Ciolek wins Tour of Rheinland-Pfalz 07

Gerald Ciolek wins Tour of Rheinland-Pfalz

Gerald Ciolek won the Tour of Rheinland-Pfalz last weekend. Starting the last of the five stages one second off the lead and lying in second place, by winning a couple of time bonuses throughout the stage he finished the race the overall winner.

Ciolek gained those bonus seconds by taking off in an early break together with team-mate Andreas Klier. Even though the move seemed certain to be reeled in - as indeed it was - Ciolek was away long enough to pick up a final five second advantage over Italian Luca Celli. T-Mobile then kept the pace high to ensure that a bunch sprint meant no other breakaways could regain time on Ciolek

Commenting on his victory: “We played a very strategic game, and it paid off in spades. Getting away in the break with Andreas was the key to it all.”

“But I really couldn't be sure of victory until I'd crossed the line. It was the best reward to what had been a very hard day's racing.”

“I want to dedicate this win to the whole team - because Sunday showed what we are capable of when we all pull together. It's very much a collective triumph.”