The wildcards of the Bayern Rundfahrt have been taken: After twelve Pro and ProConti teams had been confirmed to start, the organizers of Germany's most important stage race invited seven more teams. In addition to the Polish team CCC Polsat and the Spanish team Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, five German Conti teams will also be given a start in the Bayern Rundfahrt, which takes place from May 27th to June 1st.
In addition to Team Stuttgart, which we are supporting as a media partner, the teams LKT-Team Brandenburg, rad-net Rose, Stölting, and Heizomat will also be competing in Bavaria. "The selection wasn't easy for us, especially considering the large number of applications from top-class teams. But as the highest-ranking stage race in Germany, we naturally place importance on giving German teams with up-and-coming riders a chance," said Hartmut Bölts, the race's sporting director.
The Bavarian team Heizomat can count on their home advantage in the race. "Despite their very young squad, the team has consistently impressed with an attractive and aggressive riding style at the Bayern Rundfahrt in recent years ," said Bölts. "Therefore, it makes perfect sense to consider this team again."
Team Stölting from Gelsenkirchen with captain Silvio Herklotz, the reigning German U23 champion, who is supported by Australian world champion and Olympic champion Luke Roberts as an experienced racing driver, made a name for itself last year as the strongest of the German Continental teams. The rad-net Rose team was able to surprise at its first appearance in Bavaria in 2013 by taking over the blue jersey of the best sprinter right at the start of the Bayern Rundfahrt.
Team Stuttgart and LKT Team Brandenburg will make their debut at this year's Tour of Bavaria. LKT Team Brandenburg has produced the winners of the German Cycling League in recent years and has also impressed with some strong results in international races. Their roster also includes two strong Bavarian riders, Sebastian Deckert and Julian Schulze. Team Stuttgart secured a Continental license for the first time this season and strengthened its roster accordingly at the beginning of the year. At the classic race Rund um Köln , the team, which boasts former professional cyclist Olaf Pollack as its sporting director, finished sixth, the best Continental team.
The WorldTour teams Sky, Trek, Katusha, FDJ.fr, Garmin Sharp, Orica GreenEdge, Ag2R-La Mondiale and Giant-Shimano and the ProConti teams NetApp-Endura, IAM, Bretagne-Séché Environnement have already started a few weeks ago and MTN-Qhubeka at the Bayern Rundfahrt.
This year, the Bayern Rundfahrt leads from Vilshofen via Freilassing, Reit im Winkl, Grassau, Neusäß and Wassertrüdingen am Hesselberg to Nuremberg. A total of 785,6 kilometers are on the program for the five stages from eastern Bavaria via the Chiemgau to Central Franconia. A preliminary decision in the fight for the overall victory of the race, which is held under the patronage of Minister of State Joachim Herrmann, is already expected when the mountain finishes as part of the queen's stage on the Winklmoos-Alm. The individual time trial on the penultimate day of the tour in Wassertrüdingen is of similar importance.