Kristoff clinches victory at Deutschland Tour

The 25th victory of the UAE Team Emirates season arrived on stage 2 of the Deutschland Tour courtesy of Alexander Kristoff.

The Norwegian rider, claiming his first success in 2021, won in the uphill finish over 180.6 km by out-sprinting Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain-Victorious) and Pascal Ackermann ( Bora-hansgrohe).

Kristoff faced favourable conditions with cold and rain that suited his characteristics on the final straight of 300 meters on a slight ascent. The Norwegian teamed up with his compatriot Sven Erik Bystrøm for the launch of the sprint, passing Bauhaus at the last moment. Bystrøm crossed the line in 5th position.

In the general classification, Pascal Ackermann still leads the race, while Kristoff moved up to 3rd place (+4 ”).

Kristoff: “It is a beautiful victory that makes me happy. I have a good relationship with Germany, I have won here more than once, also winning in my last participation in the Deutschland Tour. On that occasion the climatic conditions were similar to those of today: although I am not fond of cold and rain , I can achieve excellent performance with such conditions.”

 
I have long waited for the return to success. Up to now my season had not been good, even though I had already come close to winning at the Tour of Norway. Now I have finally managed to get a win.
The end of the stage was very technical, it was essential to be at the final corner in the top 5. I managed to be in the right place and I also had Bystrøm with me to launch into the sprint.

 
I started the sprint first, then Bauhaus overtook me and I got on his wheel and then passed him near the finish line again.
The gap between the two of us wasn’t much, I wasn’t sure if I had won, then I saw the images of the sprint and I was able to celebrate properly”.

The third stage will start from Ilmenau and will end after 193.9 km in Erlangen: with a 1.5 km stretch (5.2% average gradient) located 9 km from the finish which could represent a springboard for some attacks.

Order of arrival 2nd stage – Deutschland Tour
1. Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates) 4h24’12 “
2. Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain-Victorious) s.t.
3. Pascal Ackermann (Bora-hansgrohe) s.t.

General classification after the 2nd stage – Deutschland Tour
1. Pascal Ackermann (Bora-hansgrohe) 8h30’59 ”
2. Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain-Victorious) +2 ”
3. Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates) +4 “

 
Meanwhile in Spain, Matteo Trentin just missed out on victory at the Vuelta España by a few centimeters.

 
The 13th stage (Belmez-Villanueva de la Serena, 203.7 km), was an uncomplicated one on paper though a flat but technical run-in to the line would force a split in the pack. Just over 2 km from the finish, seventeen riders moved clear of the rest of the group and Matteo Trentin was among them.
The Deceuninck-Quickstep team accelerated ahead in the final kilometere, reducing the leading group to seven riders, just before losing the designated sprinter, Fabio Jakobsen, by puncture.

On the straight that led to the finish line, the fight for success was reduced to a duel between Matteo Trentin and Florian Sénéchal (Deceuninck-Quickstep), with the latter a fraction faster than the UAE Team Emirates rider, who had to settle for second. Just behind, 9th place went to Rui Oliveira.

The general classification continues to be led by Odd Christian Eiking (Intermarché-Wanty), with De La Cruz 15th at 7’15 “.

Trentin: “The ending, as expected, was not easy. It was essential to remain in the leading positions when approaching the roundabout located 3.5 km from the finish, but I was unable to hit the corner the way I wanted and had to use a lot of energy to make up ground.

From that moment on, I struggled at every corner, finding myself having to recover ground each time and then paying for my efforts in the sprint.
It’s a shame, but I finally got close and I’ll try again at the next opportunity “.

On the 14th stage (165.7 km from Don Benito to Pico Villuercas) the riders will climb again with the 3rd cat. Puerto Berzocana, the 1st cat. GPM of the Alto Collado de Ballesteros and the uphill finish (1st cat., 14 km at 6.3%).

Order of arrival 13th stage – Vuelta España
1. Florian Sénéchal (Deceuninck-Quickstep) 4h58’23 ”
2. Matteo Trentin (UAE Team Emirates) s.t.
3. Alberto Dainese (Team DSM) +2 ”

General Classification After stage 13 Vuelta España
1.Odd Christian Eiking (Intermarche-Wanty) 50:31:52
2.Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) +58’’
3.Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) +1’56’’

15.David De La Cruz (UAE Team Emirates) +7’15”