Milan-San Remo winner Gerald Ciolek will lead Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung in the 34th edition of the International Bayern Rundfahrt.

The team has selected an experienced squad to support the German sprinter, due to the fact that the race has attracted some of the best riders in the world.

“Bayern Rundfahrt is a very, very important race for us,” said Sports Director, Jens Zemke, who won three stages in the race as a rider. One of those three wins came in Sankt Englmar, which this year is the highest point in the race. Ciolek is also the most recent stage winner in Sankt Englmar after he won a spectacular sprint in 2008.

“We are looking good for all the scenarios of the race,” said Zemke. “Ignatas Konovalovas is our top man for time trials and with Sergio Pardilla we have a first class climber on the team. We will start with our best line-up in Bayern in order to support our project – getting people in Africa onto bikes.”

In addition to Konovalovas who has won a Giro d’Italia time trial and Spanish climber Pardilla, the team will send German’s Martin Reimer and Andreas Stauff. South African champion Jay Thomson and Meron Russom will also strengthen the team. The Eritrian Russom was at the front of the race in Frankfurt much of the day and through his impressive appearance brought the Qhubeka project closer to the general public in Germany.

In Bavaria, Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung will come up against some strong rivals. A total of 9 WorldTour teams will start the event.

The 34th Bayern Rundfahrt begins on Wednesday in Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm. From there the race runs over five stages and 755 kilometers from the Hallertau over the Bavarian forest to Nürnberg.