A total of nine MILRAM riders, including six German riders, were presented by the ProTour team Tuesday at the Dortmund Westfalenhalle for the cycling highlight of the year. The line-up is focused on helping its two captains, Linus Gerdemann and Gerald Ciolek, target key stages in the race.
“Our main goal is a stage win at the Tour de France,” said Gerry van Gerwen, manager of Team Milram at the presentation on Tuesday. “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.”
Linus Gerdemann and Gerald Ciolek will take on rolls as team captains in the Tour de France for the first time. Bayern-Rundfahrt winner Gerdemann is aiming for a good placement in the overall ranking. He has already won a stage in 2007 and rode himself into the yellow jersey.
“Unfortunately I couldn’t take part in the Tour de France due to an injury. That just makes me doubly motivated this year,” said 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.”
Sprinter Gerald Ciolek will ride his second Tour de France this year. Ciolek’s goal is a stage win and to do his best in the fight for the green jersey. With two second-place stage finishes in his Tour de France debut last year, the young German has shown he can be a factor in the sprints.
“I am really looking forward to my second Tour de France,” said Ciolek. “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 for my goals.”
A strong quartet will help Team Milram give the Tour de France a German feeling. Christian Knees, last year’s co-captain along with Erik Zabel, and the experience Tour starters Fabian Wegmann and Markus Fothen, along with newcomer Johannes Fröhlinger, will all take the start. Former U23 World Champion Peter Velits of Slovakia, veteran Peter “Paco” Wrolich of Austria, and Dutch youngster Niki Terpstra will round out the squad.
The Tour de France Squad for Milram:
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)
Assistent Directeur Sportif: Raoul Liebregts (NED / Sint Oedenrode)