Team Giant-Alpecin heads to the Bayern Rundfahrt with a strong lead-out team for sprinter John Degenkolb (GER). 

In previous editions of the race, the team achieved podium finishes on several stages, with a second place for Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) last year, a third place for Degenkolb in 2012 and a second place for Marcel Kittel (GER) in 2011. The best general classification result was realized by Simon Geschke (GER), who took a nice fifth place in the 2013 edition after a week of consistent racing.   

The German five-day race starts this Wednesday and will feature three hilly stages, a 26.1km individual time trial and a relatively flat closing stage finishing in the city of Nuremberg. 

Tom Veelers (NED) will make his return to competition after recovering from a knee injury that kept him sidelined for more than a month. Also in the lineup will be Ramon Sinkeldam (NED), who recently returned from a short break from racing and took third place in the second stage of the Tour de Yorkshire, and Albert Timmer (NED), who played an important role for the team in the recent spring classics. The roster is completed by cyclo-cross specialist Lars van der Haar (NED) and Johannes Fröhlinger (GER), who will ride in his home country this week.

“Our primary chance for stage success will be with our sprinter John Degenkolb. It is clear that most of the teams will look to us to control the race. If this turns out to be too difficult, we may explore our opportunities with a breakaway,” said coach Christian Guiberteau (FRA).