A surprise winner in 2013, Gerald Ciolek will now find himself a marked man but it does not mean the German can’t repeat his heroics of 12 months ago.
His team, for a start, have a point to prove to RCS Sport after the race organisers overlooked them for a Giro d’Italia wildcard this year. A second victory for the African team on the big stage will show them what they’re missing and Ciolek has already demonstrated he is a man up to the task.
Ciolek also claimed stage wins at the Tour of Austria and Tour of Britain last year and already has a win to his name in 2014 at the Ruta del Sol. Moreno Hofland (Belkin), who finished second at Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, was among the riders Ciolek narrowly beat to victory in Spain.
The MTN-Qhubeka rider has proved to himself, his team and his sprinting rivals that he is capable of mixing it with the big boys and, after last year’s race, the peloton will be more than a little wary of the German’s prowess.
