"Extreme Power" for Milram

By Susan Westemeyer

Team Milram met last week in Montegrotto Terme, Italy, and got to know not only the five new riders but also the new bikes. "Extreme Power" is the keyword for the coming year for the team: that's the name of the Colnago frame they will be riding.

The frame was introduced to the team during the last season, and will replace the "Cristallo" frame they had previously used. The frames are not made in one piece, but assembled out of various tubes. "If the frame should be damaged, the whole frame doesn't have to be replaced," noted the team. "Only the broken tube needs to be replaced." In addition, the bikes will have a new colour this year: a black background with blue and white stripes. The team naturally took their new bikes out for a test with satisfactory results.

Satisfactory results were also delivered by the medical tests all 27 riders had to undergo. "Surely one or two riders had a pound or two too much, but they'll lose that quickly," said directeur sportif Gianluigi Stanga.