Gerolsteiner youngsters back in the saddle

Two Gerolsteiner youngsters are happy to be in races this coming weekend, after an early season full of injuries. Tim Klinger will ride the GP Schwarzwald on Saturday as his first race of the season, while Tom Stamsnijder is continuing his return to racing after sitting out two months in the spring.

Stamsnijder, 23, had to drop out of Paris-Nice with knee problems, which caused him to miss the entire Spring Classics season. The problem was eventually traced to his hip, and he is now able to once again ride pain-free. The Dutchman recently finished the Volta a Catalunya and will now take on the Dauphiné Libéré. "I asked to ride the Ster Elektrotoer directly after the Dauphiné Libéré," he said. "Usually you should take a break."

Klinger, also 23, is in his second year with the German team, and hasn't been able to race all season. In fact, he has only been able to properly train for three weeks. A small nerve injury turned into a growth on his buttocks. "At first I kept on training and thought it would go away by itself. But the pain kept on getting worse." Six weeks ago he underwent successful surgery. "I have to set realistic goals. Now I just want to get into the rhythm, and only then can I look for results."