Ackermann on his classics priorities, form boost during and after Paris-Nice, and Germans at Israel-Premier Tech

In mid-August of 2023, it was announced that top sprinter Pascal Ackermann, with a total of five stage victories in Grand Tours (Giro and Vuelta), would move from UAE Team Emirates to Israel-Premier Tech after two years. The main goal there? To win a stage in the Tour de France, thereby joining the illustrious list of riders who have won stages in all three Grand Tours. The amiable German sat down with IDLProCycling.com for a chat!

As of this writing, Ackermann's last victory dates back to July 2, 2023, when he won a stage in the Tour of Austria. This marked his fortieth pro victory, so naturally, the rider from Kandel has a commendable record. At the Israeli ProTour squad of Sylvan Adams, the 30-year-old Ackermann hopes to add that coveted Tour de France stage win to his already impressive list of honors. For now, he is still waiting for his first top-two finish of the season, but Ackermann's motivation is certainly not lacking.

"After Paris-Nice (where his best result was a third place, ed.), I feel very good. I think I was in good form there and now I'm ready for the upcoming races in Flanders. These are races I have fond memories of," he confides in our website. "Of course, there's always room for improvement, but I can't complain about the wattages I'm producing now. Hopefully, those will translate into great results."

Fewer classics for Ackermann, who aims to peak in Brugge-De Panne, Gent-Wevelgem and Scheldeprijs

Ackermann plans to race fewer classics this year, aiming to excel in the one-day races he will be focusing on. "I will be competing in the Classic Brugge-De Panne, Gent-Wevelgem and Scheldeprijs. Those are the races that suit me best. We're trying to race fewer events than usual with me, so I can be in good form for all the races I do participate in. I'm well-prepared for the upcoming events. I'm skipping the tougher classics like Dwars door Vlaanderen and the Tour of Flanders. For the type of sprinter I am, it's challenging to achieve results there. We really need to focus on the races I just mentioned."

Does Ackermann consider himself among the top favorites for races like Gent-Wevelgem or Scheldeprijs? Absolutely. "Although I do think that Gent-Wevelgem will be challenging. It's one where many world-class classics riders will be lining up," he says, referring to the presence of riders like Mathieu van der Poel. "Last year, I managed to stay in the main group and finished eleventh. That's a memory I hold onto. This team gives me the opportunities I've always hoped for. That's a comforting thought."

Ackermann jokes about 'oldies' and Germans at Israel-Premier Tech

Ackermann is more than happy with the atmosphere in his new team. "The team atmosphere is very good. We have a great mix of young and older riders," he says with a wink, alluding to the team's reputation for having lots of older riders, including Chris Froome (38), Jakob Fuglsang (38), Simon Clarke (37) and Michael Woods (37). "In Paris-Nice, the youngest rider on the team was 29 years old. It's something people might not imagine, but that's how it is for us," Ackermann jokes. "But there are some young guys too. And they are great talents."

At Israel-Premier Tech, Ackermann has two fellow Germans as teammates, namely Michael Schwarzmann and Rick Zabel. It is no surprise that these are the two men he spends the most time with. "I've been on the same team asMichael for many years. We had a fantastic time together at BORA-hansgrohe. But of course, Rick is also a great guy. It gets a bit dangerous, though, with all those German-speaking guys in the team," he jokes in conclusion.