Milram signs U23-Champ Nerz for two

by VeloNation Press at 10:45 AM EST

Team Milram will be moving Dominik Nerz up from their Continental team ranks for 2010. The 20-year-old, who is the current U23 German Champion, signed a two-year contract at the World Championships in Mendrisio, Switzerland.

Nerz is the second young rider after Christian Kux to make the jump from Milram's Continental team to their ProTour squad. In the U-23 World Championship race, Nerz came in 20th place and was the best German finisher.

"The change to Team MILRAM is exactly the right step at the right time," said Nerz. "As a young rider, I can continue to develop. In Team Milram there is a mixture of veterans and young riders. It especially attracts me to be able to ride alongside the experienced pros."

Milram team management is also happy that their Continental team is producing good riders.

"For us as the only German ProTour team, we see it as our duty to develop the young German riders," said Milram's manager Gerry van Gerwen. "We have long observed Dominik Nerz. I think that we have to give a chance to such a talent. Athletically he fits in the team well. And he brings all the abilities to continue to develop under professional conditions."

Dominik Nerz was under contract in 2008 to Team Ista, the farm team of the former German ProTour Team Gerolsteiner. His biggest success came when he won the U-23 German national title in Ilsfeld-Auenstein this May. He won a difficult mountain stage in the Aosta Rundfahrt at the end of August. In 2008 he was third in the U-23 mountain championship and in 2007 he dominated the junior league. He has twice represented Germany in the U-23 World Championships, in 2008 in Varese and in 2009 in Mendrisio.