.

Boonen had previously been ruled out of the tour after returning a positive result for cocaine in an out-of-competition test but successfully appealed against his ban.

Davis played down tensions with his former employers on Wednesday and said switching to Astana was a tough decision.

“It was a hard choice to make as Quick Step really looked after me,” he said.

“My main reason for changing is to have more of a leading sprinter’s role in the team at the highest level of pro races throughout the year.

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“Also having my brother, Scott, alongside me was a key factor in my decision.”

Davis said returning to the Tour Down Under as the defending champion would mean added pressure but he aimed to start the year with at least a stage win.

Tour Down Under race director Mike Turtur welcomed news of Davis’ signing and race entry.

“Allan put in an epic performance here last year, winning three stages and the overall GC.

“Now in his first race for Astana, I’d expect him to make his mark with more blistering rides.”

Two-time Tour de France winner Contador won’t with the Astana team for the Tour Down Under but it includes 2006 Tour de France winner Oscar Pereiro and will be managed by former Italian great Guido Bontempi.

The team is due to arrive in Adelaide on January 14, just three days before the start of competition.

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Astana: Allan Davis (Aus) Oscar Pereiro (Esp) Valeriy Dmitriyev (Kaz) Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Gorazd Stangelj (Slo) Josep Jufre Pou (Esp) Jesus Hernandez Blazquez (Esp).

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