Knees & Gerdemann take different path to the Tour

Team Milram's Tour de France preparations are well underway. The squad's top stage race riders, Christian Knees and Linus Gerdemann, have however two different approaches to fine-tune their form ahead of cycling's greatest event on the calendar.

Knees, who finished 29th on general classification last year, will be the team's captain at the upcoming Dauphiné Libéré, starting this Sunday. "It's a very hard race, and thereby good preparation for the Tour de France," said Knees. "I was very satisfied with my level of performance at the Tour of Bavaria and we will now see where I stand compared to top international riders."

Gerdemann, who has already won a stage in the Tour de France, meanwhile preferred to be at the start of the GP Triberg-Schwarzwald taking place in Germany's Black Forest on Saturday.

"At the GP Triberg-Schwarzwald, a challenging circuit course with over 500 difference in altitude awaits us - you have to push your pedals hard there," said Gerdemann. "I am excited to go to the race, also because it is taking place in Germany and therefore gives us the opportunity to present ourselves at home."

After the one-day race in the Black Forest, Gerdemann will leave for a training camp at altitude to prepare further for the Tour de France.