Sprinter wins Bayern Rundfahrt queen stage after perfect team preparations

Dortmund, 28. Mai 2010. MILRAM captain Gerald Ciolek has won his first season victory on the queen stage of the Internationalen Bayern Rundfahrt (May 26-30 / UCI 2.HC). He won the sprint of the third stage after perfect set-up work by his team, out of a 30-man strong lead group. Second and third places after 177.3 kilometers between Beyreuth and Herzbruck went to Slovenian Grega Bole (Lampre) and French rider Steve Houanard (Skil Shimano).

For the sprinter from Cologne, Germany, it was the first big season victory after his shoulder injury suffered in a crash at the Tour of Qatar the beginning of the year.

„I am very happy with this win. I came to the Bayern Rundfaht to win a stage. My team put in a super performance,“ said a happy Gerald Ciolek after the winner’s ceremony. „We directed the tempo at exactly the right moment and decimated the field into a large leading group. In the sprint, I was in the wind too early, but fortunately I was able to correct it.“

Ralf Grabsch, Team MILRAM’s directeur sportif, gave his team high grades: „That was a perfect day for our team. We made the race fast, to protect our chances. In the end we still had three men in the front. Christian Knees and Niki Terpstra practically carried Gerald to the finish line.“

In the general classification, Gerald Ciolek was able to move up and now is now in second place behind leader Ruben Perez Moreno, in the same time. With his stage win, the MILRAM captain took over the lead in the best young rider ranking.

Saturday there is a 27.8 kilometer time trial, which is expected to decide the overall winer. The 31st edition of the Internationalen Bayern Rundfaht ends on Sunday after five stages and 752 kilometers in Fürstenfeldbruck.

The stages 2010:
26.05. 1. Stage: Erding – Viechtach (189,8 km)
27.05. 2. Stage: Viechtach – Bayreuth (200,5 km)
28.05. 3. Stage: Bayreuth – Hersbruck (177,3 km)
29.05. 4. Stage: Berching (27,8 km/EZF)
30.05. 5. Stage: Berching – Fürstenfeldbruck (156,6 km)
Total distance: 752 Kilometer