Ciolek, Knees and Roels are team’s big hopes for success

Victorious for the past two years with Christian Knees and Linus Gerdemann, Team Milram will aim to boost its sponsor search by targeting a third consecutive win in the Bayern Rundfahrt this week.

The 2.HC German race begins tomorrow in Erding and covers 752 kilometres before its conclusion in Fürstenfeldbruck on Sunday. Milram will adopt a three-pronged approach, with their former world under 23 champion Gerald Ciolek aiming to scoop stage wins with his strong sprint, while 2008 champion Knees and promising young rider Dominik Roels will be the riders for the general classification.

Directeur sportif Ralf Grabsch is feeling confident prior to the off. “As defending champion, of course we stand under special observation, and we are fully aware of our large responsibility at the most important German stage race,” he said. “With Christian Knees and Dominik Nerz as well as Niki Terpstra as joker, we have a great chance for the overal title. Our rivals are very strong, since the Bayern Rundfahrt again this year has a very strong international field. That makes it good that we have various options for success.”

The lineup will be strengthened by the inclusion of the climber Johannes Fröhlinger, the Belgian Roy Sentjens, Austrian Peter Wrolich and Dutch rider Niki Terpstra. The latter was the best young rider in 2008 and finished third overall.

The team has had a solid start to the season, netting seven victories. These include Gerdemann’s stage win in Tirreno Adriatico and the Trofeo Inca, as well as Paul Voss’ triumph on stage one of the Volta a Catalunya. Fabian Wegman recently took an important win on home soil when he repeated his win in the Rund um den Finanzplatz Eschborn-Frankfurt.

Wegman and Gerdemann headed to the Giro d’Italia this year rather than targeting the German stage race. The latter is ninth overall heading into the final six days of racing.

The Bayern Rundfahrt starts with a 189.8 kilometre stage to Viechtach. The most important stages are likely to be Friday’s queen stage to Hersbruck, which includes three climbs, and Saturday’s 27.8 kilometre time trial in Berching.

They are likely to decide the race as Sunday’s final stage is expected to be settled in a bunch gallop.

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Bayern Rundfahrt (2.HC)

Stage 1, 26 May: Erding – Viechtach (189.8 km)
Stage 2, 27 May: Viechtach – Bayreuth (200.5 km)
Stage 3, 28 May: Bayreuth – Hersbruck (177.3 km)
Stage 4, 29 May: Berching (27.8 km/ITT)
Stage 5, 30 May: Berching – Fürstenfeldbruck (156.6 km)

Total distance: 752 kilometers