Kristoff and Consonni take podium behind Ackermann

Pascal Ackermann (Bora-hansgrohe) escaped the grip of UAE Team Emirates, forcing the Emirati team to settle for the lower steps of the podium.I
n a sprint that ended the opening stage of the Deutschland Tour (Hannover-Halberstadt, 167 km), Alexander Kristoff crossed the finish line in 2nd place, followed by his teammate Simone Consonni with only Ackermann bettering the UAE Team Emirates pair.

The sprint was settled after the last turn, 250 meters from the finish as the road started to rise slightly, favoring an acceleration from Julien Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-Quick Step), whose wheel Consonni was following.
The UAE Team Emirates rider tried to launch Kristoff for a sprint but the plan was undone by the home favourite Ackermann (photo Bettini).

Kristoff: “Simone did a perfect lead-out today. Maybe he was the strongest of us today because he started from 500 mt and I lost him a bit after the corner and Ackermann was able to get his wheel.
He helped me really well, so it’s a pity I couldn’t take the win, but Ackermann was the strongest today“.

The second stage of the Deutschland Tour could offer the duo of UAE Team Emirates an opportunity for revenge. Starting out from Marburg and finishing in Gottingen over 202 km with an undulating but not overly demanding, elevation profile.

Stage 1 results
1 Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Bora-hansgrohe 3h49’30”
2 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) UAE Team Emirates s.t.
3 Simone Consonni (Ita) UAE Team Emirates s.t.

General classification after stage 1
1 Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Bora-hansgrohe 3h49’20”
2 Alexander Kristoff (Nor) UAE Team Emirates 4″
3 Simone Consonni (Ita) UAE Team Emirates 6″