Gerdemann uncertain for Worlds and 2009 team

Linus Gerdemann won the Deutschland Tour with a stiff neck, which is still giving him problems, and may, in fact, stop him from riding in the World Championships next week. It is also not clear whether he will remain with Team Columbia in the coming season.

"He has had the problem since the third stage of the Deutschland Tour. It hasn't really gotten better," said Team Columbia Sport Director Rolf Aldag to the sid press agency.

Gerdemann has flown to Mallorca to train, in light of the bad weather at his home in Switzerland, and will decide over the weekend whether he will ride in Varese or not.

Gerdemann is apparently considering a transfer to Team Milram, which would involve a buy-out of his Team Columbia contract, which runs through 2009. "There have been and are discussions with Milram," Aldag said. "We must still wait a few days. At any rate we would like to continue working with him."