In short and painful – this is how Germany Tour 2025 started. The 3.1 kilometers on the site of the Zeche Zollverein in Essen demanded a lot from the drivers. Also a time trial specialist Sören Waerenskjold, who won the prologue.
Sören Waerenskjold smiled into the camera after the last driver at the finish line. With a time of 3:31 minutes, the Norwegian was the fastest on the course and thus goes to the stage on Tuesday. The Briton Samuel Watson put on a strong final sprint on the last few meters, but narrowly missed the best time and got 0.52 seconds slower than Waerenskjold. Marco Haller from Austria ran third with a time of 3: 33.59 minutes.
The fact that top favorite Jonathan Milan only finished 15th caused a little surprise. The star at the Sprinter sky was the last driver to go on the track and drove to the finish 5 seconds. In the coming days it will certainly be expected.
Best German in 14th place
Marius Mayrhofer drove to 14th place as the best German. “I approached too slowly. I misjudged that, so I had a little more energy left on the home stretch and then I couldn’t convert it in time”said the 24-year-old after the race on ZDF.
Florian Lipowitz, who had caused a sensation at the Tour de France, was satisfied with his 35th place. “Three kilometers are not my thing, especially if you haven’t driven for a long time“, he said, shortly after his vacation. He wanted the rest of the tour of “Day to day” approach. “The Germany Tour is above all something for Sprinter”according to the mountain specialist.
Degenkolb comeback
Having fun – with this motto, John Degenkolb had started the Germany Tour. Just four months ago, the 36-year-old fell heavily on the tour of the Flanders and had sustained fractures in hand, elbows, forearm and collarbone. His comeback demanded a lot from Degenkolb: “It’s good to be back”he said visibly out of breath after the prologue at the ZDF micro: “I’m mega happy, even if that was very painful, the blood taste stays in the mouth for a few more minutes.”
Degenkolb, one of the oldest drivers in the field, completed the 3.1 kilometer in respectable 3:45 minutes and ended up in 77th place.
Four stages follow
The prologue in Essen follows four stages with Herford, Arnsberg, Kassel and Magdeburg as the destination. The 18 reported teams cover a total of 735.4 kilometers. The first stage from Essen to Herford is 202.6 kilometers long. On the third day, 190.3 kilometers from Herford to Arnsberg are on the program. After the fourth stage from Arnsberg to Kassel over 175.7 kilometers, a preliminary decision could be made. The final winner is chosen after the last stage, which starts in Halle (Saale), after 163.7 kilometers in Magdeburg.