Simon Spilak (Katusha) won the 2013 edition of the Rund um den Finanzplatz Eschborn-Frankfurt, the traditional German May Day race, as he outsprinted the previous year’s winner, Moreno Moser (Cannondale) in a two-man sprint.

The duo broke clear accompanied by Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R La Mondiale) as the peloton ascended the steep Mammolshain Berg for the fourth time, with just 35 km to go, but dropped the Italian as they fought to hold off the sprinters’ teams on the approach to the finish line.

Eventually, Pozzovivo was swept up in the closing km, but Spilak and Moser managed to stay away to fight out the finish.

"It wasn't planned that I would take part to this race,” said Spilak afterwards. “But in the end we decided to take advantage of my shape; it turned out to be the best choice.

Recently the Slovenian rider came second overall in the Tour de Romandie, having won the weather-shortened stage to Les Diablerets, and he was able to maintain his form until the Frankfurt race.

“It was a very hard race, but my teammates worked very well in order to keep the race under control,” he explained, “and on the last climb, when Pozzovivo and Moser attacked, I decided to follow them. Then we cooperated very well, and we were just able to hold off the chase. I'm very happy,” he added. “This is the end of the first part of the season for me, and I think I can be very satisfied with my improvements. I took some great results, now I'll work hard in order to confirm in the next competition I will take part in.”