Cycling: Ilan Van Wilder prevented a mass sprint on the first stage of the Deutschland Tour. In the sprint, the Belgian not only won the section in Merzig in a group of three, but also took the overall lead from his teammate Ethan Vernon.
Van Wilder gives Quick-Step another win
But no mass sprint in Merzig. The finale of the 179-kilometer first stage of the Deutschland Tour was a matter for the strong punchers. After the breakaways of the day were caught, attacks from the field of favorites rained down. Finally we were able to join Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal – Quick Step), Felix Grossschartner (UAE) and Pavel Shivakov (Ineos Grenadier) solve three strong drivers. Despite a bit of tactics in the last 1.000 meters, it should be just about enough in the end. The Belgian won the triple sprint ahead of the Austrian and the French. With his first professional victory, Ilan Van Wilder also takes over the overall lead from his teammate ethan vernon, who won the prologue in Sankt Wendel yesterday.
The peloton loses 10 seconds
Three seconds behind the trio rolled Kevin Marks (DSM – Firmenich), bilbao hair (Bahrain – Victorious) and Dylan teuns (Israel – Premier Tech) across the finish line. The peloton lost a total of ten seconds. Won the sprint there Danny van Poppel (Bora – hansgrohe) in front of yesterday's winner Ethan Vernon (Soudal - Quick Step). top favourite Mads pedersen (Lidl – Trek) could not intervene in the decision because he had already lost touch with the peloton far from the finish line.
Kristoff has to give up
The 179-kilometer route from Sankt Wendel to Merzig alexander kristoff (Uno-X) no longer on. The experienced Norwegian – who has won a stage in each of the last three editions of the Deutschland Tour – had to sit out due to a shoulder injury. In yesterday's prologue he touched the barriers in the last left-hand bend and only crossed the finish line with a pained face. During today's first stage also climbed Sergio Samitier (Movistar) from the wheel.
Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal-QuickStep) went to stage 1 of the Tour de Alemania 2023 #yourtour #GermanyTour #Noticiclismo #ciclismo pic.twitter.com/NIBYVHrSJf
— NotiCiclismo ➡ #LaVuelta23 (@Noticiclismo1) August 24, 2023