Events

MTN-Qhubeka’s Ciolek takes tenth overall in Bayern Rundfahrt

· By Matt · 2 comments

Gerald Ciolek’s sixth place stage finish on Sunday ended Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung’s successful appearance at the International Bayern Rundfahrt (May 22-26 / UCI 2.HC). Ciolek was beaten in the sprint finale at the famous Nürnberger Burg by Heinrich Haussler. The Team IAM rider won an exciting finale after 169.9 kilometers between Kelheim and Nürnberg ahead of Basque Juan-Jose Del Lobado (Euskaltel) and Belarussian Yauheni Hutarovich (AG2R). Milan-San Remo winner Ciolek ended the only German stage race for professionals tenth behind the overall winner, Italian Adriano Malori (Lampre Merida).

Ciolek_Frankfurt.jpg

“Unfortunately our hope for a stage win didn’t work out today but with one stage win and the top ten ranking overall, we have reached our goals,” said Ciolek after the finish. “We can be satisfied with our team’s appearance at the only remaining German stage race. We rode for the win in every stage.”

“Gerald and the guys once again presented the Qhubeka project to German sports fans in a great way,” said directeur sportif Jens Zemke. “There is a lot of potential in this team and in African cycling. There is still a lot of work to do and we can’t rest on our laurels.”

The last stage too was marked by an escape group which got away despite the bad weather conditions of rain and cold. But as in the days before, the peloton caught them shortly before the closing city circuit in Nürnberg and the expected sprint finale in the Nürnberger Old Town was set up. Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung once again showed itself on the same level as the best pro teams at the Bayern Rundfahrt. Riders with the yellow MTN-Qhubeka jerseys finished in the top ten in every single stage of the race. Team captain Ciolek opened this year’s race by sprinting to fourth and second place in the first two stages, respectively, before his stage win on Friday, which gave the team its first yellow leader’s jersey. On Saturday Lithuanian Ignatas Konovalovas proved his good form after a lengthy injury by finishing tenth in the time trial and in the final stage Ciolek rounded things out with a sixth place finish.

This year the 34th Bayern Rundfahrt ran over five stages and 785,4 kilometers from Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm in the Hallertau over the Bavarian forest to Nürnberg.

Race information: www.bayern-rundfahrt.com

Intern. Bayern-Rundfahrt (Germany) – (May 22-26 / UCI 2.HC): Andreas Stauff (GER), Gerald Ciolek (GER), Jay Thomson (RSA), Ignatas Konovalovas (LTU), Martin Reimer (GER), Meron Russom (ERI), Sergio Pardilla (ESP)

Staff: Jens Zemke (Directeur Sportif), Kevin Campbell (Directeur Sportif), Bastian Büffel (Soigneur), Olaf Warko (Soigneur), Hagen Bernutz (Soigneur), Daniele Nieri (Mechanic), Heiko Heinrici (Mechanic), Francesco Bonnini (Bus Driver)

Comments

mon-goose

May 27, 2013, 11:49 AM

what about darryl.... where did he finish

Kilo Master

May 27, 2013, 12:08 PM

Hey Guys,

 

1st off, we are all very proud to be Saffers and to see fellow Saffers doing well overseas and flying our flag high. (Shortly put - WELL DONE DARRYL.)

 

BUT, and this is a BIG BUT, is it really fair to hijack all the MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung's posts / articles because Darryl doesn't have a good publicist posting his awesome achievements on the SA forums???

 

Again - WELL DONE DARRYL!!!

AND...

WELL DONE "MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung" on your results thus far and on your PR department.

 

Example: I know all of the MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung results thanks to their press releases and only one of Darryl's results (the irony being that is also thanks to the MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung press releases.)

 

Just a thought to ponder. ;) :thumbup:

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