Gerald Ciolek has all the characteristics to shine in the biggest one-day race in his native Germany, today's Rund um den Finanazplatz, but so far the win has always eluded him. He will give it another shot when he leads a strong MTN-Qhubeka team in the 2014 edition of the event.

After finishing 5th in last years edition of the Rund um den Finanzplatz, Gerald Ciolek and Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung will return to the German UCI 1.HC event with the hope of an even better result this year. Starting later today, the 203km race is one that suits a sprinter who is able to climb really well. It for this reason that riders like John Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano) and Alexander Kristoff (Team Katusha) have been attracted to this event.

Whenever racing in his home country, Ciolek just seems to find that extra bit of motivation which generally results in a top placing. Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung will be hoping for no different today as they send a strong team to support Ciolek. Jacques Janse van Rensburg, Jay Thomson, Jaco Venter,  Adrien Niyonshuti, Daniel Teklehaimanot, Martin Reimer and Ignatas Konovalovas will be the riders flanking Ciolek.

"We did a recon ride yesterday and the climbs are quite hard so for sure there will be some splits in the peloton," Konovalovas said. "Our race strategy will all depend on how Gerald and some of the other guys are feeling on the bike today.

"I think racing at “home” for Gerald will definitely help him, naturally this parcours suits him I think. So our chances are quite good I hope, and also the weather forecast says it will rain and that’s Gerald’s type of weather too.

"Personally I have never done this race before and my sensations on the bike are pretty far from my best at the moment. It has been a long classics campaign and a few of us have been going full gas from the first cobbled classics in Belgium. I am really looking forward to the little break that comes after this race for me."