title: Gerolsteiner (cycling team)
text: # Gerolsteiner (cycling team)
  
  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 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
  
      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
  