John Degenkolb (Giant-Alpecin) sent an important signal to the German Cycling Federation ahead of the World Championships when he powered to victory in the Sparkassen Münsterland Giro where he was up against fellow sprinters André Greipel (Lotto Soudal) and Marcel Kittel (Etixx-QuickStep). After the peloton had split on the wet finishing circuit, he held Roy Jans (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) and Pascal Ackermann (Rad-net Rose) off in a close finish while neither Greipel nor Kittel made it into the top 10.

 

We have gathered a few reactions.

 

Degenkolb: This was the perfect farewell to Giant-Alpecin and a great boost for Qatar

In the finale, the bunch sprint in the streets of Münster was won by John Degenkolb after a brilliant lead-out from the team.

 

John Degenkolb said:

 

“There was perfect team spirit today and I am delighted with the victory. It is really great to win in my home country. The team worked very hard throughout the whole race and gave me a great lead-out.

 

“We reacted well on the late attacks in the finale. For the sprint I had the right position and could come through at the right moment, so that was fantastic.

 

"The finale surely suited me. It was slippery and difficult, but in the end everyone knows the circuit here. Accordingly, I was fully focused and always in the front. But now I am deliriously happy.

 

"We were always there, big compliment to the team. I am happy to give the victory as a thank you and a farewell to the team.

 

"The difficult final on a circuit with wet and slippery roads suited me of course. That I was able to win after two second places at the Münsterland Giro (2011 and 2014, ed.) gives me a great motivation for the Worlds

 

 "I could not have wished for more. Now we will see what will happen at the Worldsfor us. This is not an easy race and I'm not the only captain. But I will have something to say

 

"That was the perfect motivation for Qatar and a nice farewell and thanks to my team.”

 

Coach Arthur van Dongen added: “We are very happy with this win at Münsterland Giro, which is an important race for us in Germany. To win here is a great achievement for all our efforts after a challenging season.

 

“The whole team did a great job and the lead-out went perfectly today. The plan was to have as many guys as possible with John at the end. On the local laps, it was quite tricky with the rain and cobbles. The guys supported John very well and he was able to capitalise on this.”

 

In-form Jans close to victory in Münster

For the second year in a row, Roy Jans finished second in the Münsterland Giro on Monday. It's a race of the 1.HC category, the second highest rank in global cycling. For Jans it was his eighth top 5 of the season. 

"After an unlucky season it is good to be in good shape again", Roy Jans said. "On the one hand I'm happy with this result. On the other hand there is a little bit of frustration when you take the second place."

Next to Roy Jans, Kenny Dehaes, Lander Seynaeve, Robin Stenuit and Tom Devriendt lined up for the 208-kilometre long race in the German town of Münster. The story of the race was predictable: a breakaway of six riders rode clear without any representation of Wanty-Groupe Gobert. Big teams like Lotto-Soudal and Etixx-Quick Step controlled the chase. It was all back together with 20 kilometres to go.

 

"It was a dangerous race with the rain and the cobbles. I managed to stay in the first positions of the peloton."

Roy Jans was well-positioned in the final but the German rider John Degenkolb won the bunch sprint.

 

"Robin Stenuit kept me at the front until 1.5 km to go. Before launching my sprint I wasn't on Degenkolb's wheel. There was another rider between us. At the end I lost for a wheel."

 

"Last year I felt even stronger. Today I was actually not as strong so to be a close second allows me to be satisfied.”

The Belgian sprinter is on good form.

 

"I feel good. I have threee races left this season and in each of these races I have a good chance to win. Today I was very close to the victory. I hope that the first win of the season comes in Paris-Bourges, Paris-Tours or the Sluitingsprijs," Jans concludes.

 

German U23 champion impresses with third place in Münster

Third place Pascal Ackermann said:

 

"I am, of course, happy that I could say goodbye to my team with a third place in a UCI race. A podium was our goal and thanks to great teamwork it worked out. A top result two weeks before the Worlds is a confidence boost.”

 

In-form Trentin takes over from Kittel in Münster

Everything was set for a sprint finish, but on the local laps the bunch got fragmented and just a handful of riders made it to the front, holding off the chasers and contesting the victory. Matteo Trentin got involved in the sprint and finished fourth at the 12th Sparkassen Münsterland Giro, behind John Degenkolb (Giant-Alpecin), Roy Jans (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) and Pascal Ackermann (Rad-Net Rose), while another Etixx – Quick-Step rider, Gianni Meersman, concluded the race in 8th place.

 

"It was a tough day, made even more hard by the rain. I think there was a crash in the final kilometers, and that's why the peloton split. Together with Max [Richeze] and Gianni we managed to get into that first group and decided that I'll go for the sprint", said Trentin, who posted his 15th top-10 finish of the season. "I probably went a bit too early, with around 250 meters to go, but even without this, Degenkolb would have won, because he was stronger. Maybe I could have finished on the podium if I would have started at the right moment, but this doesn't matter now. All that's important is that my legs are strong and I'm motivated for my next appointments."

 

Smith sprints to top 5, Von Hoff taken out by crash

For ONE, sprint hopeful Steele Von Hoff was taken down in a crash at the back end of the race but Dion Smith managed to stay out of trouble. Focusing on the finish the young Kiwi sprinted across the line in a fantastic 5th position, rewarding  the great work carried out by the entire team. 

 

After everything was organised, word was fed back to the team car that strong cross winds lay ahead just after the 135km mark. Lead Sports Director Phil West warned the squad to get into a good position and protect themselves as much as possible.

 

Leading the chase, Tom Baylis was sent to the front of the peloton and with help from Lotto Soudal and Etixx – Quickstep they rode tempo to peg the gap to the break. During the crosswind section, Lotto Soudal and Etixx put pressure on the group managing to split the field. ONE Pro Cycling were all positioned nicely in the front of the split but a lot of other riders found themselves shelled off the back.

 

The intense pace at the front of the peloton saw the break reeled in with 37km remaining. Following a regrouping and a bit of control within the peloton, all focus shifted to getting into a good position coming the finishing circuit. With the plan to ride for Steele Von Hoff, the team done exactly what was needed and got themselves into a great position to protect the Australian sprinter in the run into the finish.

 

The team arrived on the finishing circuit amongst the top 20 but with a lap and a half to go, the rain started to fall and a large crash unfolded on the cobbles at the back end of the circuit, taking down a large number of riders including sprint hopeful Steele Von Hoff. A small group at the front of the peloton including Dion Smith managed to avoid the carnage. A fast and furious run into the finish saw the young Kiwi line up for the sprint and pick up a fantastic 5th place on the line.

 

Speaking after the race Smith commented:

 

“I felt good today. I didn’t know how the body or legs would feel after the last block of racing but I’ve freshened up nicely. The main plan was to go for Steele but unfortunately he got taken out with only 8km to go on some cobbles, so then I had to think about the sprint. The run into the finish was a small bunch which suits me better, I had to follow the teams with two or more riders and use their lead out men. With 1km to go I was in an ok position but had to open up earlier than I would have liked in order to move up before sprinting for the line. It was a great effort by the entire team and even with the carnage It worked out well in the end.”

 

19-year-old Pole ready for U23 Worlds after sixth place at 1.HC race in Münster

19-year old Alan Banaszek finished 6th in the HC one-day German event, Sparkassen Münsterland Giro. That was the last European race for CCC Sprandi Polkowice and for the youngster it was the last test before the world championships. 

 

”Most of the race was quite calm, until the final 30 kilometers. This was when it started to rain. The weather and the cobblestone sections on the Munster circuit caused the bunch to split. Some riders went down, but I managed to make it into the decisive 20-man group,” Alan Banaszek explains.

 

”I was very well positioned in the finale, since I was sitting on Degenkolb’s wheel. In the very end I got pushed off of that spot though and finished in 6th place. I think I could have done better in terms of result, but I’m still satisfied with the outcome. I am also happy about the team performance – I got a lot of help today from my teammates and I’m very grateful for that.”

 

For Banaszek that was the last exam before leaving for U23 world championships.

 

“As I said before the European championships, I’ve been aiming with my form for the Worlds and everything is going the right direction. I feel strong and I may be even stronger in Qatar. Now I will go back to Poland and on October 6 I’m flying to Doha.”

 

Bauhaus takes over from ill Bennett in Münxter

Unfortunately Sam Bennett couldn´t start. Due to bronchitis the team and Bennett decided that he as not going to take part in the race. Therefore BORA –ARGON 18 had to start with 7 riders. But the race went very well for the team.

 

After 30 kilometers a group of 6 riders formed today´s breakaway group. Initiator of this group was Silvio Herklotz. He was in a good shape and worked often in front of the group.

 

The riders had to do 3 laps on the final circuit before they could finish. Due to the rain the streets with the cobblesstones were very dangerous in the race. BORA –ARGON 18 went to the front of the race. The boys worked together with Etixx-Quickstep and Dimension Data but the rain made it tough.

 

5 kilometers before the finish a group with 20 riders was able to build some advantage to the peloton. In this group were also Phil Bauhaus and John Degenkolb (Team Giant – Alpecin), who won the race in the end. Bauhaus took seventh
 

”The race went like we had planned it today. We wanted to have somebody like Silvio in the group and for the finale we rode for Phil. The team did a good job. The only problem was the weather. It started to rain on the last laps. The wet cobblestones on the final circuit decided the race. Phil was in a good position, also in the finale. He was in the group of 20 riders. But after a day like this he hadn’t got the legs for a podium result. But with his 7th place we are also very happy,” said sports director Enrico Poitschke.

 

South African stagiaire gets his chance to lead Dimension Data in Münster

The Münsterland Giro saw Ryan Gibbons as Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka’s best placed finisher. In only his second race for the World Tour outfit, the South African stagiaire crossed the line in 12th position.

 

3 laps of the finishing circuit needed to be raced in the end. And these would turn out to be decisive, partly due to the wet roads. The rain started when the peloton reached the outskirts of Münster and on the cobbled sections of the course the peloton eventually would split.

 

The African team rode attentively and managed to place both Bernhard Eisel and Ryan Gibbons in a group of 22 riders that rode away from the rest in the last couple of kilometers. In a hectic finale the road captain rode Gibbons into position and all looked good until 500 meters to go. But when the riders opened the final sprint things got a bit messy. Gibbons tried to react but couldn’t quite close the gap that Degenkolb and a few others managed to open as he had to go around some riders. In the end he crossed the line in 12th place, just missing out on the top10.

 

Sports director Rolf Aldag said:
 

“We wanted to give Ryan a chance today. He has quite a sprint and so we wanted to play his card. The race started in good conditions, but when we reached the final laps in Münster the rain started pouring down. It was quite tricky on the cobbled sections. The team rode well though and tried to stay on top of things all day. Into the final 5 kilometers a group of around 20 riders managed to get a gap. Ryan and Bernie were in there. All looked good for us until the last few hundred meters when Ryan had make a move that cost him some places, I guess. He’s a bit disappointed now, but he did a good race. It’s racing after all and today was certainly not an easy day in the end.”

 

Stölting aggressive in final race of 2016 season

The Sparkassen Münsterland Giro (1.HC) was the final race of the season for Team Stölting Service Group. Local riders Fabian Wegmann and Linus Gerdemann in particular had earmarked the race, and the team showed a good performance. Lennard Kämna put in an attack in the rainy final, but was reeled in again. In the end, Gerdemann finished 16th with Kämna just behind in 18th place.

 

Six riders escaped soon after the start, and the peloton let them go, soon being seven minutes behind the front. The break took the mountain sprints on the two laps through the Baumberge hills while the peloton slowly picked up the pace. On the second lap, Team Stölting Service Group took to the front and made it a hard race together with Lotto Soudal, trying to tire out the sprinters and whittle down the peloton. This meant that the field was only two minutes behind the break at the last mountain sprint on the Schöppinger Berg with 48.6 km to go. Both Linus Gerdemann and Fabian Wegmann suffered punctures during the race, but had no problems getting back to the peloton.

 

When the race entered Münster, the break had been caught, and the rain started to come down.Wegmann was involved in a mass crash on the first lap, and his chances of a top result were gone.

 

A group of just over twenty riders split off the front of the bunch on the second lap, quickly gaining a gap of about fifteen seconds. Gerdemann and Lennard Kämna were present for Team Stölting Service Group, and on the final lap Kämna made a move. He attacked out of the group, taking Tony Martin (Etixx – Quick Step) and Zico Waeytens (Topsport Vlaanderen – Baloise) with him. While Kämna dug deep on the final kilometres, Martin didn’t participate in the work, and the trio was caught again.

 

Linus Gerdemann took a 16th place in his hometown, Lennard Kämna finished just behind in 18th. A minute later, Fabian Wegmann came in with the peloton on 35th place.

 

Sports Director Jochen Hahn said after the race: “The guys did a good race today. Our plan was to put on some action in the hills after 150 km, making it a hard race, and we did that well, working together with Lotto Soudal. Coming onto the finishing circuit, we still had seven riders in the bunch, only Alex Kirsch had to abandon after a crash. Unfortunately, a big crash on the first lap took out Fabian. When the peloton split, we had Lennard and Linus in front, and Lennard made the final attack. Sadly, Tony Martin didn’t pull through, pointing to a sprinter in the group behind. These tactics meant that they were reeled in; but Lennard raced well, and his form is good going towards the Worlds. We showed ourselves well as a team, and I’m satisfied with today’s performance.”

 

No luck for Novo Nordisk sprinter in Münster

On Monday, Team Novo Nordisk took on the Germany’s one-day Sparkassen Münsterland Giro.  After approximatley 20km of racing, a group of six riders pulled away to form the day’s main breakaway, and the Team Novo Nordisk squad hung together inside the peloton, which was led by Etixx – Quick-Step and Lotto Soudal. 

 

The breakaway was finally reeled in with 25km to go, as the race enter the local circuits, and teams began to set up their sprinters for the finish. Team Novo Nordisk worked for Italian sprinter, Andrea Peron, but the squad was caught behind a crash with only two laps to go.

 

“The race was decided in the last circuit,” Peron said. “After two laps, we with were about 30 riders in the front, and then I got stuck behind and a crash that split the group. I was able to fight my way back, but with less than 5km to go, I wasn’t able to be a factor in the sprint.”

 

John Degenkolb (Team Giant – Alpecin) won the day, with Peron finishing best for Team Novo Nordisk at 32nd, 1:08 behind Degenkolb.

 

Team Novo Nordisk, the world’s first all-diabetes pro cycling team, continues racing on October 22 at the two-day Japan Cup Road Race.