German Champion Pascal Ackermann misses the win by centimetres at the Deutschland Tour

After a ten-year pause, the “Deutschland Tour” is back on the cycling calendar.

The opening stage of the Deutschland Tour, which is back on the race calendar after a ten-years pause, was dominated by a six-man breakaway, which was gone for most of the day. Shortly before the finish, the peloton closed the gap and the expected bunch sprint was set up. The BORA – hansgrohe train brought their sprinter Pascal Ackermann into a good position, but it was A. Hodeg who took the win ahead of the German Champion.

After a ten-year pause, the “Deutschland Tour” is back on the cycling calendar. Today’s opening stage took the riders from Koblenz to Bonn over 157 flat kilometres, and promised to end in a bunch sprint on the final long straight. Before the peloton fought for the victory, two intermediate sprints, one in Naussau and one in Neustadt awaited the fast men.

Team BORA – hansgrohe brought their fast men to their home race, among their leader and German Champion Pascal Ackermann, who achieved already five WorldTour victories in this season. He was joined by his lead-out men Rudi Selig, Andreas Schillinger and Christoph Pfingsten. For the GC, BORA – hansgrohe focused on the Austrian rider Patrick Konrad. Pete Kennaugh should help Patrick during the demanding stages in the upcoming days.

After some kilometres of racing a group of six riders formed the breakaway of the day with a maximum gap of three minutes. The BORA – hansgrohe squad stayed in the main field, took the control over the pace and tried to keep the breakaway’s advantage low, and with the gap dropping steadily, it was all back together with 13km remaining. Especially, BORA – hansgrohe pulled hard and set the pace for their sprinter Pascal Ackermann. Peter Kennaugh showed a great performance and closed the gap. The race headed into the finale with Rudi Selig driving the pace. Pascal Ackermann was in a good position but in a thrilling finale A. Hodeg took the win only some centimetres ahead of the German Champion. 

2018 Deutschland Tour Stage 1 Top 10

1 Alvaro Hodeg (Col) Quick-Step Floors 3:35:08 
2 Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe   
3 Niccolò Bonifazio (Ita) Trek-Segafredo)   
4 Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) Dimension Data   
5 Alexander Krieger (Ger) Leopard Pro Cycling   
6 Andre Greipel (Ger) Lotto Soudal   
7 Aaron Grosser (Ger) Team Sauerland NRW p/b SKS Germany   
8 Colin Joyce (USA) Rally Cycling   
9 Rick Zabel (Ger) Katusha-Alpecin   
10 Kristian Sbaragli (Ita) Israel Cycling Academy