Sprinters top German Worlds team

Germany is sending a team strong on sprinters for the World Championships in Mendrisio, Switzerland, from September 27.

The team features sprinter Gerald Ciolek (Milram), who ought to come over the course's climbs better than fellow sprinter André Greipel (Columbia-HTC). Fabian Wegmann or Christian Knees (both Milram) are suited for an escape group.

Linus Gerdemann will not be able to ride, due to viral infection.

The German men will have good chances in the time trial. Bert Grabsch (Columbia) will defend his title. Grabsch will be joined by Tony Martin (Columbia) and Sebastian Lang (Silence-Lotto).

The women's team is led by Judith Arndt (Columbia), who finished third in the 2008 Worlds and Trixi Worrack (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung), fifth in 2008. It also has Ina-Yoko Teutenberger (Columbia), who with 14 wins, has the most wins of any German woman this season.

Arndt and Worrack will also ride the time trial.

This year's course in Mendrisio has two climbs, Acqua Fresca and Novazzano, in a short 13.8-kilometre circuit repeated 19 times, 262.2 kilometres. The Under 23 men will race 13 circuits and the women nine.

The time trial covers three 16.6-kilometre circuits, 49.8 kilometres. The Under 23 men will race two circuits and the women will race two 13.4-kilometre circuits.

Men's road race:
Gerald Ciolek
Johannes Fröhlinger
André Greipel
Christian Knees
Paul Martens
Tony Martin
Grischa Niermann
Marcel Sieberg
Fabian Wegmann
Simon Geschke (Reserve)

Men's time trial:
Bert Grabsch
Sebastian Lang
Tony Martin

Women's road race:
Judith Arndt
Sarah Düster
Claudia Häusler
Tina Liebig
Ina-Yoko Teutenberg
Trixi Worrack
Charlotte Becker (reserve)

Women's time trial
Judith Arndt
Trixi Worrack

U-23 men, road:
John Degenkolb
Sergej Fuchs
Nico Keinath
Dominik Nerz
Martin Reimer
Sebastian Hans (reserve)
David Rösch (reserve)

U23 men, time trial:
Patrick Gretsch
Marcel Kittel