Team Stölting Service Group has announced three names that will be joining the team as stagiaires from the end of July, all three of whom represent young, German talents that have caught the eyes of the Sports Directors with their performances this season. Two Continental riders, Moritz Backofen, 21, of Team Kuota - Lotto, and Willi Willwohl, 21, of Team LKT Brandenburg, will be joined by 25-year-old amateur rider Alexander Weifenbach in team colours over the coming race period.

Stagiaires are riders that are selected by professional teams to join their ranks for a period of time in the final months of the race season, allowing talented riders the chance to shine on a bigger stage. With a focus of the team on developing German talent, it makes sense that we see three German riders being given the opportunity to prove their stengths.

Moritz Backofen previously raced for the Team Stölting continental team in 2015 where he finished second in the German national U23 road race, as well as sixth at the Tour of Hungary (2.2). Despite no standout results this season, Backofen is a rider that has impressed the team through his hard work and determination.

Willi Willwohl has ridden in the Continental ranks for the past four seasons, and has proven his sprint capabilities on many occasions, including a very promising seventh place in the German national road race, sprinting against some of the world’s fastest. A third place at the U23 road race, together with several wins in UCI ranked races brought Willwohl to the attention of the team.

Despite not racing for a professional team, Alexander Weifenbach has caught the eye of the team after strong performances at a lower level, including a regional championship title of Nordrhein-Westfalen this season. Having spent some time racing in America, including a win at the Prairie State Series Intelligentsia Cup, Weifenbach will also receive his chance with the team.

Sports Director Jochen Hahn comments: “Moritz Backofen already rode for Team Stölting in 2015. We promised to keep an eye on our former riders, and Moritz will get to start some bigger races with us. Willi Willwohl is a good sprinter who may get a chance in a race or two. We already followed Alexander Weifenbach last year, but since he wasn't U23 anymore we couldn't give him a stagiaire contract then. As a professional team we can, and after a string of good results in North Rhine-Westphalia including the regional title he will now get the opportunity to give pro races a try.”

Both Backofen and Weifenbach will start their first race with the team at the Rad am Ring (1.1) one day race on 31st July, while Willwohl’s first race will be Dwars door het Hageland Aarschot (1.1) on 5th August.