A few days ago, Gerald Ciolek was presented as a new signing for the German-Danish pro continental team Cult Energy-Stölting Group. In an interview with radsport-news.com, the German has revealed the reasons for his decision and talked about the hopes for a wildcard for Milan-San Remo and a possible Tour de France start in Dusseldorf in 2017.

Ciolek leaves MTN-Qhubeka after three years.

The team had other goals and plans,” he said. “I think it's the best for both parties to go our separate ways next year.

“I had a great time at MTN. It was really a team that was dear to my heart. It was a risk and a step into the unknown which fully paid off. I take many experiences, impressions and successes with me.”

Instead, he will now be one of the leaders at Cult Energy-Stölting Group.

“It is an emerging team that again has more focus on the German market,” he said. “I like the mix of experience and many young riders but I also meet many familiar faces again.”

One of those faces is sports director Jochen Hahn who worked with Ciolek at Milram and when he won the German Championships as a 19-year-old youngster.

“I've always had good contact with Jochen, also in the dealing with this change of teams,” Ciolek said. when “It's good to have someone in the team whom you can always trust.”

This year Cult Energy received wild cards for the Amstel Gold Race and Liege-Bastogne-Liege. As a former winner, Ciolek naturally hopes for an invitation for Milan-Sanremo.

“It would be great and very important for the team to have such a major highlight of the year,” he said. “But I cannot say how our chances are.”

At MTN-Qhubeka, Ciolek was a mentor for the young Africans. In his new team, he will have a similar role.

“You no longer have to explain cycling to the neo-professionals. Many come from U23 and Continental teams which have a professional set-up like a pro team. But still you can always share your experience which is of course also one of my tasks,” he said.

“I have always been at my best level in teams that have realistic expectations and have given me full support and trust. That’s what I missed in the final time with MTN but I am confident that I will find that again next year and thus be able to achieve successes again.”

Next year the Tour de France is likely to start in Düsseldorf and so it would be a dream for Ciolek to be at the start line.

“Dusseldorf is one of the most beautiful suburbs of Cologne,” he laughed. “A Tour start there would be a great thing, and for German cycling it is an important step. To be at the start with the new team would be a goal that we would work to achieve,” he concluded.