View source for Tinkoff (cycling team)

{{short description|Russian cycling team}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox cycling team
| name = Tinkoff
| image = Logo Team Tinkoff.png
| code = TNK
| registered = Denmark (1998–2013)<br /> Russia (2014–2016)
| founded = 1998
| disbanded = 2016
| bicycles = [[Specialized Bicycle Components|Specialized]]
| components = [[Shimano]]
| sponsored = Tinkoff Bank
| website = http://www.tinkoffsaxo.com
| generalmanager = Stefano Feltrin
| teammanager = [[Steven de Jongh]] (Head Sports Director)<br />[[Bruno Cenghialta]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tinkoffsaxo.com/team/sport-directors-and-trainers/bruno-cenghialta/ |title=Bruno Cenghialta|website=Tinkoff-Saxo |access-date=25 April 2015}}</ref><br />[[Tristan Hoffman]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.linkedin.com/pub/tristan-hoffman/84/b72/940?trk=pub-pbmap |title=Tristan Hoffman |publisher=[[LinkedIn]] |access-date=25 April 2015}}</ref><br />[[Lars Michaelsen]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tinkoffsaxo.com/team/sport-directors-and-trainers/lars-michaelsen/ |title=Lars Michaelsen|website=Tinkoff-Saxo|access-date=25 April 2015}}</ref><br />[[Nicki Sørensen]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tinkoffsaxo.com/news/tinkoff-saxo-presents-nicki-sorensen-new-sport-director-coach/ |title=Tinkoff-Saxo presents Nicki Sørensen as new sport director and coach|date=24 October 2014 |website=Tinkoff-Saxo |access-date=25 April 2015}}</ref><br />Pino Toni<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tinkoffsaxo.com/team/sport-directors-and-trainers/giuseppe-pino-toni/ |title=Giuseppe "Pino" Toni|website=Tinkoff-Saxo |access-date=25 April 2015}}</ref><br />[[Patxi Vila]]<ref name=cn>{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tinkoff-saxo-confirms-julich-healey-yates-and-vila |title=Tinkoff-Saxo confirms Julich, Healey, Yates and Vila|date=13 February 2015 |website=[[cyclingnews.com]] |access-date=25 April 2015}}</ref><br />[[Sean Yates]]<ref name=cn />
| discipline = [[Road bicycle racing|Road]]
| status = [[UCI WorldTeam]]
| season = 1998–1999<br />2000<br />2001–2002<br />2003–2008<br />2008<br />2009–2010<br />2011<br />2012 (Jan–Jun)<br />2012 (Jun–Dec)<br />2013<br />2014–2015<br />2016
| oldname = home–Jack & Jones<br />Memory Card–Jack & Jones<br />CSC–Tiscali<br />Team CSC<br />CSC–Saxo Bank<br />Team Saxo Bank<br />Saxo Bank–SunGard<br />Team Saxo Bank<br />Saxo Bank–Tinkoff Bank<br />Saxo–Tinkoff<br />Tinkoff–Saxo<br />Tinkoff
| kitimage = Tinkoff jersey.png
| current = 
}}
'''Tinkoff''' ({{UCI code|TNK}})<ref>{{cite web| title = Road – Teams| url = http://www.uci.ch/road/teams/| access-date = 5 July 2015 }}</ref> was a Russian-registered professional [[cycling team]] from Russia and previously Denmark. It competed in the [[UCI World Tour]]. The team was owned by former [[1996 Tour de France|Tour de France]] winner [[Bjarne Riis]] from 2000 until 2013 and Russian banker [[Oleg Tinkov]] from 2013 until it closed in 2016, who provided the team's last sponsor, Russian [[Tinkoff Bank]].<ref>[http://www.riis-cycling.com/ny_news.asp?n_id=1754 Riis Cycling to have new title sponsor in 2009] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120605042015/http://www.riis-cycling.com/ny_news.asp?n_id=1754 |date=5 June 2012 }} at ''Team-CSC''</ref>

Founded in 1998 as h<!--small-h, like the sponsor-->ome-Jack & Jones, the team started in cycling's second division. In 2000 it moved into the top division, now known as the UCI World Tour. Since 2000, under differing sponsor names (Memory Card–Jack & Jones and CSC–Tiscali), the team rode the Tour de France. It has won the overall classification in all three of the Grand Tours. In the [[2008 Tour de France]], [[Carlos Sastre]] won the [[general classification in the Tour de France|general classification]], [[Andy Schleck]] won the [[young rider classification in the Tour de France|young rider classification]], and the team won the overall [[Team classification in the Tour de France|team classification]], and [[Ivan Basso]] won the [[2006 Giro d'Italia]], as well as finishing third and second in the [[2004 Tour de France|2004]] and [[2005 Tour de France]]. In addition, the team has won many major classics, including 6 Monuments.

The team won the [[UCI ProTour]]'s team classification each year from 2005 through 2007, and the team classification in the [[2010 UCI World Ranking]].

In March 2015 the team confirmed that Riis had been removed from active duty due to differences between Riis and Tinkov. Media reports had initially indicated that Riis had been suspended when he did not appear at the [[2015 Milan–San Remo]] as planned, and that this was due to a disappointing start to the season for the team.<ref name="cyclingnews.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tinkoff-saxo-confirm-riis-suspension |title=Tinkoff-Saxo confirm Riis suspension|date=24 March 2015 |website=[[cyclingnews.com]] |access-date=24 March 2015}}</ref> His departure from the team was officially announced on 29 March.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/03/news/tinkoff-saxo-bjarne-riis-part-ways_364894|title = Tinkoff-Saxo, Bjarne Riis part ways|last = Hood|first = Andrew|date = 29 March 2015|work = Velonews|access-date = 30 March 2015|archive-date = 1 April 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150401011649/http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/03/news/tinkoff-saxo-bjarne-riis-part-ways_364894|url-status = dead}}</ref>

== Philosophy ==
When Bjarne Riis took over in winter 2000, he hired the former [[Jaeger Corps (Denmark)|Danish Ranger Corps]] soldier [[B. S. Christiansen]] as advisor and they gave CSC a distinct philosophy and training methods.<ref>Andrew Rogers, [http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=3807 PEZ Interviews: Bjarne Riis], ''PezCycling'', 22 February 2006</ref> The team works with four values: communication, loyalty, commitment and respect, with the aim of improving teamwork.<ref>[http://www.riis-cycling.com/pages.asp?pa_id=15&m_id=18&sub_m_id=21 Our Values] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120605042046/http://www.riis-cycling.com/pages.asp?pa_id=15&m_id=18&sub_m_id=21 |date=5 June 2012 }} at ''Team-CSC''</ref> The team rides for the rider in the best shape on the day, and separates the function of team captain (the rider making decisions) and team leader (the rider trying to win) to avoid pressure on a single rider.<ref>{{harvp|Werge|2005|p=177}}</ref>

The team staff go on yearly [[outdoor education]] trips, physical challenges under pressure. According to B.S. Christiansen, the camps teach people "that they can achieve their goals by cooperating. They have to perform their very best under the worst possible circumstances, where every action has a consequence".<ref>[http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/features.php?id=features/2004/csc_boot_camp Bjarne's boot camp], ''CyclingNews'', 12 December 2004</ref> [[Bobby Julich]], one of the riders, said that "those days in the bush bonded us much closer and given [sic] us the strategies to work as a team in any racing situation".<ref>Andrew Rogers, [http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=3844 Bobby Julich: Another PEZ-Zing], ''PezCycling'', 9 March 2006</ref>

== History ==
The company behind the team, initially named Professional Cycling Denmark, was created in autumn 1996 by former amateur cycling world champion [[Alex Pedersen (cyclist)|Alex Pedersen]], Finn Poulsen (representing [[Bestseller (company)|Bestseller]]), Torben Kølbæk and Johannes Poulsen (from [[Herning CK]]), and Bjarne Riis (then a [[Team Telekom]] rider).<ref>{{harvp|Werge|2005|pp=15–17}}</ref> The team was built on the team license of Danish amateur team Herning CK, with headquarters in [[Herning]], Denmark, with the goal of being picked for the [[2000 Tour de France]].

=== home–Jack & Jones: 1998–1999 ===
<!-- The company name is home, not Home -->
The team was assembled for 1998 with Alex Pedersen and Torben Kølbæk as sports directors. The team started with 11 riders, a mix of first-time professionals with Danish veterans [[Brian Holm]] and [[Jesper Skibby]] who had competed in the Tour de France several times, Skibby having won stage 5 in [[1993 Tour de France|1993]]. The main sponsors were a Danish [[real estate agency]] ([[home a/s]]), and a clothes manufacturer ([[Jack & Jones]], a brand owned by Bestseller) and the budget was around [[Euro|€]]1,000,000 for 1998, including secondary sponsors.<ref>{{harvp|Werge|2005|p=25}}; figure translated from [[Danish kroner]]</ref> The team rode its first season in 2nd Division races, and during the first month both [[Christian Andersen (cyclist)|Christian Andersen]] and Jesper Skibby had minor wins. Holm quit the team in April 1998.

The [[doping (sport)|doping]] scandal in the [[1998 Tour de France]] didn't affect the team directly, but Riis, who was part of the peloton in the Tour de France, was branded a doping cheat in the Danish media in early 1999. He sold his stock in Professional Cycling Denmark.

The team finished 32nd best of 1998, and with an increased budget of €2,400,000 combined,<ref name="home">[http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/results/1999/sep99/sep23news.shtml Half a million dollars needed in Denmark], ''CyclingNews'', 23 September 1999</ref> the number of riders was increased to 14, with riders of a higher standard. In terms of races won, 1999 was the most successful season until 2005: with 26 [[Union Cycliste Internationale|UCI]] victories the team was promoted to the 1st Division. In September 1999 [[Belgium|Belgian]] rider [[Marc Streel]] was tested with a [[hematocrit]] level of 53.4, a value above 50 being an indicator of [[Erythropoietin|EPO]] doping, and he was fired<ref>{{harvp|Werge|2005|p=87}}</ref> Home stopped sponsoring the team from the end of the season, citing doping.<ref name="home" />

=== Memory Card–Jack & Jones: 2000 ===
For 2000, [[Memory Card A/S]], a Danish producer of [[memory card]]s, stepped in as co-sponsor and Danish cyclist [[Bo Hamburger]] was brought in as captain. The 2000 season did not have as many wins as in 1999 but the calibre was higher and the team took part in the [[2000 Tour de France]].

In April 2000 [[Nicolai Bo Larsen]] was tested with a 51 hematocrit level, but wasn't fired, as he had been tested with a 47 level the day before. The morning after his result of 51, he again tested 47%.<ref>{{harvp|Werge|2005|pp=91–93}}</ref> However, the apparent double standards harmed its image in Denmark and Jack & Jones did not prolong sponsorship, despite Bo Larsen's later being acquitted of doping by a medical report.<ref>[[Danish Cycling Federation]], [http://www.cyclingworld.dk/index.php?p=portratter/profil.php&id=8 Nicolaj Bo Larsen], ''CyclingWorld'', 22 December 2003</ref>

In fall 2000, Riis took over Professional Cycling Denmark and the team. After 2000 the contract with Jack & Jones expired, and Riis did not continue working with Memory Card due to their financial difficulties.

=== CSC–Tiscali: 2001–2002 ===
CSC ([[Computer Sciences Corporation]]) and the European Internet provider World Online took over as sponsors in a combined sponsorship of €4,500,000.<ref>{{harvp|Werge|2005|p=148}}; (figure translated from Danish kroner)</ref> World Online was bought by the Italian telecom giant [[Tiscali]] and the team changed on 1 July 2001 to CSC-Tiscali.

In April 2001, Bo Hamburger tested positive with a newly developed method<ref name="hamburger">{{in lang|da}} [http://www.dr.dk/Sporten/Cykling/2005/09/11/132648.htm Avis: Hamburger testet positiv i 1999], ''[[Danmarks Radio]]'', 11 September 2005</ref> which distinguished natural EPO from synthetic EPO used in doping by determining the percentage of [[base (chemistry)|basic]] EPO. The first test showed 82.3 which was above the maximum of 80 imposed by the UCI, but as his secondary tests showed both 82.4 and 78.6 he was cleared by the [[Court of Arbitration for Sport]] (CAS) in 2002.<ref name="hamburger" /> Bo Hamburger was released from his contract with CSC-Tiscali in September 2001.

The team gained international prominence after signing [[Laurent Jalabert]] before 2001, following his many years with the Spanish [[ONCE (cycling team)|ONCE]] team of [[Manolo Saiz]]. Jalabert said that, "I wanted to retire with a French team, but nobody gave me a good offer, so I went with CSC instead". At the time, CSC was sponsored by the French bike manufacturer Look, which is associated with Jalabert. The team also signed American [[Tyler Hamilton]], formerly of [[Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team|U.S. Postal]]. The 2001 season was a breakthrough with Jalabert's win of the [[King of the Mountains]] competition and a stage on [[Bastille Day]] at the Tour de France. The season ended with Jalabert winning the 2001 [[Clásica de San Sebastián]].

In 2002 Hamilton came second in the [[Giro d'Italia]] despite a broken [[scapula]]. The team also nearly won the [[team time trial]] at the [[2002 Tour de France]], thwarted by a flat tire. Jalabert again won the King of the Mountains and repeated his victory at the Clásica de San Sebastián. He retired at the end of the season.

=== Team CSC: 2003–2008 ===
[[File:CSC team 2004 TDF.jpg|thumb|Team CSC, 2004 Tour de France]]
In 2003, Riis changed Professional Cycling Denmark to Riis Cycling. Tiscali ceased sponsorship, and Riis Cycling was unable to find a new co-sponsor, hence the team changed CSC-Tiscali to Team CSC and continued 2003 on a reduced budget. The headquarters moved from Herning to the headquarters of one of the sponsors, the Danish [[insurance company]] [[Alm. Brand]] in [[Lyngby]], a [[Copenhagen]] suburb.

Hamilton stepped up to be the team leader in 2003, with the goal of winning the Tour de France. He won [[Liège–Bastogne–Liège]] and was in form when he broke his [[collarbone]] in a pile-up on stage 1 of the Tour. He lost a lot{{Quantify|date=July 2024}} of time. He made it up by winning a stage and finishing fourth, while his teammates [[Carlos Sastre]] and [[Jakob Piil]] also won stages.

In 2004 Hamilton switched to the [[Switzerland|Swiss]] team, [[Phonak (cycling team)|Phonak]], citing lack of support from Riis.{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}} The team brought on Ivan Basso from [[Fassa Bortolo]] to join Carlos Sastre in competing for Grand Tour wins. Basso had been a former winner of the [[maillot blanc]] in 2002. In the [[2004 Tour de France]], Team CSC had a very successful Tour, with Basso winning a mountain stage and reaching the podium in Paris with his third place finish. Bjarne Riis and Team CSCs efforts in the 2004 Tour were made into the cycling movie ''Overcoming''.

[[File:CSC DM-Mannheim Herren 2005-06-26.jpg|thumb|right|[[Christian Müller (cyclist)|Christian Müller]] (left), [[Linus Gerdemann]] (middle) and [[Jens Voigt]] at the 2005 German [[individual time trial|Time Trial]] Championship]]
Following an off-season marred by financial difficulties that resulted in wage cuts for a number of riders,<ref>{{harvp|Werge|2005|p=173}}</ref> the 2005 spring season was the strongest yet for CSC, with wins by Julich and [[Jens Voigt]]. Julich's victory in [[Paris–Nice]] made him the first rider to wear the leader's jersey in the new UCI ProTour. This was followed by three team stage wins in the [[Giro d'Italia]], one by [[David Zabriskie]] and two by Basso, though the overall victory escaped from Basso when he was beset by a stomach ailment.

Midway through the 2005 Tour de France, CSC extended sponsorship until 2008<ref>[http://www.csc.com/newsandevents/news/4228.shtml CSC RENEWS SPONSORSHIP OF TOP CYCLING TEAM] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060322142710/http://www.csc.com/newsandevents/news/4228.shtml |date=22 March 2006 }}, ''[[Computer Sciences Corporation]]'', 18 July 2005</ref> at a higher level, enabling Riis to renew the contract with Basso for an additional three years. Basso got second place in the tour and Zabriskie won in the prologue. Julich won the [[Eneco Tour]] and [[Carlos Sastre]] came second. [[Nicki Sørensen]] won a stage of the [[Vuelta a España]]. Team CSC won the 2005 ProTour, with Julich as the [[UCI ProTour 2005#2005 ProTour Individual Rankings|#8 ranked individual rider]] of the year, the highest placed rider in the team.

Until 2009, the team used [[Cervélo]] bikes and [[Shimano]] components. The arrangement with the small Canadian manufacturer worked well for CSC, as Cervélo's strength is time-trials, at which CSC has specialists.

==== 2006 season ====
In 2006, with sponsorship for several years, the focus was to win all three Grand Tours, with Ivan Basso riding both [[2006 Giro d'Italia|Giro d'Italia]] and the [[2006 Tour de France|Tour de France]], and Carlos Sastre the [[2006 Vuelta a España|Vuelta a España]].<ref>[http://www.uciprotour.com/Modules/SUCI/TEAMS/TeamDetails.asp?id=Mw&RefDate=31.05.2006&MenuId=MTY5Ng&BackLink=%2Ftemplates%2FUCI%2FUCI2%2Flayout%2Easp%3FMenuId%3DMTY5Ng Team Team CSC (CSC)&nbsp;– DEN] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204122600/http://www.uciprotour.com/Modules/SUCI/TEAMS/TeamDetails.asp?id=Mw&RefDate=31.05.2006&MenuId=MTY5Ng&BackLink=%2Ftemplates%2FUCI%2FUCI2%2Flayout.asp%3FMenuId=MTY5Ng |date=4 February 2012 }}, ''UCI'', 2006</ref> They had come second in the 2005 in the Tour and Vuelta, respectively. The team had several time trialists, including Zabriskie, who had won time trials at the Giro and the Tour, Julich, as well as [[Fabian Cancellara]]. Others included Jens Voigt and [[Stuart O'Grady]] from Australia, the only sprinter name in the team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingwebsite.net/ploegfiche.php?id=12045|title=CSC 2006|author=de Wielersite|work=cyclingwebsite.net|access-date=7 October 2009|archive-date=9 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009231711/http://www.cyclingwebsite.net/ploegfiche.php?id=12045|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The first victory of the [[2006 UCI ProTour]] season was in the prologue of Paris–Nice by Julich. The spring was plagued with injuries hitting a third of the team, most notably O'Grady.<ref>Alhan Keser, [http://eurosport.com/cycling/tirreno-adriatico/2006/sport_sto847764.shtml O'Grady goes broke], ''[[Eurosport]]'', 10 March 2006</ref> Cancellara won the time trial at [[Tirreno–Adriatico]] and then [[Paris–Roubaix]]. [[Fränk Schleck]] won the [[Amstel Gold Race]] a week later.

Team CSC surprised by announcing<ref>[http://www.riis-cycling.com/ny_news.asp?n_id=890 Sastre in Giro line-up] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120605042018/http://www.riis-cycling.com/ny_news.asp?n_id=890 |date=5 June 2012 }}, ''Team CSC'', 2006</ref> that Sastre would ride the Giro as helper for Basso, that he would ride all three Grand Tours. 2005's winner [[Paolo Savoldelli]] was strongest in the first stages, and [[Jan Ullrich]] took a surprise win in the time trial ahead of Basso, but Basso dominated with three wins on mountain finishes and in the team time trial. Basso won by <nowiki>9'18''</nowiki>.

On 30 June 2006, the Tour de France announced that Basso would not ride the 2006 Tour after apparent involvement in the [[Operación Puerto doping case|Operación Puerto]] doping scandal. Sastre took over as captain and was the strongest in the favorite group on the last mountain stages, but a poor last time trial placed him fourth overall. The team scored two stage wins, the most impressive Fränk Schleck's win on [[Alpe d'Huez]]. Voigt had already won a flat stage after a long break.

The autumn was dominated by the Basso's involvement in Operación Puerto. His contract was cancelled by mutual consent,<ref name="exitbasso">{{cite web
 |title       = Ivan Basso To Leave Team CSC
 |publisher   = Team CSC
 |date        = 18 October 2006
 |url         = http://www.riis-cycling.com/ny_news.asp?n_id=1116&lang=uk
 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110613054310/http://www.riis-cycling.com/ny_news.asp?n_id=1116&lang=uk
 |url-status    = dead
 |archive-date = 13 June 2011
 |access-date = 18 October 2006
}}</ref> and the case against Basso was eventually dropped by the Federazione Ciclistica Italiana for lack of evidence,<ref name="bassoclear">{{cite web
 | author = Brown, Gregor
 |author2=Maloney, Tim
 | title = Basso officially cleared in ''Operación Puerto''
 | publisher = CyclingNews
 | date = 27 October 2006
 | url = http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2006/oct06/oct27news4
 | access-date = 25 November 2006}}</ref> but without him authorizing a DNA test that could have cleared him conclusively. Basso adamantly denied being involved. (On 7 May 2007 Basso admitted involvement in Operación Puerto).<ref name="bassoadmit">{{cite web |url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070507/ap_on_sp_ot/cyc_basso_doping |title=Basso admits role in doping scandal |access-date=2015-11-28 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070509113145/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070507/ap_on_sp_ot/cyc_basso_doping |archive-date=9 May 2007 }}</ref> Team CSC have since started an ambitious anti-doping program<ref name="anti-doping">{{cite web
 |title       = Team CSC Launches Anti Doping Program
 |publisher   = Team CSC
 |date        = 13 November 2006
 |url         = http://www.riis-cycling.com/ny_news.asp?n_id=1125
 |access-date  = 2006-11-25
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110613053357/http://www.riis-cycling.com/ny_news.asp?n_id=1125
 |archive-date = 13 June 2011
}}</ref> together with the Danish anti-doping expert Rasmus Damsgaard. Meanwhile, on the road, Voigt dominated the [[2006 Deutschland Tour|Deutschland Tour]], winning overall and three stages, including a mountain finish and a time trial. Sastre came fourth in the Vuelta after starting in the lead when CSC won the initial team time trial. It was Sastre's fifth [[Grand Tour (cycling)|Grand Tour]] in a row.

==== 2007 season ====
New rider [[Juan José Haedo]] gave the team a good start by winning early minor races. The classics season was a success by having O'Grady win Paris–Roubaix. Voigt managed to defend his victory in Tour of Germany. CSC won the UCI ProTour team competition for the third year in a row.

Sastre had a team dedicated to him for the Vuelta, while the team for the Tour was support riders and riders who could make individual results. This left the Giro without a clear rider for the general classification. Instead a youthful team was chosen, with the hope that [[Andy Schleck]] might win the youth competition. He won the youth competition and came second overall .

For the [[2007 Tour de France|Tour]], Cancellara followed up a strong showing in the [[Tour de Suisse]] with two stage wins and seven days in the yellow jersey. But doping returned when the race hit the mountains. [[Alexander Vinokourov]] tested positive and leader [[Michael Rasmussen (cyclist)|Michael Rasmussen]] was withdrawn by his team for "internal code violations". Sastre finished fourth.

For the Vuelta, Sastre again lost time in time trials, especially the first, but climbed to second place.

Because of the team's link to drug use (Riis admitted doping, and Basso was suspended until 2008), MAN Trucks dropped co-sponsorship midway through 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/sc/news?slug=ap-sponsorwithdraws&prov=ap&type=lgns|title=Yahoo! Sports – Sports News, Scores, Fantasy Games|website=Yahoo! Sports}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

=== CSC–Saxo Bank: 2008 ===
CSC announced<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.riis-cycling.com/ny_news.asp?n_id=1754|title=Riis Cycling to have new title sponsor in 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120605042015/http://www.riis-cycling.com/ny_news.asp?n_id=1754|archive-date=5 June 2012}}</ref> that they would not renew the contract in spring 2008, meaning Riis Cycling A/S would need a new main sponsor from 2009. Mid-June, Riis Cycling A/S announced<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.riis-cycling.com/ny_news.asp?n_id=1918&lang=uk|title=Riis Cycling signs Sponsorship Agreement with Saxo Bank|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613053705/http://www.riis-cycling.com/ny_news.asp?n_id=1918&lang=uk|archive-date=13 June 2011}}</ref> that [[Saxo Bank]] had entered a three-year contract as name sponsor, with immediate effect, so the team entered the [[2008 Tour de France]] as Team CSC Saxo Bank. [[Carlos Sastre]], having taken a lead of about two minutes on the final climb of L'Alpe D'Huez,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tour-de-france.velonews.com/article/80615|title=Sastre wins the 2008 L'Alpe d'Huez stage&nbsp;– VeloNews|access-date=18 June 2009|archive-date=3 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603152220/http://tour-de-france.velonews.com/article/80615|url-status=dead}}</ref> won the Tour, and the team took the team classification.

=== Team Saxo Bank: 2009–2010 ===
{{Main|2010 Team Saxo Bank season}}
[[File:Andy Schleck, 2010 Tour de France, Stage 9.jpg|thumb|[[Andy Schleck]], riding for Team Saxo Bank during the [[2010 Tour de France]]]]
It was announced 28 September 2008 that for 2009, [[IT Factory]] would be co-sponsor.<ref><!--*UNABLE TO FIND ARCHIVE FOR THIS ARTICLE, USING ALTERNATE SOURCE*[http://www.teamcsc-saxobank.com/ny_news.asp?n_id=2142&lang=uk Two Danish Companies are Now Main Sponsors for Bjarne Riis] {{cite web |url=http://www.teamcsc-saxobank.com/ny_news.asp?n_id=2142&lang=uk |title=Archived copy |access-date=2010-01-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081003003828/http://www.teamcsc-saxobank.com/ny_news.asp?n_id=2142&lang=uk |archive-date=3 October 2008 }}-->
{{cite web|url=http://www.bicikel.com/en/bicikel_zine/3040/|title=Team Saxo Bank- IT Factory sponsor declares bankruptcy|work=Bicikel.com|author=cyclingnews|access-date=2009-12-08}}{{Dead link|date=September 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> However, the company went into [[receivership]] some two months thereafter.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://politiken.dk/newsinenglish/article605506.ece|title=Main Team CSC-Saxo Bank sponsor goes bust|work=Politiken|date=December 2008 }}</ref> The team also began riding [[Specialized Bicycle Components|Specialized]] bicycles for the 2009 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCWhatsNewDetail.jsp?article=6882&refp=TeamRoad|archive-url=https://archive.today/20090506104624/http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCWhatsNewDetail.jsp?article=6882&refp=TeamRoad|url-status=dead|archive-date=2009-05-06|title=Specialized Bicycle Components|work=specialized.com}}</ref>

=== Saxo Bank–SunGard: 2011 ===
{{Main|2011 Saxo Bank–SunGard season}}
Although Saxo Bank had previously announced that 2010 would be the last year they would sponsor the team along with SunGard as secondary sponsor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.team-saxobank.com/ny_news.asp?n_id=2895 |title=Team Saxo Bank |access-date=2010-08-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100816183053/http://www.team-saxobank.com/ny_news.asp?n_id=2895 |archive-date=16 August 2010 }}</ref> The 2011 name for the team was announced in August 2010 as Team Saxo Bank–SunGard, and the signing of 2 time Tour de France champion [[Alberto Contador]] on a two-year contract was also revealed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/contador-to-ride-with-riis-in-2011|title=Contador to ride with Riis in 2011|author=Stephen Farrand & Tomas Nilsson|work=Cyclingnews.com|date=3 August 2010 }}</ref> On 29 July 2010, [[Andy Schleck]] and his brother [[Fränk Schleck|Fränk]] announced their departure from the team effective from the start of the 2011 season.<ref>Devaney, Jason. [http://www.universalsports.com/blogs/blog=shiftinggears/postid=485983.html "Schlecks Confirm Departure from Saxo Bank."] ''Universal Sports&nbsp;– Cycling.'' 30 July 2010.</ref>

On 16 November 2011 it was announced that SunGard would no longer be a title sponsor after 2011.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://borsen.dk/nyheder/finans/artikel/1/219657/bjarne_riis_og_saxo_bank_mister_sungard.htm |publisher=[[Dagbladet Børsen]] |access-date=2023-05-19 |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402152350/http://borsen.dk/nyheder/finans/artikel/1/219657/bjarne_riis_og_saxo_bank_mister_sungard.htm |title=Archived}}{{dead link|date=September 2021}}</ref>

=== Saxo–Tinkoff & Tinkoff–Saxo: 2012 ===

==== 2012 ====
{{Main|2012 Saxo Bank–Tinkoff Bank season}}
On 25 June 2012 it was announced that the Russian Tinkoff Bank would join the team as co-sponsors for the rest of the 2012 season and through to the end of 2013. Saxo Bank also renewed their sponsorship through 2013, with the team's name thus becoming Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tinkoff-bank-announced-as-co-sponsor-to-saxo-bank|title=Tinkoff Bank announced as co-sponsor to Saxo Bank|author=Susan Westemeyer|work=Cyclingnews.com|date=25 June 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12205/Tinkoff-returns-to-cycling-as-Team-Saxo-Bank-co-sponsor-through-2013.aspx|title=Tinkoff returns to cycling as Team Saxo Bank co-sponsor through 2013|work=velonation.com}}</ref>

Alberto Contador returned from his doping suspension and won the General classification of the [[2012 Vuelta a España]] This marked the first overall Grand Tour win since Andy Schleck's retroactive victory of the [[2010 Tour de France]].

==== 2013 ====
{{Main|2013 Saxo–Tinkoff season}}
Following the 2013 season Oleg Tinkov purchased the team from manager Bjarne Riis with the team renamed Tinkoff-Saxo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tinkov-buys-saxo-tinkoff-team-from-riis|title=Tinkov buys Saxo-Tinkoff team from Riis|author=Stephen Farrand|work=Cyclingnews.com|date=2 December 2013 }}</ref>

==== 2014 ====
{{Main|2014 Tinkoff–Saxo season}}
In March, the team announced the signing of Colombian rider [[Edward Beltrán]] on a 2-year contract, Beltran was promoted from Tinkoff-Saxo's affiliate amateur team, Nankang–Fondriest,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/beltran-signs-for-tinkoff-saxo|title=Beltran signs for Tinkoff-Saxo|work=Cyclingnews.com|date=10 March 2014 }}</ref>

==== 2015 ====
{{Main|2015 Team Tinkoff–Saxo season}}
[[File:Giro 2015 contador.jpg|thumb|[[Alberto Contador]] won the [[2015 Giro d'Italia]] for the team.]]
For the 2015 season the team announced the major signing of [[Peter Sagan]] on a three-year contract, as well as:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/sagan-signs-with-tinkoff-saxo|title=Sagan signs with Tinkoff-Saxo|work=Cyclingnews.com|date=8 August 2014 }}</ref> [[Pavel Brutt]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/cycling-weeklys-2014-2015-transfer-index-132202|title=Professional cycling 2014–2015 Transfer Index|date=7 August 2014|work=Cycling Weekly}}</ref> [[Ivan Basso]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/report-basso-signs-two-year-deal-with-tinkoff-saxo|title=Report: Basso signs two-year deal with Tinkoff-Saxo|work=Cyclingnews.com|date=19 August 2014 }}</ref> and [[Robert Kišerlovski]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/kiserlovski-signs-for-tinkoff-saxo|title=Kiserlovski signs for Tinkoff-Saxo|work=Cyclingnews.com|date=30 August 2014 }}</ref>

In March 2015 the team confirmed that Riis had been removed from active duty due to differences between Riis and Tinkov. Media reports had initially indicated that Riis had been suspended when he did not appear at the [[2015 Milan–San Remo]] as planned, and that this was due to a disappointing start to the season for the team.<ref name="cyclingnews.com"/> Later that month it was announced that Riis' contract had been terminated with the agreement of both parties.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/mar/29/bjarne-riis-tinkoff-saxo-terminate-contract |title=Team Tinkoff-Saxo terminate contract of manager Bjarne Riis|date=29 March 2015 |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=30 March 2015}}</ref> Subsequently the team revealed its new management structure, with Riis' former duties being carried out by new general manager Stefano Feltrin and [[Steven de Jongh]], who was promoted to the role of head sport director.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/de-jongh-and-feltrin-to-share-riis-former-duties-at-tinkoff-saxo |title=De Jongh and Feltrin to share Riis' former duties at Tinkoff-Saxo |last1=Ryan |first1=Barry|date=3 April 2015 |website=[[cyclingnews.com]] |access-date=3 April 2015}}</ref>

In a December 2015 interview, Tinkov announced that he would sell the team at the end of the 2016 season, citing on the one hand a business decision to redirect Tinkoff Bank's marketing budget from sports sponsorship to TV advertising from 2017, and on the other a lack of support from other teams from his proposed reforms to the sport's business model.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/exclusive-tinkov-to-leave-cycling-after-2016-season/ |title=Exclusive: Tinkov to leave cycling after 2016 season |last1=Farrand |first1=Stephen |date=12 December 2015 |website=[[cyclingnews.com]]|access-date=24 July 2016}}</ref>

==== 2016 ====
{{Main|2016 Tinkoff season}}
In February 2016 Tinkov said that although he was "happy to talk to any buyer", he expected that the most likely outcome for the team would be its disbanding at the end of the year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tinkov-plays-down-the-chances-of-selling-his-team-structure-to-the-bahrain-cycling-team/ |title=Tinkov plays down the chances of selling his team structure to the Bahrain Cycling Team |last1=Farrand |first1=Stephen |date=25 February 2016 |website=[[cyclingnews.com]] |access-date=24 July 2016}}</ref> However in July 2016 he said that he was planning to return to the sport after "a few seasons off", once [[Chris Froome]] retires from competition, with the aim of winning the Tour de France.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tinkov-ill-come-back-and-win-the-tour-de-france-when-froome-has-gone/ |title=Tinkov: I'll come back and win the Tour de France when Froome has gone|date=24 July 2016 |website=[[cyclingnews.com]]|access-date=24 July 2016}}</ref>

== Final roster (2016) ==
{{See also|List of Tinkoff riders and staff}}
{{transcluded section|2016 Tinkoff season}}
{{#section:2016 Tinkoff season|roster}}

== Major wins ==
{{Main|List of wins by home–Jack & Jones and its successors}}

== National, continental and world champions ==
{{div col start|colwidth=26em}}
'''1999'''
:[[File:MaillotDinamarca.svg|20px]] Danish Time Trial, Michael Sandstød
:[[File:MaillotDinamarca.svg|20px]] Danish Road Race, Nicolaj-Bo Larsen
:[[File:MaillotBélgica.PNG|20px]] Belgian Time Trial, Marc Streel
'''2000'''
:[[File:MaillotDinamarca.svg|20px]] Danish Time Trial, Michael Sandstød
:[[File:MaillotDinamarca.svg|20px]] Danish Road Race, Bo Hamburger
:[[File:MaillotLetonia.PNG|20px]] Latvian Road Race, Arvis Piziks
'''2001'''
:[[File:MaillotDinamarca.svg|20px]] Danish Time Trial, Michael Blaudzun
:[[File:MaillotDinamarca.svg|20px]] Danish Road Race, Jakob Piil
'''2002'''
:[[File:MaillotDinamarca.svg|20px]] Danish Time Trial, Michael Sandstød
:[[File:MaillotDinamarca.svg|20px]] Danish Road Race, Michael Sandstød
'''2003'''
:[[File:MaillotDinamarca.svg|20px]] Danish Time Trial, Michael Blaudzun
:[[File:MaillotDinamarca.svg|20px]] Danish Road Race, Nicki Sørensen
'''2004'''
:[[File:MaillotDinamarca.svg|20px]] Danish Time Trial, Michael Sandstød
:[[File:MaillotDinamarca.svg|20px]] Danish Road Race, Michael Blaudzun
'''2005'''
:[[File:MaillotDinamarca.svg|20px]] Danish Time Trial, Michael Blaudzun
:[[File:MaillotLuxemburgo.PNG|20px]] Luxembourg Time Trial, Andy Schleck
:[[File:MaillotRusia.PNG|20px]] Russian National Time Trial, Vladimir Gusev
:[[File:MaillotDinamarca.svg|20px]] Danish Road Race, Lars Bak
:[[File:MaillotLuxemburgo.PNG|20px]] Luxembourg Road Race, Fränk Schleck
'''2006'''
:[[File:MaillotAustria.PNG|20px]] Austrian Time Trial, Peter Luttenberger
:[[File:MaillotDinamarca.svg|20px]] Danish Time Trial, Brian Vandborg
:[[File:MaillotNoruega.PNG|20px]] Norwegian Time Trial, Kurt Asle Arvesen
:[[File:MaillotSuiza.PNG|20px]] Swiss Time Trial, Fabian Cancellara
:[[File:MaillotUSA.PNG|20px]] USA Time Trial, David Zabriskie
'''2007'''
:[[File:MaillotSuiza.PNG|20px]] Swiss Time Trial, Fabian Cancellara
'''2008'''
:[[File:MaillotSuiza.PNG|20px]] Swiss Time Trial, Fabian Cancellara
:[[File:MaillotDinamarca.svg|20px]] Danish Time Trial, Lars Bak
:[[File:MaillotDinamarca.svg|20px]] Danish Road Race, Nicki Sørensen
:[[File:MaillotLuxemburgo.PNG|20px]] Luxembourg Road Race, Fränk Schleck
:[[File:MaillotNoruega.PNG|20px]] Norwegian Road Race, Kurt Asle Arvesen
'''2010'''
:[[File:MaillotSuecia.PNG|20px]] Sweden Time Trial, Gustav Larsson
:[[File:MaillotDinamarca.svg|20px]] Denmark Time Trial, Jakob Fuglsang
:[[File:MaillotLuxemburgo.PNG|20px]] Luxembourg Time Trial, Andy Schleck
:[[File:MaillotPolonia.PNG|20px]] Poland Time Trial, Jarosław Marycz
:[[File:MaillotDinamarca.svg|20px]] Denmark Road Race, Nicki Sørensen
:[[File:MaillotLuxemburgo.PNG|20px]] Luxembourg Road Race, Fränk Schleck
:[[File:Jersey rainbow chrono.svg|20px]] World Time Trial, Fabian Cancellara
:[[File:MaillotDinamarca.svg|20px]] Denmark Track (Madison), Alex Rasmussen
:[[File:MaillotDinamarca.svg|20px]] Denmark Track (Madison), Michael Mørkøv
'''2011'''
:[[File:MaillotDinamarca.svg|20px]] Denmark Road Race, Nicki Sørensen
'''2013'''
:[[File:MaillotDinamarca.svg|20px]] Denmark Road Race, Michael Mørkøv
'''2014'''
:[[File:MaillotDinamarca.svg|20px]] Denmark Road Race, Michael Valgren
'''2015'''
:[[File:MaillotDinamarca.svg|20px]] Denmark Time Trial, Christopher Juul-Jensen
:[[File:MaillotSlovakia.svg|20px]] Slovak Time Trial, Peter Sagan
:[[File:MaillotSlovakia.svg|20px]] Slovak Road Race, Peter Sagan
:[[File:MaillotDinamarca.svg|20px]] Denmark Road Race, Chris Anker Sørensen
:[[File:Jersey rainbow.svg|20px]] World Road Race, Peter Sagan
'''2016'''
:[[File:MaillotPolonia.PNG|20px]] Poland Time Trial, Maciej Bodnar
:[[File:MaillotReinoUnido.PNG|20px]] England Road Race, Adam Blythe
:[[File:MaillotPolonia.PNG|20px]] Poland Road Race, Rafał Majka
:[[File:MaillotRepúblicaCheca.PNG|20px]] Czech Road Race, Roman Kreuziger
:[[File:MaillotSlovakia.svg|20px]] Slovak Road Race, Juraj Sagan
:[[File:UEC Champion Jersey.svg|20px]] European Road Race, Peter Sagan
:[[File:Jersey rainbow.svg|20px]] World Road Race, Peter Sagan
{{div col end}}

== Staff ==
{{See also|List of Tinkoff riders and staff}}

=== Sports directors ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Name
!Born
!Nationality
!Previous
!Enter
|-
|[[Fabrizio Guidi]]||1972||{{flagu|Italy}}|| Road bicycle racer||2011
|-
|[[Tristan Hoffman]]||1970||{{flagu|Netherlands}}|| Rider for Team CSC Saxo Bank||2011
|-
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

=== Bibliography ===
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book |last=Werge |first=Lars |year=2005 |title=Drømmeholdet – historien om CSC |publisher=Ekstra Bladets forlag |isbn=87-7731-206-6 }}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Team Saxo Bank|Tinkoff}}

{{Tinkoff seasons}}
{{UCI WorldTeams}}
{{Tour de France team classification winners}}

[[Category:Tinkoff (cycling team)| ]]
[[Category:Former UCI WorldTeams]]
[[Category:Defunct cycling teams based in Denmark]]
[[Category:Defunct cycling teams based in Russia]]
[[Category:Cycling teams established in 1998]]
[[Category:Cycling teams disestablished in 2016]]
[[Category:1998 establishments in Denmark]]
[[Category:2016 disestablishments in Russia]]