Gerolsteiner (cycling team)

Gerolsteiner 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 15 km 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.

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
 * National Time Trial, Branko Filip
 * 🇩🇪 National Time Trial, Andreas Walzer
 * Stage 5 Bayern-Rundfahrt, Scott McGrory
 * Points classification Bayern-Rundfahrt Scott McGrory


 * 2000
 * 🇦🇹 National Time Trial, René Haselbacher
 * 🇩🇪 National Time Trial, Michael Rich
 * 🇳🇴 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
 * Gold medal.svg Madison Cycling at the 2000 Summer Olympics, Scott McGrory


 * 2001
 * 🇦🇹 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
 * 🇦🇹 National Road Race, René Haselbacher
 * 🇦🇹 National Time Trial, Georg Totscnhig
 * 🇩🇪 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
 * 🇦🇹 National Road Race, Georg Totschnig
 * 🇩🇪 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
 * 🇦🇹 National Time Trial, Georg Totschnig
 * 🇩🇪 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
 * 🇩🇪 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
 * 🇩🇪 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
 * National Road Race, Beat Zberg
 * 🇩🇪 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
 * National Road Race, Markus Zberg
 * 🇩🇪 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
 * MaillotEslovenia.PNG Slovenia National Time Trial, Branko Filip
 * MaillotAlemania.PNG Germany National Time Trial, Andreas Walzer


 * 2000
 * MaillotAustria.PNG Austria National Time Trial, René Haselbacher
 * MaillotAlemania.PNG Germany National Time Trial, Michael Rich
 * MaillotNoruega.PNG National Time Trial, Sveln Gaute Holestol


 * 2001
 * MaillotAustria.PNG Austria National Time Trial, Georg Totscnhig


 * 2002
 * MaillotAustria.PNG Austria National Road Race, René Haselbacher
 * MaillotAustria.PNG Austria National Time Trial, Georg Totscnhig
 * MaillotAlemania.PNG Germany National Time Trial, Uwe Peschel


 * 2003
 * MaillotAustria.PNG Austria National Road Race, Georg Totschnig
 * MaillotAlemania.PNG Germany National Time Trial, Michael Rich


 * 2004
 * MaillotAustria.PNG Austria National Time Trial, Georg Totschnig
 * MaillotAlemania.PNG Germany National Time Trial, Michael Rich


 * 2005
 * MaillotAlemania.PNG Germany National Time Trial, Michael Rich


 * 2006
 * MaillotAlemania.PNG Germany National Time Trial, Sebatian Lang


 * 2007
 * MaillotSuiza.PNG Switzerland National Road Race, Beat Zberg
 * MaillotAlemania.PNG Germany National Road Race, Fabian Wegmann


 * 2008
 * MaillotSuiza.PNG Switzerland National Road Race, Markus Zberg
 * MaillotAlemania.PNG Germany National Road Race, Fabian Wegmann