Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung will once again take part in the Bayern Rundfahrt when the race gets underway on Wednesday. The 5 stage UCI 2.HC event is Germany’s only stage race for professional riders making it one of the highlights on the European calendar.
With having a number of German personal on MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung, the Bayern Rundfahrt has always been an important tour for our team. This year, for the 36th edition we will once again have a number of staff as well as Andreas Stauff taking part in their homeland event. The 5 stages include 4 road stages, all of which could be considered undulating, and a 26km time trial which will be raced as the 4th stage.
MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung will have a strong team able to do well on a daily basis. Joining Andy will be Steve Cummings who will be the teams GC hopeful. Reinardt Janse van Rensburg, along with Andy will be able to target any stages that end in a bunch kick. Last year Reinie ran 2nd in the races longest stage.
For the hills, Louis Meintjes and Merhawi Kudus will lead our charge while Songezo Jim and Adrien Niyonshuti will look to show the form they had at the Tour of Turkey once again and try to infiltrate the breakaway when not riding in support of the day’s protected rider.
Jens Zemke – Head of Performance
It will already be our 3rd participation in Germany’s only stage race for professionals and we are thankful that we can promote our campaign to put 5000 students on Qhubeka bikes. There will be strong riders showing up in Bayern like Degenkolb, Bouhanni and possibly Dowsett. To win Bayern it will require a complete rider who is strong over flat and hilly terrain as well being a TT specialist. Our captain Steve Cummings will do battle for a good GC result and Reinardt Janse van Rensburg has good memories of his 2nd place in the stage last year so he too will be motivated.
