Two new UCI ProTour teams – Garmin Slipstream and Team Katusha – will make their ProTour debut at the 2009 Tour Down Under.

Mike Turtur, Tour Down Under Race Director, is pleased to see the UCI ProTour continuing to expand to include teams from all corners of the globe.

“It is great to see two new teams joining the UCI ProTour. And I am pleased that Team Katusha is being spearheaded by Australian sprinter Robbie McEwen,” said Mike Turtur.

Robbie McEwen has had 12 stage wins in the Tour de France in his decorated professional cycling career. He also has the most individual stage wins in the Tour Down Under’s history, with 12 stage wins.

“McEwen has a successful track record at the Tour Down Under, having also won the overall SA Lotteries sprinter classification twice. 2009 may be his time to take an overall event victory,” said Mike Turtur.

Garmin Slipstream’s Team Manager, Matthew White, is a previous Tour Down Under stage winner, having won Stage 4 of the 2005 event.

“It will be great to see Matt back at the event, now on the other side of the competition,” said Mike Turtur.

“We are also looking forward to seeing Julian Dean perform as New Zealand’s current national road race champion.”

The Team Katusha line up for the 2009 Tour Down Under, led by Team Manager, Dmitri Konyshev (RUS), is: Robbie McEwen (AUS), Geert Steegmans (BEL), Kenny De Haes (BEL), Juan Horrach (ESP), Stijn Vandenbergh (BEL), Sergey Klimov (RUS) and Nikolay Trusov (RUS).

The Garmin Slipstream team competing at the 2009 Tour Down Under includes: Julian Dean (NZL), Trent Lowe (AUS), Timmy Duggan (USA), Chris Sutton (AUS), Ryder Hesjedal (CAN), Cameron Meyer (AUS) and Christian Meier (CAN). Decorated Australian cycling identity, Matthew White (AUS) will lead the charge as Team Manager.