Team Milram will be at the start of the Tour de France 2009 on July 4, 2009 in Monaco with its two captains Linus Gerdemann and Gerald Ciolek. Team Milram's nine Tour riders, six of them German, were presented to the press by the ProTour team in the Dortmund Westfalenhalle earlier this week.
"Our main goal is a stage win at the Tour de France,“ said Gerry van Gerwen, manager of Team Milram speaking at the official Tour de France presentation. "We can do well in the mountains as well as in the sprints. Linus Gerdemann is our man for the GC. He will have our complete support. In addition to Gerdemann we will have enough other options. There is always a lot to win at the Tour. We are ready for it with our young and hungry team.“
In order to reach the planned goals, Team Milram will be going to the start with a well-mixed team. Linus Gerdemann and Gerald Ciolek will for the first time be captains at the Tour de France. Bayern-Rundfahrt winner Gerdemann is aiming for a good placement in the overall rankings. He has already won a Tour stage back in 2007 and rode in the yellow jersey afterwards.
"Unfortunately I couldn't take part in the 2008 Tour de France due to an injury. That just makes me doubly motivated this year," said Linus Gerdemann. "I have conscientiously prepared myself like never before for this Tour de France. I gladly accept the responsibility to lead the only German ProTour team at the Tour."
Team Milram sprinter Gerald Ciolek will be riding his second Tour de France. His goal is a stage win in the fight for the green sprinter jersey. With two 2nd place stage finishes in his Tour de France debut last year the 2006 U23 World Champion showed that he is a factor to be watched in the sprints.
"I am really looking forward to my second Tour de France,“ said Gerald Ciolek about his start at the "Grand Boucle" in France. "I had a variable first half of the season, but things are coming together now in the end spurt of the Tour preparations. My form is good for this point in time. That makes me optimistic about my goals."
A strong quartet will help Team Milram bring that special German feeling to the Tour de France. Christian Knees, last year's co-captain along with now retired Erik Zabel, and the experienced Tour starters Fabian Wegmann and Markus Fothen, along with newcomer Johannes Fröhlinger, will wear the Milram jersey in the 09 Tour. The German team will be further strengthened by former U23 World Champion Peter Velits of Slovakia, veteran Peter "Paco" Wrolich of Austria, and Dutch youngster Niki Terpstra.
Team Milram's Tour de France 2009 Roster:
Gerald Ciolek (22 / GER / Ermatingen,SUI), Markus Fothen (27 / GER / Kaarst), Johannes Fröhlinger (24 / GER / Freiburg im Breisgau), Linus Gerdemann (26 / GER / Kreuzlingen,SUI), Christian Knees (28 /GER / Euskirchen), Niki Terpstra (25 / NED / Haarlem), Peter Velits (24 / SVK / Riemst, BEL), Fabian Wegmann (29 / GER / Freiburg im Breisgau), Peter Wrolich (35 / AUT / Klagenfurt)
Directeur Sportif: Christian Henn (GER / Heidelberg) Assistant Directeur Sportif: Raoul Liebregts (NED / Sint Oedenrode)
