T-Mobile is sending a strong sprinting contingent to the five-day Ster Elektrotoer starting in the Netherlands today. Mark Cavendish, Gerald Ciolek and Bernhard Eisel will spearhead the team, with the 22 year-old Briton still in the frame for a Tour de France start after five victories so far in his debut professional season.
"It's like a dream sometimes," said Cavendish, "I never thought I'd be celebrating two ProTour stage wins at a race as big as the Tour of Catalonia in my first pro season. We are bringing a strong team to 'Elektrotoer'. If the legs are good, then I will sprint for a stage win, but I will also be there for Gerald and Bernhard."
Eisel is also riding the crest of a wave, the 26 year-old Austrian is fresh from two wins at the U.S. Triple Crown series in Pennsylvania. "My confidence and morale are sky-high after the success in the U.S.," said Eisel. "We will be a powerful force in Holland. If the competition is marking me, then I will ride for Mark or Gerard. Most important is that the Team wins."
The 2.1 ranked event features a predominantly flat parcours although Thursday's longest stage from Aachen to Valkenburg revisits the Amstel Gold Race finale, finishing atop the notorious Cauberg ascent.
Full T-Mobile roster: Michael Barry, Lorenzo Bernucci, Mark Cavendish, Gerald Ciolek, Bernhard Eisel, Servais Knaven, Axel Merckx, Thomas Ziegler.
