By Susan Westemeyer
There will continue to be a German ProTour team in the 2009 peloton, as Nordmilch AG announced Friday morning that it will continue to sponsor Team Milram.
The German dairy products company had announced earlier that in light of the lack of live Tour de France coverage on German television, it would review its sponsoring engagement, although it has a contract with team manager Gerry van Gerwen through 2010.
"We trust and expect improvements" in pro cycling, press spokeswoman Godja Sönnichsen told Cyclingnews. She acknowledged the contract with Van Gerwen's firm, Velo-City GmbH, but said "in the past we have not publicly discussed contracts and will not do that now."
As to whether the sponsorship would continue through 2010, as contractually obligated, the firm said in its statement that in the coming season it would "continue to examine and evaluate the sporting developments and the media situation."
