Tour of Bavaria will favour climbers in 2012
Tour of Bavaria, also called as Bayern Rundfahrt is ranked as a 2.HC event on the UCI Europe Tour, will include a number of climbs in the starting two stages in the 2012 season.
The race normally favours the sprinters but the addition of the new climbs will make the event less sprinter-friendly.
The race will be held from May 22 to May 27, 2012. Meanwhile, the course is due to be released by the organisers shortly.
The cyclists will cover a total distance of 799 kilometres during the 6-day race. Race Director, Ewald Strohmeier, believes that the new changes in the contest will attract a number of cyclists.
He mentioned, “We already have so many inquiries that we will take on at least 18 teams again in 2012. The Bayern Rundfahrt has an outstanding reputation, so that we expect top riders even though we are up against the Giro d' Italia”.
The first two stages will favour the climbers as they have multiple ranked climbs. However, the third stage will suit the sprinters.
Stage 4 is a 26 kilometre time trial stage and will finalise the winner of the 33rd edition of the Bayern Rundfahrt 2012.
The race was first held in 1980 as the German cyclist, Kai Hundertmarck, won the first edition of the event.
It was considered as an amateur event during the early years and was given a professional ranking only after 1988.
Both, Jens Voigt and Michael Rich of Germany, have won the race on more than one occasion and hold the honour of winning the event for a maximum number of 3 times, each.
Bayern Rundfahrt is a race mostly dominated by German riders but a British cyclist managed to secure the victory in the most recent version of the race. Geraint Thomas of Great Britain won the 2011 version.
It is believed that the star sprinter John Degenkolb will make a comeback in 2012 as the race aims to include the best available riders in the sport.
Ewald briefed that some of the big names to ride in the coming season include time trial world champion Tony Martin, Marcel Kittel, Linus Gerdemann, the three-time winner Jens Voigt and Gerald Ciolek.
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