Gerolsteiner (UCI team code:GST) was a German road bicycle racing team in the UCI ProTour. It was sponsored by the mineral water company Gerolsteiner Brunnen and Specialized.

History

The team was founded in 1997 as Schauff Oeschelbronn professional cycling team by team manager Hans-Michael Holczer and sports directors Rolf Gölz and Christian Henn. In 1999 Gerolsteiner who had previously sponsored the Cologne Cycling Team in 1998 became the title sponsors. The contract with Georg Totschnig in 2001 helped make the team enter Division I. In 2003 the team participated in the Tour de France for the first time.

The leader for several seasons was Georg Totschnig, who recorded top 10 finishes in the Tour de France and was an excellent climber. In 2005, Totschnig won stage 14 of the Tour, showing his skill on the 15km long climb up the Port de Pailhères (2000m at 8.2%). He was overfilled with emotion, after becoming the first Austrian to win a tour stage since Max Bulla in 1931, who won 3 stages.

Team Gerolsteiner riders with CSC rider Jens Voigt during the 2006 Tour de France

In 2007, with former riders Georg Totschnig (retired) and Levi Leipheimer (left for Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team) gone, the team turned to youngsters Markus Fothen and Stefan Schumacher to captain the team in the 2007 Tour de France.

The team announced in September 2007 that Gerolsteiner will not be renewing its sponsorship agreement at the end of the 2008 season. In August 2008 the team confirmed it will dissolve after the 2008 season, after being unable to find a new sponsor.

In October 2008, riders Stefan Schumacher and Bernhard Kohl were tested positive for CERA (continuous erythropoitin receptor activator, a third-generation variant of erythropoietin, aka EPO).

Major wins

1998

Hel van het Mergelland, Raymond Meijs

1999

Slovenia National Time Trial, Branko Filip

Germany National Time Trial, Andreas Walzer

Stage 5 Bayern-Rundfahrt, Scott McGrory

Points classification Bayern-Rundfahrt Scott McGrory

2000

Austria National Time Trial, René Haselbacher

Germany National Time Trial, Michael Rich

Norway National Time Trial, Sveln Gaute Holestol

Giro del Lago Maggiore, Tobias Steinhauser

Tour de la Somme, Michael Rich

International Niedersachsen-Rundfahrt, Torsten Schmidt

Stage 1a Bayern-Rundfahrt, Sven Teutenberg

Stage 1b Bayern-Rundfahrt, Michael Rich

Madison Cycling at the 2000 Summer Olympics, Scott McGrory

2001

Austria National Time Trial, Georg Totscnhig

Overall Jayco Herald Sun Tour, Peter Wrolich

Rund um die Nürnberger Altstadt, Olaf Pollack

Stage 1a International Niedersachsen-Rundfahrt, Michael Rich

Stage 3 Rothaus Regio-Tour International, Saulius Ruskys

Stage 4 International Rheinland-Pfalz Rundfahrt, Torsten Schmidt

2002

Austria National Road Race, René Haselbacher

Austria National Time Trial, Georg Totscnhig

Germany National Time Trial, Uwe Peschel

Chrono des Herbiers, Michael Rich

Groningen-Münster, Olaf Pollack

International Hessen Rundfahrt, Uwe Peschel

GP Città´ di Camaiore, Davide Rebellin

Rund um Köln, Peter Wrolich

Overall International Niedersachsen-Rundfahrt, Olaf Pollack Stage 2, Olaf Pollack Stage 3, Olaf Pollack Stage 4b, Michael Rich

Overall Bayern-Rundfahrt, Michael Rich Stage 2 Michael Rich

Grand Prix des Nations, Uwe Peschel

Rheinland-Pfalz Rundfahrt, Ronny Scholz Stage 1, Sebastian Lang Stage 4, Sebastian Lang

Stage 2 KBC Driedaagse van De Panne, Saulius Ruskys

Stage 4 Deutschland Tour, Michael Rich

Stage 3 Tour of Sweden, René Haselbacher

Stage 9 Tour of Sweden, Tobias Steinhauser

Stage 5 Tour of Denmark, Olaf Pollack

Stage 4 Tour du Poitou Charentes et de la Vienne, Michael Rich

2003

Austria National Road Race, Georg Totschnig

Germany National Time Trial, Michael Rich

Chrono des Herbiers, Michael Rich

Groningen-Münster, Robert Forster

GP Città di Rio Saliceto e Correggio, Fabian Wegmann

Sachsen-Tour International, Fabian Wegmann

Rund um den Finanzplatz Eschborn-Frankfurt, Davide Rebellin

Bayern-Rundfahrt, Michael Rich Stage 2, Michael Rich

Overall Tour of Denmark, Sebatian Lang

Grand Prix des Nations, Michael Rich

GP Industria & Commercio di Prato, Davide Rebellin

Stage 2 Paris - Nice, Davide Rebellin

Stage 1a International Niedersachsen-Rundfahrt, Michael Rich

Stage 2 International Niedersachsen-Rundfahrt, Ronny Scholz

Stage 5 International Niedersachsen-Rundfahrt, Olaf Pollack

Stage 6 International Niedersachsen-Rundfahrt U23, Sven Krauss

Stage 7 Deutschland Tour, Olad Pollack

Stage 2b Rothaus Regio-Tour, Ronny Scholz

Stage 1 International Rheinland-Pfalz Rundfahrt, Robert Forster

Stage 5 International Rheinland-Pfalz Rundfahrt, René Haselbacher

2004

Austria National Time Trial, Georg Totschnig

Germany National Time Trial, Michael Rich

Groningen-Münster, Robert Forster

Amstel Gold, Davide Rebellin

La Flèche Wallonne, Davide Rebellin

Liège - Bastogne - Liège, Davide Rebellin

Rund um die Hainleite, Peter Wrolich

Tre Valli Varesine, Fabian Wegmann

GP Schwarzwald, Markus Fothen

Trofeo Melinda, Davide Rebellin

Overall International Hessen Rundfahrt, Sebastien Lang Stage 3, Sebastian Land Stage 4, Michael Rich

Grand Prix des Nations, Michael Rich

G.P. Beghelli, Danilo Hondo

Stage 2 Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme, Beat Zberg

Stage 1 KBC Driedaagse van De Panne - Koksijde, Danilo Hondo

Stage 2 Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco, Beat Zberg

Stage 1 International Niedersachsen-Rundfahrt, Danilo Hondo

Stage 2 International Niedersachsen-Rundfahrt, Danilo Hondo

Stage 4 International Niedersachsen-Rundfahrt, Danilo Hondo

Stage 5 International Niedersachsen-Rundfahrt, Danilo Hondo

Stage 5 4 Days of Dunkirk, Danilo Hondo

Stage 3 Bayern-Rundfahrt, Michael Rich

Stage 1 Deutschland Tour, Michael Rich

Stage 7 Tour de Suisse, Georg Totschnig

Stage 5 Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, Danilo Hondo

Stage 1 Tour du Poitou Charentes et de la Vienne, Danilo Hondo

Stage 4 Rheinland-Pfalz Rundfahrt, Torsten Schmidt

2005

Germany National Time Trial, Michael Rich

Overall Bayern-Rundfahrt, Michael Rich

GP Schwarzwald, Fabian Wegmann

Overall Deutschland Tour, Levi Leipheimer Stage 4, Levi Leipheimer

San Francisco Grand Prix, Fabian Wegmann

Stuttgart - Strassburg, Michael Muck

Rund um die Nürnberger Altstadt, Fabian Wegmann

Stage 2 Tour de Georgia, Peter Wrolich

Stage 4 International Niedersachsen-Rundfahrt, Robert Forster

Stage 2 Ster Elektrotoer, Michael Rich

Stage 14 Tour de France, Georg Totschnig

Stage 1 Brixia Tour, Davide Rebellin

Stage 4 Rothaus Regio-Tour International, Tony Martin

Stage 5 Rothaus Regio-Tour International, Sven Krauss

Stage 5 International Hessen Rundfahrt, Sebastian Lang

Stage 19 Vuelta a España, Heinrich Haussler

Stage 5 Tour de Pologne, Fabian Wegmann

Stage 3 Circuit Franco-Belge, Frank Hoj

Eindhoven Team Time Trial

2006

Germany National Time Trial, Sebatian Lang

Trofeo Calvia, David Kopp

GP Miguel Indurain, Fabian Wegmann

Overall Circuit Cycliste Sarthe - Pays de la Loire, Stefan Schumacher Stage 1, Robert Forster

Overall International Rheinland-Pfalz Rundfahrt, René Haselbacher Stage 2, René Haselbacher

GP Kanton Aargau, Beat Zberg

Overall Critérium du Dauphiné, Levi Leipheimer Stage 1, Fabian Wegmann

Trophée des Champions, Johannes Frohlinger

Overall Brixia Tour, Davide Rebellin Stage 1, Davide Rebellin

City Nacht Rhede, Fabian Wegmann

Wiesbauer Rathauskriterium Wien, René Haselbacher

Overall ENECO Tour, Stefan Schumacher Prologue, Stefan Schumacher Stage 6, David Kopp

Overall Tour de Pologne, Stefan Schumacher Stage 6, Stefan Schumacher Stage 7, Stefan Schumacher

Overall International Hessen Rundfahrt, Sebastien Lang Stage 3, Sebastian Lang

Giro dell´Emilia, Davide Rebellin

Prologue Tour of California, Levi Leipheimer

Stage 1 Vuelta Ciclista a Murcia - Costa Calida, Heinrich Haussler

Stage 5 Vuelta Ciclista a Murcia - Costa Calida, Heinrich Haussler

Stage 7 Paris - Nice, Markus Zberg

Stage 3 Giro d'Italia, Stefan Schumacher

Stage 18 Giro d'Italia, Stefan Schumacher

Stage 21 Giro d'Italia, Robert Förster

Stage 5 Ster Elektrotoer, Robert Förster

Stage 4 Sachsen-Tour International, Stefan Schumacher

Stage 3 Tour of Denmark, Robert Förster

Stage 6 Tour of Denmark, Robert Förster

Team classification, Deutschland Tour Stage 5, Levi Leipheimer

Stage 2 Rothaus Regio-Tour International, Matthias Russ

Stage 5 Rothaus Regio-Tour International, Torsten Hiekmann

Stage 15 Vuelta a España, Robert Förster

Stage 2 Circuit Franco-Belge, Heinrich Haussler

Stage 4 Circuit Franco-Belge, Heinrich Haussler

Team classification, 2006 Deutschland Tour

2007

Switzerland National Road Race, Beat Zberg

Germany National Road Race, Fabian Wegmann

Amstel Gold Race, Stefan Schumacher

La Flèche Wallonne, Davide Rebellin

GP Buchholz, Fabian Wegmann

Overall Bayern-Rundfahrt, Stefan Schumacher Stage 4, Stefan Schumacher

Wiedenbrücker Nacht, David Kopp

Overall Brixia Tour, Davide Rebellin Stage 1, Davide Rebellin

Tour de Nüss, Fabian Wegmann

Rund um die Nürnberger Altstadt, Fabian Wegmann

Stage 5 Tirreno - Adriatico, Stefan Schumacher

Stage 4 Settimana Ciclistica Internazionale, Robert Förster

Stage 5 International Niedersachsen-Rundfahrt, Heinrich Haussler

Stage 1 Tour de Romanide, Markus Fothen

Stage 5 Giro d'Italia, Robert Förster

Stage 1 Critérium du Dauphiné, Heinrich Haussler

Stage 1 Deutschland Tour, Robert Förster

Stage 1 Tour de l´Ain, Beat Zberg

Stage 3 Tour de Pologne, David Kopp

2008

Switzerland National Road Race, Markus Zberg

Germany National Road Race, Fabian Wegmann

Tour du Haut Var, Davide Rebellin

Overall Paris - Nice, Davide Rebellin

GP Miguel Indurain, Fabian Wegmann

GP Schwarzwald, Mathias Frank

Dutch Food Valley Classic, Robert Förster

City Nacht Rhede, Ronny Scholz

Peperbus Profspektakel Zwolle, Bernhard Kohl

Stage 1 Volta ao Algarve, Robert Förster

Stage 3 Volta ao Algarve, Robert Förster

Stage 4 Tour de Romandie, Francesco De Bonis

Stage 4 Bayern-Rundfahrt, Stefan Schumacher

Stage 5 Bayern-Rundfahrt, Heinrich Haussler

Stage 5 Tour de Suisse, Markus Fothen

Stage 5 Rothaus Regio-Tour International, Markus Fothen

Stage 5 ENECO Tour, Carlo Westphal

Stage 7 Tour de Pologne, Robert Förster

National champions

1999

Slovenia National Time Trial, Branko Filip

Germany National Time Trial, Andreas Walzer

2000

Austria National Time Trial, René Haselbacher

Germany National Time Trial, Michael Rich

National Time Trial, Sveln Gaute Holestol

2001

Austria National Time Trial, Georg Totscnhig

2002

Austria National Road Race, René Haselbacher

Austria National Time Trial, Georg Totscnhig

Germany National Time Trial, Uwe Peschel

2003

Austria National Road Race, Georg Totschnig

Germany National Time Trial, Michael Rich

2004

Austria National Time Trial, Georg Totschnig

Germany National Time Trial, Michael Rich

2005

Germany National Time Trial, Michael Rich

2006

Germany National Time Trial, Sebatian Lang

2007

Switzerland National Road Race, Beat Zberg

Germany National Road Race, Fabian Wegmann

2008

Switzerland National Road Race, Markus Zberg

Germany National Road Race, Fabian Wegmann

See also

External links