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19.09.2007/ T-Mobile's Gerald Ciolek celebrated his 21st birthday in fine style at the 3-Länder-Tour
on Wednesday. Ciolek sprinted to victory on the 185 kilometers long opening stage and grabbed the first race
leader's jersey in Gotha.
The 185 kilometers long opening stage of the 3 Länder-Tour went from Gera to Gotha. The stage was coloured
by two French riders: Samuel Plouhinec (Agritubel) and Clement Lhottellerie
(Skil-Shimano) attacked after 9 kilometers and the duo was caught only a few kilometers before the finish line. The French
riders were rewarded with the mountain jersey for Plouhinec and the sprinter jersey for Lhottellerie.
Gerald Ciolek (T-Mobile) outsprinted Milram duo Marcel Sieberg and Sebastian Siedler in the finale
to notch up his eighth season win. "It is fantastic that it worked out for me today. As a sprinter I have to make the most
of my chance anytime a race comes down to a bunch finish," said Ciolek to T-Mobile's team website.
It may have been
Ciolek's birthday, but Sieberg was offering no gifts and his late surge forced the race into a photo finish – with the
jury confirming Ciolek as winner a few minutes later.
"It is a great result", said a delighted T-Mobile sports director
Tristan Hoffman: "After the last two breakaways were reeled in with just three clicks to go, Gerald took stock off the situation
and showed good awareness to win the stage." Ciolek's lead-out man Marcus Burghardt held on for fourth place to round out
a good day for the magenta team.
The 187.3 km stage from Gera to Gotha took the peloton over the rolling hills of the
Thüringer Wald region and included two KOM points, one category one and one category two climb.
"Gerald has earned
a little celebrators glass tonight," joked Hoffman. "But in a small measure of course – after all we will be back in
the hunt for stage wins in the next couple of days."
Ciolek for his part is keen to defend his leader’s jersey
in the rolling hills of the state of Hessen: "I will give it everything to defend my yellow jersey on tomorrow's second stage.
It is over difficult terrain but today’s stage win has given me added motivation."
Results
Stage 1
1 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) T-Mobile Team
4.54.35 (39.92 km/h)
2 Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Team Milram
3 Sebastian Siedler (Ger) Team Milram
4 Luke Roberts (Aus) Team CSC
5 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) T-Mobile Team
6 Dirk Müller (Ger) Team Sparkasse
7 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC
8 Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Rabobank
9 Olaf Pollack (Ger) Team Wiesenhof Felt
10 Konstantin Schubert (Ger) Team Regiostrom - Senges
General Classification after stage 1
1 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) T-Mobile Team
4.54.25
2 Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Team Milram
0.04
3 Sebastian Siedler (Ger) Team Milram
0.06
4 Christian Knees (Ger) Team Milram
0.09
5 Luke Roberts (Aus) Team CSC
0.10
6 Marcus Burghardt (Ger) T-Mobile Team
7 Dirk Müller (Ger) Team Sparkasse
8 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC
9 Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Rabobank
10 Olaf Pollack (Ger) Team Wiesenhof Felt
Race Reports
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