# 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