Tirreno-Adriatico (March 11-17, 2009) will be the first hard test this season for the two Team Milram captains Linus Gerdemann and Gerald Ciolek. The Italian stage race is especially important for Gerdemann. Last year the 26-year-old practically had the overall race win in hand when he crashed in the time trial and broke his femur.  This injury cost the German his chance to ride the 2008 Tour de France.  

His Milram colleague Gerald Ciolek also has something to prove in the Italian race. Last season he sprinted to a top ten finish twice, and this year he is determined to win a stage.

"There is a lot of pressure on the Tirreno squad, but despite everything we must not forget our team at Paris-Nice, which can bring in a big surprise," General Manager of Team Milram Gerry van Gerwencommented.  "Our goals for Tirreno-Adriatico are very clear. Everything for Linus Gerdemann for the GC, everything for Gerald Ciolek on the flat stages for stage wins."

The two Milram captains will be supported by a strong team.  In addition to Gerdemann and Ciolek, Directeur Sportif Christian Henn and Assistant Jochen Hahn wil look to veteran Servais Knaven. The former winner of Paris-Roubaix chose Italy to prepare himself for the upcoming Spring Classics and will be an important support for the team with his major experience, as will Austrian Peter „Paco“ Wrolich and Fabian Wegmann, who finished second in the 2009 Monte Pasco Eroica this past weekend. The team will also be supported by Björn Schröder, Peter Velits and Johannes Fröhlinger.

The start of "The race between the seas" will take place on Wednesday in Cecina on Italy's western Tirennian coast. From there it runs for seven days over 1,095 kilometers throught Italian boot to San Benedetto del Tronto on the Adria. The race's profile promises a combination, which offers something to both allrounders and sprinters.

The Team Milram line-up for the 2009 Tirreno-Adriatico:
Gerald Ciolek (GER/Ermatingen, SUI), Johannes Fröhlinger (GER/Freiburg), Linus Gerdemann (GER/Kreuzlingen, SUI), Servais Knaven (NED/Meerle, BEL), Björn Schröder (GER/Berlin), Peter Velits (SVK/Riemst, BEL), Fabian Wegmann (GER/Freiburg), Peter Wrolich (AUT, Klagenfurt).
Directeur Sportif: Christian Henn (GER)
Assistant Directeur Sportif: Jochen Hahn (GER)

2009 Tirreno-Adriatico stages:
11. March Stage 1: Cecina - Capannori 147 km
12. March Stage 2: Volterra - Marina di Carrara 177 km
13. March Stage 3: Fucecchio - S. Croce sull'Arno 166 km
14. March Stage 4: Foligno - Montelupone 171 km
15. March Stage 5: Loreto - Macerata 30 km (EZF)
16. March Stage 6: Civitanova Marche - Camerino 235 km
17. March Stage 7: S. Benedetto - S. Benedetto 169 km
Total length: 1.095 Kilometer