Gerolsteiner (cycling team) facts for kids
The squad of the 2005 Rund um den Henninger-Turm
|
||
| Team information | ||
|---|---|---|
| UCI code | GST | |
| Registered | Germany | |
| Founded | 1997 | |
| Disbanded | 2008 | |
| Discipline(s) | Road | |
| Status | ProTour | |
| Key personnel | ||
| General manager | Reimund Dietzen | |
| Team name history | ||
|
1997–1998
1999–2008 |
Schauff Oeschelbronn
Gerolsteiner |
|
|
||
Gerolsteiner (UCI team code: GST) was a professional road bicycle racing team from Germany. The team was known for its bright blue and white jerseys. It was supported by the mineral water company Gerolsteiner Brunnen and Specialized, a company that makes bikes and cycling gear.
History of the Team
The Gerolsteiner cycling team started in 1997. It was first called Schauff Oeschelbronn. The team manager was Hans-Michael Holczer. Sports directors Rolf Gölz and Christian Henn helped lead the team.
In 1999, Gerolsteiner Brunnen became the main sponsor. This helped the team grow. A big step for the team was signing rider Georg Totschnig in 2001. His arrival helped the team become a top-level cycling group.
In 2003, the team raced in the famous Tour de France for the very first time. This was a huge achievement for them.
Georg Totschnig was a very important rider for several years. He was known as an excellent climber. This means he was very good at cycling up steep hills. In 2005, Totschnig won a stage in the Tour de France. He won Stage 14, which included a tough 15-kilometer climb. He was the first Austrian to win a Tour de France stage since 1931.
After Totschnig retired, and another strong rider, Levi Leipheimer, left, the team looked to younger cyclists. In 2007, Markus Fothen and Stefan Schumacher became the main leaders. They led the team in the 2007 Tour de France.
In September 2007, the team announced bad news. Their main sponsor, Gerolsteiner, would not continue supporting them after the 2008 season. The team tried to find a new sponsor. However, they were not successful. In August 2008, the team confirmed it would close down after the 2008 season.
Major Achievements
The Gerolsteiner team achieved many victories during its time. They won races all over the world. These wins included single-day races and stages in bigger tours.
One of their most famous wins was Georg Totschnig's stage victory in the 2005 Tour de France. This showed the team's strength in mountain stages. Other riders like Davide Rebellin also brought many important wins. He won major classic races like Amstel Gold Race and La Flèche Wallonne. These are very tough one-day races. The team also had success in time trials. These are races where riders compete against the clock.
Images for kids
-
A gold medal, representing a victory for a Gerolsteiner rider.
See also
- List of teams and cyclists in the 2008 Tour de France
- 2008 Tour de France
- Tour de France
