The Bayern Rundfahrt has traditionally been one for the time trialists but that will change in 2014. The 35th edition of Germany's most prestigious stage race will include a summit finish on the Winklmoos-Alm, one of Germany's most famous climbs.

Since the Deutschland Tour folded, the Bayern Rundfahrt has been Germany's most prestigious stage race. In 2014 the race will be tougher than ever before and will include a brutal summit finish on the Winklmoos-Alm.

Being run in the final week of the Giro d'Italia and at the same time as the Tour of Belgium, the Bayern Rundfahrt plays an important role for many of the Tour de France contenders who often use the race to get back into competition after a small mid-season break. However, the race has until now mostly been determined by the long time trial, with the remaining stages often being comprised of three flat stages and a hilly one with a flat finish.

That will change in 2014 when the race will be much more suited to the climbers. The race opens on May 27 with a flat 201.6km romp from Vilshofen to Freilassing, passing through the birthtown of Pope Benedict XVI but the GC contenders will come into action on the second day of racing.

Stage 2 may only be 165km long but it contains no less than 3300m of climbing. Underway they will face climbs at Ramsau/Hochschwarzeck and Siegsdorf/Scharam, before taking on the mountaintop finish on the Winklmoos-Alm - four km climb with a maximum gradient of 19 percent.

"We are really excited to find out what impact this stage profile will have on the running of the race," course designer Walter Oestreich said.

The 233km third stage is the longest of the race and should be another one for the sprinters. It is followed by the decisive 25km time trial while the race will finish with a flat stage that ends with 10 laps on a flat circuit in Nürnberger Altstadt.

The race organizers hope to attract a top field for the 35th edition of their event.

"We have already had several requests and are likely to again invite around 20 teams," race director Ewald Strohmeier said. He added that he again hopes to attract some a large number of German riders.

"Of course we want to give German riders the chance to perform in front of their home public," he said. "That applies to the top riders from the large international teams as well as for the riders from the German Continental teams."

Two of those rider could be Gerald Ciolek and Linus Gerdemann. The pair will ride in MTN-Qhubeka colours in 2014 but is also hoping to do the Giro to which their team has applied for an invitation. Ciolek won a stage last year while Gerdemann will make his return after a one-year absence from the sport.

"Maybe Linus Gerdemann, also with MTN-Qhubeka in 2014, will celebrate his return to us," Strohmeier said.

The 2014 edition of the race was won by Adriano Malori who laid the foundations for his win by winning the time trial.