News

Team Columbia have announced the final nine riders who will line up at the 2009 Tour de France.

Team manager Rolf Aldag called it the "toughest decision of the year, as we had 15 guys who deserved to be on our Tour De France team. It was difficult to personally disappoint these fine athletes," Aldag added, "ultimately we succeed as a team, and we chose the combination of those athletes that give us the greatest combined opportunity for success for this course and the expected competition".

The roster for the 2009 Tour de France includes quadruple stage winner of the 2008 Tour de France Mark Cavendish (UK), 2008 yellow and green jersey holder Kim Kirchen (LUX) and Australian Michael Rogers who placed 8th in the recent Giro D'Italia. Tour veteran George Hincapie (USA) will act as team captain.

Tony Martin (GER) will make his Tour de France debut after a very successful Tour de Suisse where he won a stage and the mountains classification. Also selected were Bernhard Eisel (AUT), Maxime Monfort (BEL) , lead-out specialist Mark Renshaw (AUS) and current World Time Trial Champion Bert Grabsch (GER).

Team Columbia also announced a new three year sponsor partnership, aligning itself with mobile phone giant HTC Corporation. The new Team Columbia-HTC team will present the new team uniform in Monaco on July 3, the day before the start of the 96th Tour de France.

Team:

Mark Cavendish (UK), Kim Kirchen (LUX), George Hincapie (USA), Michael Rogers (AUS), Tony Martin (GER), Bernhard Eisel (AUT, Maxime Monfort (BEL), Mark Renshaw (AUS), Bert Grabsch (GER).