Trek have sponsored UCI Pro Continental-registered team MTN-Qhubeka since 2011 and this is team leader Gerald Ciolek’s Madone for 2014.
Ciolek enjoyed a fine first season for the African team in 2013, winning stages of the Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen, Tour of Austria and Tour of Britain, and, more significantly, upsetting the odds to outsprint Peter Sagan to win Milan-San Remo.
The 27-year-old has enjoyed a winning starting to 2014, too, claiming a stage of the Vuelta a Andalucia, before finishing a creditable ninth in defence of that Milan-San Remo title.
Ciolek’s performances have helped MTN-Qhubeka earn a late wildcard for this Sunday’s Tour of Flanders and the German fast man has stated that his career goals include a stage win at the Tour de France and victory in Flanders’ most prestigious one-day race.
He will ride the 2014 edition of the 259km race, which includes 17 Hellingen climbs, on the Madone – Trek’s super-light, aero bike. Ciolek’s frame is dressed in a SRAM Red 22 groupset, Zipp Firecrest 303 wheels (though he will have a range of Zipp hoops at his disposal on race day), Schwalbe Ultremo HT tyres, SRM power meter, Selle Italia SLR Team Edition saddle and FSA Energy finishing kit.
