Preview of the Deutschland Tour 2023 | Who can challenge the strong Mads Pedersen?

The Deutschland Tour, also known as the Tour of Germany, has had a somewhat inconsistent history in terms of its continuity. Between 2009 and 2017, the race was not organized due to doping cases that plagued the cycling world. However, it made a comeback in 2018 with a competitive field of participants. In the subsequent editions, prominent cyclists secured victory each time, which undoubtedly contributes to the significance and survival of Germany's most important cycling race.

2022 Adam Yates
2021 Nils Politt
2020 Not ridden due to corona crisis
2019 Jasper Stuyven
2018 Matej Mohoric
2008 Linus Gerdemann
2007 Jens Voigt
2006 Jens Voigt
2005 Levi Leipheimer
2004 Patrik Sinkewitz

The race in Germany begins with a 2.3-kilometer prologue in Sint Wendel, a municipality and town in the German state of Saarland. Shortly after the riders set off from the starting podium, they encounter a minor climb. This road ascends for approximately 200 meters at an average gradient of 4 percent. This aspect is unlikely to intimidate the participants, especially considering that the remainder of the ultra-short course in southwest Germany is completely flat.

Climbs
-.

Times
Start first rider: 3:48 p.m.
Finish last rider: around 5:50 p.m.

Favorites
Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious)
Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal Quick-Step)

Most likely, it's the robust sprinters and adept climbers whose excitement will heighten as they examine the course of the first stage. Starting from Sankt Wendel, the peloton will cover 179 kilometers on their way to Merzig. At the beginning of the stage, there are no significant obstacles, but as the finish line draws nearer, challenges indeed emerge. The route features constant undulations, with particular emphasis on three categorized climbs. These include the Waldhölzbach ascent (2.1 kilometers at 6.3 percent), the Orscholz climb (2.4 kilometers at 7.8 percent), and the double ascent of Ellenberg (1.7 kilometers at 6 percent). The summit of the final Ellenberg climb lies approximately seven kilometers from the finish, ensuring a potentially thrilling conclusion.

Climbs
109.1 km: Waldhölzbach (2.1 kilometers at 6.3 percent)
124.2 km: Orscholz (2.4 kilometers at 7.8 percent)
159.8 km: Ellenberg (1.7 kilometers at 6 percent)
172.1 km: Ellenberg (1.7 kilometers at 6 percent)

Times
Start: 12:20 p.m.
Finish: around 4:45 p.m.

Favorites
Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious)
Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
Nils Politt (BORA-hansgrohe)

In the second stage in line, the challenge becomes evident towards the end once again. As the riders embark on the 200-kilometer journey from Kassel, there's not much to fret about initially. However, when Winterberg—highly favored among skiers—comes into view, it's time to be vigilant. Reaching the designated finish line in Winterberg requires the participating cyclists to first conquer a climb of over a kilometer and a half, with an average gradient of seven percent. This ascent also doubles as the concluding climb of the second stage.

Climbs
110.8 km: Berlar (1.8 kilometers at 7.3 percent average)
182.6 km: Altastenberg (5 kilometers at 4.4 percent average)
201.3 km: Winterberg (1.7 kilometers at 7 percent average)

Times
Start: 11:40 a.m.
Finish: around 5 p.m.

Favorites
Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
Ruben Guerreiro (Movistar)
Maximilian Schachmann (BORA-hansgrohe)

The penultimate stage covers a distance of 174 kilometers, taking the riders from Arnsberg to Essen. Of course, this Essen should not be confused with the Belgian town of Essen, where Mathieu van der Poel attended school during his teenage years. This particular stage is tailored for the sprinters, making it a much-anticipated opportunity for the pure speedsters in the German race.

Climbs
14.3 km: Eule Fröndenberg: 1.3 kilometers at 7.5 percent
95.2 km: Sender Langenberg (2.1 kilometers at 6.6 percent)

Times
Start: 1:35 p.m.
Finish: around 5:50 p.m.

Favorites
Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious)
Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
Sam Bennett (BORA-hansgrohe)

The last stage of the Deutschland Tour travels from one major city to another. Commencing in Hannover, the stage concludes approximately 175 kilometers later in Bremen. This final stage also appears to favor the sprinters, with the route being notably and gently flat.

Climbs
47.0 km: Wölpinghausen (1.1 kilometers at 4.5 percent)

Times
Start: 12:30 p.m.
Finish: 4:50 p.m.

Favorites
Sam Bennett (BORA-hansgrohe)
Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious)
Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)

Who better than Mads Pedersen is the top favorite to secure victory in the Deutschland Tour? The Danish rider from Lidl-Trek recently triumphed in the Tour of Denmark in a dominating manner. Less than 24 hours later, he further enhanced his record by clinching the BEMER Cyclassics Hamburg with equal mastery. The course of the Deutschland Tour aligns well with the strengths of the 2019 world champion. Pedersen is not only a proficient time trialist but also possesses a potent sprint, making him a formidable force on the challenging climbs in Germany.

Among the starters, three Tour de France veterans stand out: Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates), Jai Hindley (BORA-hansgrohe), and Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious). Yates triumphed in the Deutschland Tour in 2022, showcasing his prowess. However, the odds appear slim for any of these classification experts to claim victory this year, given that the route doesn't particularly favor a pure climber. While Yates and Bilbao possess snappy sprints and solid punching abilities, a rider in the mold of Pedersen seems to find better alignment with the characteristics of this five-day 2.Pro race across Germany. This year's edition appears less challenging compared to past renditions.

The contenders with a good shot at the overall victory are the homegrown riders. BORA Hansgrohe's German cyclist typically excels in prologues, suggesting that he may rise to the top of the general classification after just one day. Politt is also a strong contender in the subsequent hilly stages, given his versatile skill set. The same holds true for Politt's teammate, Maximilian Schachmann. However, it's worth noting that Schachmann has had more successful years in the past.

Georg Zimmermann is another formidable hill rider who demands attention. Hailing from Augsburg, this slender cyclist has been enjoying a successful season, which includes a stage victory in the Critérium du Dauphiné. As a key member of Intermarché-Circus-Wanty, Zimmermann will undoubtedly be motivated to shine in front of his home crowd. Meanwhile, Ruben Guerreiro appears to be slightly off his peak form, but he remains a contender worthy of consideration. On his best days, the Portuguese rider ranks among the elite hill climbers in the peloton. If Guerreiro regains his top condition, he should not be overlooked as a potential overall victor.

It seems improbable for a pure sprinter to secure the overall victory. While such riders can amass bonus seconds, the two hill stages on days two and three are likely to present significant challenges. Nonetheless, we'd like to mention Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious) and Sam Bennett (BORA-hansgrohe). The former has proven himself in these scenarios, particularly as Bennett has been struggling with form throughout the year. Consequently, it appears that the Irish cyclist's aspirations mainly revolve around securing a podium finish in the bunch sprint.

Top favorite:Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
Outsiders: Nils Politt (BORA-hansgrohe) and Georg Zimmermann (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty)
Longshots; Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates), Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious), Maximilian Schachmann (BORA-hansgrohe), Ruben Guerreiro (Movistar), Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious), Georg Zimmermann (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) and Jai Hindley (BORA-hansgrohe)

The Deutschland Tour can only be watched on Eurosport digital channels. That means you have to log on to Eurosport.nl to enjoy the German cycling spectacle. Broadcasts begin daily around three o'clock, although the prologue can only be seen from four.