Milram, AG2R bring in youngsters

The Milram and AG2R La Mondiale teams have brought in young riders to their ProTour squads. Milram announced Thursday that it will bring German Mitja Schlüter up from its continental team for the August Rothaus RegioTour. The 22 year-old will join Simon Geschke and young Dutch rider Arne Hassink as stagiaires (temporary riders) for the event.

"It is important to us to support the German Espoir riders, which is why we want to give young talents the chance to prove themselves in the pro ranks as stagiaires," said Milram manager Gerry van Gerwen. "Schlüter... captured our attention recently and shown that he is a man with perspective. We are eager to see how the young riders will present themselves."

Schlüter took third at the U23 Henninger Turm race in Frankfurt, and 15th at the German Elite Championships. Geschke, 22, of the Berlin TSC, finished sixth overall in the Grand Prix du Portugal and won the Scan-Haus-Cup Marlow as well as the U23 Erzgebirgs-Rundfahrt.

Hassink, 23, of Cyclingteam Jo Piels took third in the first stage of the Fleche du Sud in Luxembourg.

AG2R announced that it has signed a two year contract with French rider Blel Kadri, who won a stage and took second overall at the Ronde de l'Isard.