Milram's Motto for Tour of Germany

Cyclingheroes

Milram's Motto for Tour of Germany: "Attack, Attack and Attack Again."

15.08.2008/Thomas Dekker has a new manager. Yesterday morning Dekkers former manager Jaques Hanegraaf told Dutch media that the young rider and Rabobank will part ways, in the afternoon new manager Martijn Berkhout was quoted in a press release of Thomas Dekker saying Dekker will not sign with Garmin. Thomas Dekker told Dutch daily news 'De Telegraaf' that there is only a small chance he will return back to racing this season. Dekker said it might be better to return next year: "stronger as ever."

"For us, the Deutschland Tour means attack, attack and attack again," said Milram team manager Gerry van Gerwen. "We have a team at the start which knows how important the Tour [of Germany, editor] is for us and which wants to do well. And especially the closing stage at the door of our main sponsor is an extra motivation."

Milram captain Christian Knees, who finished 29th in this year's Tour de France, is going to the start with high ambitions. "I take the Deutschland Tour very seriously and feel well prepared. After the Tour de France I was in Kitzbühel several days and looked at the climbs of the Queen Stage," Knees said. "Basically, we are going to the start with a well-balanced team, and everyone who feels good will get his chance. That makes us unpredictable and will be our strength at the D-Tour."

The start of this year's Deutschland Tour is on Friday, August 29, in Austria. The 2008 version of the highlight of German cycling opens with a 3.6 km long prologue in Kitzbühel. The prologue is followed on Satuday, and runs over 178 km with a Cat. II ranked climbs and two Cat. I ranked climbs on its way from Kitzbühel to Hochfügen.

After the first two potentially decisive days and a transfer back to Germany, the third stage starts in the Bavarian capital of Munich. From here on the sprinters will have their chances for three days in a row. The race goes through the regions Hesselberg, Herrenrieden and Wiesloch on its way to Mainz. Here the fifth stage starts, with 218.4 km the longest of the Deutschland Tour. It is expected to winnow down the favourites for the overall title, as it runs over rolling terrain to the final climb in Winterberg. The following two stages are again flat, until the final stage, which will be Milram's home stage at the individual time trial in Bremen.

The race will be held under the name Deutschland Tour this year for the tenth time. Last year Milram's Erik Zabel had several victories in the race. The 38 year-old won the third stage from Pforzheim to Offebenburg, and for the seventh time won the jesery as best sprinter. In addtion, Niki Terpstra came to public attention last year when he won the mountain jersey.

The Tour of Germany stages 2008:
29.08. Prologue: Kitzbühel (3,6 km)
30.08. 1. Stage: Kitzbühel - Hochfügen (178 km)
31.08. 2. Stage: München - Region Hesselberg (182,6 km)
01.09. 3. Stage: Herrieden - Wiesloch (214,9 km)
02.09. 4. Stage: Wiesloch - Mainz (174 km)
03.09. 5. Stage: Mainz - Winterberg (218,4 km)
04.09. 6. Stage: Fredeburg - Neuss (188,8 km)
05.09. 7. Stage: Neuss - Georgsmarienhütte (214,3 km)
06.09. 8. Stage: Bremen (ITT, 34 km)
Total: 1.408,6 km

Milram for Tour of Germany:
Ralf Grabsch (GER), Christian Knees (GER), Brett Lancaster (AUS), Martin Müller (GER), Alberto Ongarato (ITA), Dominik Roels (GER), Björn Schröder (GER), Peter Velits (SVK)

Related stories