Cycling: Today the route of the Deutschland Tour 2018 was presented in Frankfurt am Main. The tour, which will take place from August 23rd to 26th, will lead the peloton in four stages through five federal states. According to the organizers, the profile suits the sprinters and the aggressive classic hunters. The Deutschland Tour could give German cycling a new shine.
Germany Tour 2018: 4 stages & 5 federal states
It won't be half a year until we finally get to see a Germany tour again. From August 23rd to 26th, the pros will race through five federal states. The route covers a total of 740 kilometers through North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse, Saarland and Baden-Württemberg. Particular importance was attached to the stage arrivals when planning the route. The last few kilometers are all held on inner-city finish laps, which should inspire the spectators on site. Ex-pro Fabian Wegmann, who was visibly satisfied with the stages of the Deutschland Tour, was also actively involved in planning the route.
Fabian Wegman:
“The course of the stages is varied and rewards the aggressive professional. The chances for sprinters and classic hunters are balanced, so that excitement is guaranteed until the last day. I'm also happy that we can manage almost without transfers. I know from my own experience that this will be a bonus for fans and professionals alike.”
An Ardennes classic in the Eifel
The Deutschland Tour kicks off on August 23rd over 154 kilometers from Koblenz to Bonn. The Grand Départ at the Deutsches Eck will guarantee the media great pictures, also because the pros will first drive along the Rhine and then get to see the foothills of the Westerwald. However, topographical obstacles do not stand in the way of the peloton, so that a mass sprint is very likely in the former federal capital Bonn. The day after, however, the winner of the opening game should have a hard time defending his leader's jersey. After all, on the 212-kilometer route from Bonn to Trier, you have to climb around 3.300 meters in altitude. According to the organizers' press release, the profile across the Eifel is reminiscent of an Ardennes classic. Even the last lap in Trier includes an ascent. Here the puncheurs will probably take over the scepter of the Germany Tour 2018 - and the spectators can look forward to a real cycling spectacle.
2 stages for the sprinters, 2 stages for the punchers
After the king's stage of the Deutschland Tour 2018, the third stage is on the agenda. On the 177 kilometers from Trier to Merzig, there are again a few meters of altitude to master - 2.900 in total. The pros first drive along the Moselle and the Saar before there is not just a steep ramp to complete on the circuit. Once again, the classic hunters will determine the race here. Whoever is in the lead after this day should actually already have the overall victory in their pockets. The final stage takes the drivers over 200 relatively flat kilometers from Lorsch to Stuttgart. As in the 2007 Road World Championships, the Herdweg has to be climbed, but all in all the sprinter teams should still have enough time to catch the potential fugitives again. Sprinstar Marcel Kittel (Katusha-Alpecin) has already spoken out via video message. He puts his main focus on the first stage.
Looking forward to exciting sprints: @marcelkittel with his first analysis of four stages Germany Tour. #yourtour @katushacycling @wirsindradsport pic.twitter.com/2lKBntkOQB
— GermanyDeineTour (@DeineTour) March 2, 2018
1 Pro Race & 100 other activities
At the eagerly awaited Deutschland Tour 2018, the participating pros are of course in the public eye. Nevertheless, it should also be a general cycling festival away from the race track. On August 22 - one day before the start - the teams will be presented at the Deutsches Eck. In addition to the stage program, there will also be a children's bike course and a large cycling expo. The so-called Newcomer Tour, the junior race of the Deutschland Tour, also takes place in Merzig. Here women of the U17 age group will compete and send a positive signal for women's cycling out into the world. The amateur race over 26 or 65 kilometers starts on August 111th at the Schlossplatz in Stuttgart. Here you can register for the Jedermann Tour and receive a free jersey from Santini Cycling.
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