Consonni Climbs the podium on first stage in Slovenia

The 2019 edition of the Tour of Slovenia kicked-off today and immediately Simone Consonni left his mark with a third place sprint finish.

The first stage from Ljubljana-Rogaska Slatina (168.5km), began with a short 4th Cat climb which served as a springboard for the three breakaway riders, which came back together 50km from the line.

A more significant move developed on the 3rd category climb of Planina pri Sevnici, 56 km from the finish line, where Ulissi and ten other riders left the group, gaining a maximum of 1’40” before a reaction behind.

With that move being neutralized 6km from the finish, the select group sprinted it out for the win, with Pascal Ackermann (Bora-hansgrohe) coming out on top ahead of  Giacomo Nizzolo (Dimension-Data) and UAE Team Emirates emerging sprinter Simone Consonni.

Consonni: “Fair dues to the team, who did amazing work to set me up in the sprint, Rui Oliviera placed me perfectly. Congratulations to Ackermann too, he was the strongest.
The last 50 km were taken at a high pace, and the legs were pretty heavy for the finish but I’m still happy with my sprint”.

Ulissi: “I saw some guys going away on the climb and I decided to have a go myself. The legs were good but we missed a bit of collaboration in the group to go all the way to the line”.

The second stage starts and ends in Maribor Celje over a 146.3 km course, with a climb of 5.4 km (average gradient of 7.7%) which crests 22 km from the finish.

Stage 1 results
1 Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Bora-hansgrohe 4h04’58 ”
2 Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) st Dimension Data
3 Simone Consonni (Ita) UAE Emirates Team st.

General classification after the 1st stage
1 Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Bora-hansgrohe 4h04’48 ”
2 Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Dimension Data 4″
3 Simone Consonni (Ita) UAE Emirates Team 6 ”
4 Diego Ulissi (Ita)  UAE Team Emirates  7 “

In Switzerland, Kristoff came home sixth in the fifth stage of the Tour de Suisse, from Munchenstein to Einsiedeln (177 km).

The stage was won in the sprint by Elia Viviani which saw a repeat of yesterday’s victory. Second place went to Peter Sagan who remains leader.

Tomorrow is a day for the climbers with the start in Einsiedeln before climbing 1220 meters above sea level to Flumserberg over 120.2 kilometers.

Stage 5 results
1 Elia Viviani (Ita) Quick Step-Deceuninck 4h18’26 ”
2 Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-hansgrohe st
3 Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-st Segafredo
6 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) UAE Team Emirates st

General classification after the 5th stage
1 Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-hansgrohe 15h55’48 ”
2 Michael Matthews (Aus) Team Sunweb 14 ”
3 Jasper Asgreen (Den) Deceuninck-Quick Step 21 “