Team Saxo Bank-SunGard has released its roster for the 2011 Giro d'Italia. Not surprisingly, the team is as ambitious as ever, wanting to claim the overall Giro victory for Alberto Contador, before moving on to the 2nd Grand Tour of the season - the 2011 Tour de France.

The Italian stage race starts with a team time trial on Saturday, May 7 and concludes three weeks later in Milan with a 32 kilometer individual time trial.

Team Saxo Bank-SunGard's GC favorite Alberto Contador says he is feeling confident with the team's Giro line-up, but he is also expecting strong competition from GC candidates from competing teams.

"I know deciding the Giro d'Italia line-up has been a difficult task because there were many riders motivated and eager to go. We have a strong line-up, but we also know that we will find very strong rivals on the start line whose indisputable objective is to achieve the overall victory in the Giro. However, I'm confident we will do a good job. We will be fighting for the win."

Team Saxo Bank-SunGard owner and former Tour de France winner Bjarne Riis found it difficult to select the nine riders for the team's 2011 Giro d'Italia roster.

"We enter the Giro with a very strong and motivated squad. The final selection has not been easy as we have many strong cards on our hands but one thing is certain - this line-up is top tuned and highly motivated to win and they are strong enough to pull it off," Riis commented.

Riis expects the 2011 Giro d'Italia to be a very exciting race for viewers and readers to follow during all three weeks in May.

"We are well-prepared, we want to make a difference in the race and the race will undoubtedly be a thrill to witness and I'm looking forward to being a part of it."

The Giro d'Italia will possibly be the final race for Alberto Contador before a possible doping ban. Contador was acquitted by the Spanish cycling union in the clenbuterol doping case, but this decision has been appealed by the International Cycling Union (UCI) to CAS and a verdict is expected before the start of the Tour de France 2011 in July.

Watch 2011 Giro d'Italia video highlights from every stage of the Giro in the video section right here on Roadcycling.com and watch live coverage from the Giro on www.universalsports.com/cycling.

Team Saxo Bank-SunGard's Giro d'Italia 2011 roster:
Alberto Contador, Jesus Hernandez, Daniel Navarro, Matteo Tosatto, Volodymir Gustov, Michael Mørkøv, Laurent Didier, Richie Porte, and Kasper Klostergaard.