31-05-2008 20:09:45

Team MILRAM triumphed in the fourth stage of the International Bayern Rundfahrt (UCI 2.HC). MILRAM's Christian Knees used a strong fourth-place finish to take the overall lead and the yellow jersey. MILRAM youngster Niki Terpstra took the white jersey for the best young rider with his sixth-place finish. Winner of the 26 km time trial was Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner), who does not play a role in the overall rankings. Christian Knees now leads with three seconds over Andreas Dietz (Team Volksbank) and six seconds over his MILRAM teammate Niki Terpstra.

„I am incredibly happy and I think that our whole team has earned the yellow jersey with its performance,“ said MILRAM's Christian Knees. „We are all pulling together and work very well together. Tomorrow we will do all we can to defend both jerseys. That surely won't be easy but if we continue to perform as we have so far in the Bayern Rundfahrt, then we will make it.“

„When you lead the overall and young rider rankings, then you can't help but be satisfied,“ said Jochen Hahn, Directeur Sportif for Team MILRAM: „Tomorrow it obviously won't be easy to defend both jerseys. We must be especially alert at the intermediate sprints, since each has up to three seconds' time bonus. But I feel confident that we will accomplish it.“

Last year's winner Stefan Schumacher, who lost seven minutes to the leaders in the first stage, started early on the stage. The Gerolsteiner rider took over the lead with a time of 32:57 and never lost it in the time trial in Bad Neustadt an der Saale. With wind and temperatures of 23° C., the decision for the overall ranking was a close one. Swiss rider Andreas Dietz (Team Volksbank) beat Niki Terpstra's time by three seconds and thus took over the virtual yellow jersey. Of the last 15 riders, only MILRAM's Christian Knees was faster (by one second), taking fourth place in the stage and the overall lead.



The Bayern Rundfahrt ends Sunday with the fifth and last stage from Bad Neustadt an der Saale to Erlangen. The 161 kilometers run over a lightly rolling terrain, and a mass sprint finish is expected.

Press Release Team Milram