Strong team work allowed Columbia to successfully retain their top three places overall in the Tour of Saxony in a gruelling final day's racing. After moving into the lead with a time trial win on stage four, Bert Grabsch retained his number
one spot in on stage five, a hilly 146 kilometre trek starting and finishing in Dresden. Second on the final podium was German Tony Martin, with Michael Rogers of Australia in third.

"It was a really nasty stage, lots of short, steep climbs and a very fast first hour in really hot weather - 32 degrees. But Michael, Roger Hammond and Marcel Sieberg did a great job today defending the general classification." commented team sports director at the event, Jan Schaffrath.

"Bert didn't have any problems, or difficult moments but he was really well protected. There was a break but we always kept it under control throughout."

 "Of course we had a lot of options, but I really didn't want us to get too complacent either."

"We won the teams prize as well, and that was a tribute to just how well we had ridden collectively. Teamwork really was what counted here in Saxony."

Apart from dominating the overall,  the squad has taken three stage wins in Saxony - one with Grabsch  and two with sprinter Andrei Greipel. Schaffrath also pointed out that "these results are also  very encouraging for the Olympic
Games."

"From what I've seen here, I'm sure that guys like Roger, Michael - who's had a tough spring - and Bert will do well there representing their countries in Beijing."