Rudi van Houts signs with Multivan-Merida

Rudi van Houts has signed a contract with the Multivan-Merida's Ninety Six mountain bike team for 2009. The 24-year-old Dutch rider, who recently won the mountain biker of the year award for the Netherlands, is going to team with stars like former Olympic and World Champion Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa, Ralph Näf and José-Antonio Hermida.

Peter Koperdraad of Merida Benelux was pleased the signing of van Houts. "For us, it is great, now we are looking forward to the London 2012 Olympics. Rudi can learn from the experience of the others. He will get the chance to develop even more as a mountain bike rider."