Milram sponsor confirms for 2010

Team Milram will continue in the peloton in 2010. Sponsor Nordmilch AG has confirmed that it will continue to back the team through next season.

“Our engagement will be carried out through 2010, as contractually agreed,” Claus P. Fischer, Marketing Director, told the Süddeutsche Zeitung. Earlier this month Fischer had indicated that the firm was pleased with its investment, but that it would review the matter after the Tour de France.

The team's performance in the Tour de France was enough to convince the dairy company to stay with the sport. Although the German team has not won a stage, it has brought in a number of top ten finishes; the best being Johannes Fröhlinger's third place finish in the seventh stage. The German squad has also been involved in many escape groups.

“It is very good and really pleasing, “ said Team manager Gerry van Gerwen in response to Nordmilch AG's announcement.

Van Gerwen now hopes to reach an agreement through 2011. He is slightly handicapped by the fact that he can now only offer riders one-year contracts. A situation that has already cost him two riders: twin brothers Martin and Peter Velits. “Unfortunately, they are going to Columbia. The main reason being that I can't offer them two years.”