Gerald Ciolek
Encyclopedia
Gerald Michael Ciolek is a German
professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . In 2005, Ciolek won the German National Championship road race at age 18, the youngest ever rider to do so.
Ciolek started racing at senior events in May 2005, with Team AKUD Arnolds Sicherheit
, where he had a very successful season. In the German National Championships at Oberen Werntal, Ciolek was able to overcome seasoned sprinters Erik Zabel
and Robert Förster
without help from any team mates to win the road race championship, ending the twelve year domination of T-Mobile. Besides winning the national championship, he secured three stage victories and the points competition at the Tour de Hongrie, and a stage victory at the Mainfranken Tour.
In 2006, Ciolek completed his education at the Ford Motor Company
and was able to turn professional and devote his career to cycling. Through the season, he rode strongly and secured a number of high placings in important races to prove he could challenge, and beat, the strongest sprinters in UCI ProTour
teams. Ciolek had an excellent second placing at the Rund um den Henninger Turm, where he once again beat Erik Zabel. Since Ciolek’s AKUD Arnolds Sicherheit team merged with Team Wiesenhof at the beginning of the season to be the strongest German team outside of the UCI ProTour, they were able to secure wild card entries to a number of ProTour events where Ciolek shone even more. At the Vattenfall Cyclassics
, Ciolek secured fifth place. A few weeks later, Ciolek won his first UCI ProTour event at the Tour of Germany
, where he won stage three. On 23 September he won U23 Road Race World Championship in Salzburg
.
For the 2007 season, Ciolek left Wiesenhof for the UCI ProTour with T-Mobile Team
. After a relatively quiet early season, he came from behind to win the Rheinland-Pfalz Rundfahrt in May. He then caught fire in August, when he took three stages of the Deutschland Tour and was a fast-charging third in the Vattenfall Cyclassics.
In the 2008 season, Ciolek raced for Team Columbia. During 2008, he was a stage winner in Sparkassencup Schwenningen, and won two stages in Bayern-Rundfahrt. In the 2008 Tour De France Ciolek was an instrumental figure in all four of Mark Cavendish's stage wins. On the final stage on the Champs-Élysées Ciolek managed to finish second to Gert Steegmans. He participated in the Olympic Games Road Race but had to abandon due to the effect the extreme conditions had on him. However, in September, he was able to bounce back and claim the fifth stage of the 2008 Deutschland Tour in an uphill sprint finish.
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . In 2005, Ciolek won the German National Championship road race at age 18, the youngest ever rider to do so.
Ciolek started racing at senior events in May 2005, with Team AKUD Arnolds Sicherheit
Team Wiesenhof-AKUD
Team Wiesenhof-Felt was a professional continental cycling team based in Germany that participated in UCI Continental Circuits races and when selected as a wildcard to UCI ProTour events...
, where he had a very successful season. In the German National Championships at Oberen Werntal, Ciolek was able to overcome seasoned sprinters Erik Zabel
Erik Zabel
Erik Zabel is a former German professional road bicycle racer who last raced with Milram. With over 200 professional wins he is considered by some one of the greatest German cyclists and best cycling sprinters of history...
and Robert Förster
Robert Förster
Robert Förster is a German professional road racing cyclist, specialising in bunch sprints, currently riding for .He turned professional in 2001, initially riding for Team Nürnberger...
without help from any team mates to win the road race championship, ending the twelve year domination of T-Mobile. Besides winning the national championship, he secured three stage victories and the points competition at the Tour de Hongrie, and a stage victory at the Mainfranken Tour.
In 2006, Ciolek completed his education at the Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
and was able to turn professional and devote his career to cycling. Through the season, he rode strongly and secured a number of high placings in important races to prove he could challenge, and beat, the strongest sprinters in UCI ProTour
UCI ProTour
The UCI ProTour was a series of road bicycle races in Europe, Australia and Canada organised by the UCI . Created by Hein Verbruggen, former president of the UCI, it comprises a number of 'ProTour' cycling teams, each of whom are required to compete in every round of the series...
teams. Ciolek had an excellent second placing at the Rund um den Henninger Turm, where he once again beat Erik Zabel. Since Ciolek’s AKUD Arnolds Sicherheit team merged with Team Wiesenhof at the beginning of the season to be the strongest German team outside of the UCI ProTour, they were able to secure wild card entries to a number of ProTour events where Ciolek shone even more. At the Vattenfall Cyclassics
Vattenfall Cyclassics
The Vattenfall Cyclassics is an annual one-day pro and amateur cycling race in and around Hamburg. Although it is a race with a short history, it is nevertheless reckoned as a classic. It started as an unimportant race in 1996, but because of the fast growing popularity of cycling in Germany, it...
, Ciolek secured fifth place. A few weeks later, Ciolek won his first UCI ProTour event at the Tour of Germany
Deutschland Tour 2006
The 30th edition of the Deutschland Tour road bicycle race took place in Germany from August 1 to August 9, 2006. It consisted of a Prologue and eight stages covering a total of , starting in Düsseldorf and finishing in Karlsruhe...
, where he won stage three. On 23 September he won U23 Road Race World Championship in Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
.
For the 2007 season, Ciolek left Wiesenhof for the UCI ProTour with T-Mobile Team
T-Mobile Team
HTC-Highroad is a professional cycling team competing in international road bicycle races. Their current title sponsor is HTC Corporation, a Taiwanese manufacturer of smartphones. High Road Sports is the management company of team manager Bob Stapleton. Past title sponsors include Columbia...
. After a relatively quiet early season, he came from behind to win the Rheinland-Pfalz Rundfahrt in May. He then caught fire in August, when he took three stages of the Deutschland Tour and was a fast-charging third in the Vattenfall Cyclassics.
In the 2008 season, Ciolek raced for Team Columbia. During 2008, he was a stage winner in Sparkassencup Schwenningen, and won two stages in Bayern-Rundfahrt. In the 2008 Tour De France Ciolek was an instrumental figure in all four of Mark Cavendish's stage wins. On the final stage on the Champs-Élysées Ciolek managed to finish second to Gert Steegmans. He participated in the Olympic Games Road Race but had to abandon due to the effect the extreme conditions had on him. However, in September, he was able to bounce back and claim the fifth stage of the 2008 Deutschland Tour in an uphill sprint finish.
Palmarès
2005- 1st
National Road Race Champion - 1st Stage 3 Tour de HongrieTour de HongrieThe Tour de Hongrie is a professional road bicycle stage race organized in Hungary since 1925.-History:The inaugural Tour de Hongrie took place on 27 June 1925...
- 1st Stage 7 Tour de HongrieTour de HongrieThe Tour de Hongrie is a professional road bicycle stage race organized in Hungary since 1925.-History:The inaugural Tour de Hongrie took place on 27 June 1925...
- 1st Stage 8 Tour de HongrieTour de HongrieThe Tour de Hongrie is a professional road bicycle stage race organized in Hungary since 1925.-History:The inaugural Tour de Hongrie took place on 27 June 1925...
- 1st Points classificationPoints classificationThe points classification is a secondary award category in road bicycle racing. Points are given for high finishes and, in some cases, for winning intermediate sprints. The points classification is the top prize for many cycling sprinters and therefore is often known as the Sprint Classification;...
- 1st Points classification
- 1st Stage 3 Mainfranken Tour
2006
- 1st
U-23 Road Race World Champion. - 1st Stage 3 Deutschland TourDeutschland TourThe Deutschland Tour was the most important multi-stage road bicycle race in Germany. Initially the race was held in May/June. Since 2005 it is part of the UCI ProTour and has been moved to August...
- 1st Stage 3 Istrian Spring Trophy
- 1st Rund um die Nürnberger AltstadtRund um die Nürnberger AltstadtRund um die Nürnberger Altstadt is an elite men's and women's professional road bicycle racing event held each September in the old town section of Nuremberg, Germany.- Women :The women's event is part of the UCI Women's Road World Cup.- Men :...
- 1st Young rider classificationYoung rider classificationYoung rider classification is a cycling jersey competition in multi-day stage race events, such as the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and many others, which awards the current leader by overall time for riders below the age of twenty-five years old depending on the race rules...
, Niedersachsen-Rundfahrt - 2nd Rund um den Henninger Turm
- 5th Vattenfall CyclassicsVattenfall CyclassicsThe Vattenfall Cyclassics is an annual one-day pro and amateur cycling race in and around Hamburg. Although it is a race with a short history, it is nevertheless reckoned as a classic. It started as an unimportant race in 1996, but because of the fast growing popularity of cycling in Germany, it...
2007
- 1st Overall Rheinland-Pfalz RundfahrtRheinland-Pfalz RundfahrtThe International Rheinland-Pfalz Rundfahrt is a multi-stage road bicycle race held in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. Since 2005 it is part of the UCI Europe Tour, being organised as 2.1 race.In its early years, it was an amateur race...
- 1st Sprint classification
- 1st Young rider classificationYoung rider classificationYoung rider classification is a cycling jersey competition in multi-day stage race events, such as the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and many others, which awards the current leader by overall time for riders below the age of twenty-five years old depending on the race rules...
- 1st Stage 6 Deutschland TourDeutschland TourThe Deutschland Tour was the most important multi-stage road bicycle race in Germany. Initially the race was held in May/June. Since 2005 it is part of the UCI ProTour and has been moved to August...
- 1st Stage 7 Deutschland TourDeutschland TourThe Deutschland Tour was the most important multi-stage road bicycle race in Germany. Initially the race was held in May/June. Since 2005 it is part of the UCI ProTour and has been moved to August...
- 1st Stage 9 Deutschland TourDeutschland TourThe Deutschland Tour was the most important multi-stage road bicycle race in Germany. Initially the race was held in May/June. Since 2005 it is part of the UCI ProTour and has been moved to August...
- 1st Stage 2 Österreich RundfahrtÖsterreich RundfahrtThe Tour of Austria is a stage cycling race held in Austria. From 1949 to 1995 it was a race for amateur cyclists, turning into a professional event in 1996. In 2005 and 2006 it was organised as a 2.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour, becoming a 2.HC event in 2007. Since 2005 it has usually been held...
- 1st Stage 8 Österreich RundfahrtÖsterreich RundfahrtThe Tour of Austria is a stage cycling race held in Austria. From 1949 to 1995 it was a race for amateur cyclists, turning into a professional event in 1996. In 2005 and 2006 it was organised as a 2.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour, becoming a 2.HC event in 2007. Since 2005 it has usually been held...
- 1st Stage 1 3-Länder-Tour3-Länder-TourThe 3-Länder-Tour der Sparkassen Versicherung is a multi-stage road bicycle race held around three Länder of Germany: Hessen, Thuringia and Baden-Württemberg...
- 3rd Vattenfall CyclassicsVattenfall CyclassicsThe Vattenfall Cyclassics is an annual one-day pro and amateur cycling race in and around Hamburg. Although it is a race with a short history, it is nevertheless reckoned as a classic. It started as an unimportant race in 1996, but because of the fast growing popularity of cycling in Germany, it...
2008
- 1st Stage 1 Bayern-RundfahrtBayern-RundfahrtThe International Bayern Rundfahrt is a stage race cycling race held each year in Bavaria, Germany. Since 2005, the race has been organised as a 2.HC event on the UCI Europe Tour.The race was held as an amateur race between 1980 and 1988.- Winners :...
- 1st Stage 3 Bayern-RundfahrtBayern-RundfahrtThe International Bayern Rundfahrt is a stage race cycling race held each year in Bavaria, Germany. Since 2005, the race has been organised as a 2.HC event on the UCI Europe Tour.The race was held as an amateur race between 1980 and 1988.- Winners :...
- 1st Stage 5 Deutschland TourDeutschland TourThe Deutschland Tour was the most important multi-stage road bicycle race in Germany. Initially the race was held in May/June. Since 2005 it is part of the UCI ProTour and has been moved to August...
- 2nd Stage 21 Tour de FranceTour de FranceThe Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
2009
- 1st Stage 2 Vuelta a EspañaVuelta a EspañaThe Vuelta a España is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages...
- 1st Trofeo Calvia
- 3rd Vattenfall CyclassicsVattenfall CyclassicsThe Vattenfall Cyclassics is an annual one-day pro and amateur cycling race in and around Hamburg. Although it is a race with a short history, it is nevertheless reckoned as a classic. It started as an unimportant race in 1996, but because of the fast growing popularity of cycling in Germany, it...
2010
- 1st Stage 3 Bayern-RundfahrtBayern-RundfahrtThe International Bayern Rundfahrt is a stage race cycling race held each year in Bavaria, Germany. Since 2005, the race has been organised as a 2.HC event on the UCI Europe Tour.The race was held as an amateur race between 1980 and 1988.- Winners :...
- 2nd Stage 5 Tour de FranceTour de FranceThe Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
2011
- 2nd Vattenfall CyclassicsVattenfall CyclassicsThe Vattenfall Cyclassics is an annual one-day pro and amateur cycling race in and around Hamburg. Although it is a race with a short history, it is nevertheless reckoned as a classic. It started as an unimportant race in 1996, but because of the fast growing popularity of cycling in Germany, it...