Mirjam Melchers completes Cervélo roster

by Ben Atkins at 12:49 PM EST

The Cervélo TestTeam has announced the signing of Mirjam Melchers on a one-year contract, completing the women’s team roster for 2010. The 34-year-old Dutchwoman is expected to perform well in one-day races, which are her speciality, but also to use her years of experience to help in the development of the team’s younger riders.

She is also married to Dutch former sprinter Jean Paul Van Poppel, who has been a director of the Cervélo men’s team since it formed this time last year.

"After the retirement of Kristin Armstrong, it was our goal to find a rider who would bring a lot of experience to the team," said the team’s press officer Geert Broekhuizen. "With Melchers, who has already won the tough Ronde van Vlaanderen twice, we have achieved this aim. Mirjam Melchers is a top-rated athlete who brings many skills to our team. Due to the fact that Melchers is already the fourth Dutch rider in the team, the management has decided to apply for a Dutch UCI licence for the women's team for 2010."

Melchers has ridden for Team Flexpoint since its inception in 2005 where Jean Paul Van Poppel was manager until he moved to Cervélo this year. Her long list of victories includes the 2005 and 2006 editions of the Ronde van Vlaanderen, but her career was interrupted by a serious crash in the 2006 Euragio Tour causing her to break her pelvis and jaw. As a powerful rouleur and strong time triallist she has been a useful ally to teammates like double World champion Susanne Ljungskog and American Amber Neben.

Melchers is also a strong cyclocross rider having won the Dutch national championships in 2004 and 2008, and bronze in the World championships in 2005.

"The most important thing for me in the upcoming season will be to support the team and riders,” said Melchers. “After many years at the highest level, it's obvious that I have a lot of experience to share, which would be useful for the team. I also started a coaching course this winter, and my role in the team could fit into this."

Cervélo TestTeam complete roster 2010
Elizabeth Armistead (GBR)
Emilie Aubry (SUI)
Regina Bruins (NED)
Lieselot Decroix (BEL)
Sarah Düster (GER)
Claudia Häusler (GER)
Sharon Laws (GBR)
Mirjam Melchers (NED)
Emma Pooley (GBR)
Carla Ryan (AUS)
Patricia Schwager (SUI)
Iris Slappendel (NED)
Kirsten Wild (NED)

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