The Tour of Norway and World Ports Classic both ended yesterday with Team MTN-Qhubeka being able to take much motivation and good morale with them after claiming top five GC placings in both events.
Gerald Ciolek had shown great climbing form all week in Norway and while just missing out on a stage victory on a number of occasions, the German’s consistency and an eventual third place on yesterday’s final stage saw Ciolek secure fifth place on the Final General Classification.
This result along with Louis Meintjes’ fifth place at the Giro del Trentino is the team’s best General Classification result in Europe this year.
Andreas Stauff showed good awareness on the first stage of the World Ports Classic to get into the break and then he was able to win the all-important bonus seconds at the intermediate sprint.
During the final stage Stauff kept his composure in the wind and made sure he fought hard to stay in the front positions when the race began to split.
By finishing with the leading group on the final day Stauff was able to secure his 5th place on the General Classification as well.
Both Stauff and Ciolek are now heading to the Bayern Rundfahrt, where they will be joined by Linus Gerdemann, Louis Meintjes, Ignatas Konovalovas, Jay Thomson and Jaco Venter.
Gerdemann is coming off his stage win in Azerbaidjan, Meintjes last stage race was the Giro del Trentino where he climbed away from the likes of Evans and Wiggins, and Thomson showed his form in a solo break at the World Ports Classic yesterday.
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