All nine of them. Team Gerolsteiner started into the 94th Tour de France on July 7 in London with nine riders. And with nine riders Team Gerolsteiner crossed the finishing line in the finale of the French tour on Sunday in Paris. And the fact that Robert Förster finished the final 20th stage on the Champs Élysées in ninth position after Italian Daniele Bennati's (Lampre) victory fit the picture.

Above all else it was the "nine" in Paris that pleased Hans-Michael Holczer at the end of the 3550 kilometers from the British to the French capital – especially when taking a look at the tasks that still await. "The fact that we reached Paris with nine riders is a strong sign for us and for the future", said the Team Manager, adding: "I count this as a true success." The squad from the Eifel was one of the youngest teams in the Peloton. Besides the Belgians from Quick Step it was also the only team to reach the finish without missing a rider. And that is what feeds Holczer's optimism.

"Sure, we also had our share of drama, especially in the mountains. But everyone fought it out and managed to make it", said the manager from Herrenberg: "Three weeks ago I wouldn't have dared to expect this." Apart from that Holczer was proud of the fact that the Gerolsteiner riders had done their homework. "In spite of all the problems during the Tour we feel that our stance regarding the whole business has proved to be the right one", said the Gerolsteiner Team Manager, seeing that another step has been taken on the path toward a clean cycling sport.

The Swabian manager sent four Tour newcomers into the race – and they made an impression during their premiere in France. Sven Krauß for instance, proving to be a tireless helper for Robert Förster, who was responsible for most of top ten rankings achieved by the team – twelve in total. Or Heinrich Haussler, who also managed to sprint into the stage top ten. Or Stefan Schumacher, who just barely missed a position amongst the ten best of the day in the final time trial on Saturday through a unfortunate fall. "But we have no need to complain about the chances that we may have had", said the Team Manager. Instead, the manager from Herrenberg was pleased with what his riders managed to achieve. And it was especially the fourth Tour newcomer who gave Holczer a glad heart: Bernhard Kohl.

The Austrian showed his potential especially during the third week. Because of his strong performances in the Pyrenees, Kohl managed to climb the ranks bit by bit in the General Classification – ranking in 31st position in the end, 1:13:27 hours behind Tour winner Alberto Contador (Spain/Discovery Channel). The 25-year-old was thus the best of the Gerolsteiner riders in the French tour. Something that Markus Fothen might also have managed. But, following some health issues shortly before the Tour, the rider from Kaarst never properly found the rhythm that had let him reach 15th position in last year's General Classification.

Nevertheless, ranking in 34th position Fothen is still in the top section of the French tour's field of riders. He also achieved Team Gerolsteiner's best result of the day when he reached 2nd place in the 17th stage. "We weren't brilliant. But our results are certainly respectable", said Holczer. And even though the Tour just ended, one could somehow tell that the Gerolsteiner Team Manager was already a little bit busy thinking ahead to the next one. He had after all seen "strong signs for the future" of his riders in the past three weeks.

Lampre for Clasica San Sebastian

On the 4th of August Lampre-Fondital will take part at the Clasica San Sebastian in Spain. Ballan, Baldato, Bossoni, Briseghin, Cunego, Marzano, Tiralongo and Vila will be directed by Fabrizio Bontempi. "In the team there will be riders from Tour de France and athletes that took part in Brixia Tour," Bontempi explained. "San Sebastian is a kind of race that could end with a sprint of 30-40 riders and in this case we have good chances with fast riders like Ballan and Baldato. If there will be a tougher race, Bruseghin and Vila could realiza a good performance using the good condition obtained in Tour de France. For Cunego it will be a good opportunity in order to improve his fitness."

In August three young athletes will race for the Lampre-Fondital team as trainees:  Marco Bandiera, Maurizio Girardini and Leonardo Pinizzotto.
Bandiera, born in 1984, is from team Zalf Fior and he's a complete rouleur with inclination for victories; Girardini was born in 1984, he raced with Unidelta Bottoli and he's a rider that joins power and agility; Pinizzotto, born in 1986, is from Gs Mastromarco and he's a fast rouleur.