The great German hope: At 19 Ciolek certainly has some good years ahead.

Gerald Ciolek, of the continental Wiesenhof team won a frantic sprint at the end of the third stage of the Tour of Germany, Friday, a 203.3km race from Witzenhausen to Schweinfurt.

The stage was marked by a long 145km solo break by Saunier Duval’s Marco Pinotti, who was eventually reeled in with 25km to go, setting up a fast closing stretch with none of the top sprinters’ teams able to control the field as it rushed through the final kilometers into Schweinfurt.

Ciolek - who at 19 is seen as the next great hope of German cycling - clinched his first victory on the ProTour after pipping experienced compatriots Erik Zabel (Milram) and Andre Greipel (T-Mobile) in a thrilling sprint finish.
Full Results Points leader Zabel was aggressive throughout the stage, taking as many intermediate sprint points and time bonuses as he could. Those, coupled with his time bonus for finishing second on the stage, moved Zabel into second place in the overall standings, sitting in a virtual tie with overall race leader Vladimir Gusev of Discovery, the winner of the Tour’s prologue time trial.

But it was the young Ciolek who had the home fans buzzing after producing a superb late burst to prevail. The teenager, who rides for the Wiesenhof team, rose to prominence last year after winning Germany's elite national title, beating Robert Förster and Zabel in a mass sprint.

With 500m to go, Zabel and Australia's Mark Renshaw looked the most likely stage winners along with Rabobank's Graeme Brown. But the leaders were caught cold after Ciolek steamed up on the right for a dramatic victory.

The win is certain to increase the speculation over Ciolek's future, with T Mobile believed to be keen on recruiting the talented youngster as they seek to rebuild following the dismissal of scandal-tainted Jan Ullrich.

Saturday's fourth stage is a 203km leg between Heidenheim and Bad Tolz.

Results Stage 3
1. Gerald Ciolek (G), Team Wiesenhof, 4:56:22
2. Erik Zabel (G), Milram
3. André Greipel (G), T-Mobile
4. Luke Roberts (Aus), CSC, all same timeOverall, after 3 stages
1. Vladimir Gusev (Rus), Discovery Channel
2. Erik Zabel (G), Milram, s.t.
3. Linus Gerdemann (G), T-Mobile, at 00:01
4. Davide Rebellin (I), Gerolsteiner, at 00:07
5. Inigo Cuesta Lopez De Castro (Sp), CSC, at 00:10FullResults