AFP - Sprinter Robert Forster will spearhead the German Team Milram at Australia's Tour Down Under in January, organisers said on Monday.

Forster has ridden in the Tour de France three times (2005, 2007, 2008) and is rated by his team as one of the best sprinters in international cycling.

"Forster has had stage wins in the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a Espana and will be one to watch vying for sprint points in January," tour race director Mike Turtur said.

Joining Forster will be Australian Olympic team pursuit gold medallist Luke Roberts and experienced German Markus Fothen, a former under-23 world time trial champion, who has ridden in the Tour de France for the past three years.

Milram's team for the 2010 Tour Down Under are: Robert Forster (GER), Markus Fothen (GER), Artur Gajek (GER), Thomas Rohregger (GER), Wim Stroetinga (NED), Luke Roberts (AUS) and Bjorn Schroder (GER).

The Tour Down Under will be staged around Adelaide January 17-24 and is headlined by seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong and Australia's world road cycling champion Cadel Evans.