1997 road race World Champion, Laurent Brochard, will lead the French Bouygues Telecom team at the 2007 Tour Down Under in January. The 38 year-old Frenchman's win at the 1997 world championships in San Sebastián capped off a stellar season of success which also included victory in the ninth stage of the 1997 Tour de France.
"Brochard has been in the pro ranks for more than a decade and continues to post results and show the younger riders how it's done," said Tour Down Under Race Director Mike Turtur. "The Bouygues Telecom team that will contest the Tour Down Under is a mix of experience and youth with several French stars of the future making the trip to Australia."
The Tour Down Under is also pleased to welcome back Olympic, Commonwealth and world teams pursuit champion, Brett Lancaster, will return in 2007 to race with his new team, Milram. Lancaster, who since the Athens Olympic Games has concentrated on forging a career on the road, won the prologue of the 2005 Giro d'Italia and wore the race leader's maglia rosa for one day.
"Lancaster is one of Australia's most talented cyclists but also one of our quiet achievers," said Turtur. "I was very excited to learn he would join the ProTour ranks next year and that his first race with Milram would be here in South Australia."
Joining Lancaster in the Milram line up is 2005 Tour of Denmark climbing champion, Martin Müller of Germany and Dutch cyclist Niki Terpstra who this year won the fourth stage of the Tour of Belgium. Italian Elia Rigotto, a stage winner in this year's Tour Méditerranéen, will also race in the Tour Down Under.
Milram (Ita)
Mirco Lorenzetto (Ita)
Elia Rigotto (Ita)
Brett Lancaster (Aus)
Sebastian Siedler (Ger)
Martin Müller (Ger)
Dennis Haueisen (Ger)
Sebastian Schwager (Ger)
Niki Terpstra (Ned)
Team Manager: Vittorio Algeri
Bouygues Telecom (Fra)
Laurent Brochard (Fra)
Giovanni Bernaudeau (Fra)
Dimitri Champion (Fra)
Mathieu Claude (Fra)
Nicolas Crosbie (Fra)
Andy Flickinger (Fra)
Olivier Bonnaire (Fra)
Yohann Gène (Fra)
Team Manager: Dominique Arnould
The 2007 Tour Down Under will be held January 16 – 21, 2007. For further information please visit the official website at www.tourdownunder.com.au.
