MILRAM selection starts the 2010 cycling season on the Mediterranean island

Dortmund, 3 February 2010. Led by captain Linus Gerdemann, a squad from Team MILRAM will open the 2010 season at the Mallorca Challenge (February 7-11). The German ProTour team’s line-up on the Mediterranean island will be strengthened by the MILRAM riders who put in such a strong performance already at the Tour Down Under.

„I trained for a long time in South Africa this winter and am very well prepared for this time of the year,“ is how MILRAM captain Linus Gerdemann described his season preparations. „The Mallorca Challenge has a very challenging profile, which is good for our strong team. After the long winter training, we are all happy that things are finally happening. Our goal is, quite clearly, to show a good performance and bring in results.“

In addition to captain Gerdemann, Directeur Sportif Christian Henn can count on a high-quality team. Stage racers Christian Knees, Johannes Fröhlinger, Thomas Rohregger and Markus Fothen are at the start. In addition, youngster Dominik Nerz, Markus Eiclher, Thomas Fothen, Paul Voß, Matthias Ruß and allrounder Fabian Wegmann will open their season on Mallorca.

The Mallorca Challenge consists of five one-day races carried on consecutive days. „Every rider who is registered for the Challenge can take part in as many races as he wants. Riders who participate in all five races are listed in an unofficial overall ranking,“ explained Christian Henn. Team MILRAM has previously ridden the race series on the vacation island in 2007 and 2009. Last year captain Gerald Ciolek brought in the first MILRAM win in 2009 in the fifth race of the Challenge. Markus Fothen was fifth in the unofficial overall ranking.

The individual riders:
Markus Eichler (GER/Jülich), Robert Förster (GER/Leipzig), Markus Fothen (GER/Neuss), Thomas Fothen (GER/Neuss), Johannes Fröhlinger (GER/Freiburg im Breisgau), Linus Gerdemann (GER/ Kreuzlingen,SUI), Christian Knees (GER/Euskirchen), Dominik Nerz (GER/Wangen), Luke Roberts (AUS/Kerpen), Dominik Roels (GER/Köln), Thomas Rohregger (AUT/Innsbruck), Matthias Ruß (GER/ Bad Cannstatt), Wim Stroetinga (NED/Drachten), Paul Voß (GER/Bielefeld), Fabian Wegmann (GER/Freiburg im Breisgau)
Directeur Sportif: Christian Henn (GER)

The stages:
07.02. Trofeo Palma: Palma de Mallorca (116 km)
08.02. Trofeo Cala Millor: Son Servera – Cala Millor (172,4 km)
09.02. Trofeo Inca: Inca – Inca (157,2 km)
10.02. Trofeo Deià: Deià – Deià (143,0 km)
11.02. Trofeo Magaluf-Palmanova: Magaluf – Palmanova (158,5 km)
Total distance: 747,1 km