The newly formed team ProContinental Cult Energy-Stölting Group has scheduleda press conference for Thursday where they will announce the final signing or the 2016 season. The press release did not reveal the name but a glance at the list of riders without a contract indicates that Gerald Ciolek is very likely to be the last addition.

The German’s contract with South African team MTN-Qhubeka which will be known as Dimension Data and led by Mark Cavendish in 2016, will expire at the end of the year and a new employer has not been announced.

At Cult Energy-Stölting Group, Ciolek would rejoin Jochen Hahn who discovered the German and works as sports director. Hahn worked with Ciolek in 2005, when he became a surprise German champion at 18 years of age while wearing the jersey of Akud Arnolds Sicherheit. Hahn was also Ciolek’s sports director at Weisenhof-Akud and Milram.

Also from a sporting perspective, the signing of Ciolek would make sense. Cult Energy-Stölting Group is still looking for a big-name sprinter and Ciolek would be the undisputed captain in most of the races which was not the case with MTN Qhubeka and it would be difficult at most other teams due to lack of results in 2015.

With the signing of Ciolek who would be reunited with former teammates Fabian Wegmann and Linus Gerdemann, the chances for wild cards would be enhanced, especially for Milan-San Remo which he won in 2013.

The fact that the press conference will take place in the German city of Bocholt and not in Denmark also indicates that the new rider is German. Another reason for the location could be that a new bike sponsor will also be unveiled. Rose Bikes would be a logical favourite.

There are a handful of high-profile foreign riders on the market, but Frenchman John Gadret, Spaniard Igor Anton (both Movistar), Slovian Grega Bole (CCC Sprandi), Belgian Björn Leukemans (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) and Italian Filippo Pozzato (Lampre-Merida) are all unlikely additions. Ciolek seems to be the logical choice.