Axel Merckx (Photo: capture-the-peloton.com)

DEURLE, Sep 26 (CP) - Belgian Axel Merckx will join the German ProTour team T-Mobile next season. The 34-year-old signed a contract for one year and will end his career after the 2007 season. Merckx started his career in 1994 at Telekom, the precursor of T-Mobile. During his career he also rode for Motorola, Team Polti, Mapei-Quickstep, Domo-Farm Frites, Lotto-Domo and his successor Davitamon-Lotto before joining Phonak Hearing Systems this year. The son of five times Tour de France winner Eddy Merckx achieved eleven victories so far, including a stage win in the Giro d'Italia and the Dauphiné Libéré. In 2000 he was Belgian champion on the road as well

© Jeroen Michiels