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PARIS, Jul 24 (CP) - The Belgian rider Axel Merckx will be spending the next season at the Swiss team Phonak Hearing Systems. This was announced by his current team, Davitamon-Lotto on Sunday. The 32-year-old revealed that next year may be his last season in the peloton, and has signed a deal for one year, with an optional seconds. At Phonak, he will team up with personal friend and team manager John Lelangue. Merckx' contract at Davitamon-Lotto actually lasted until 2006, but the rider and his team came to an agreement to terminate the contract earlier. In this Tour de France, Merckx was visibly frustrated when the team tactics were against him: On one of the stages, the Belgian was to be found in a front group and was eventually caught by his own teammates.

© Jonathan Roorda