In the aftermath of the inaugural prologue to Essenthe Germany – or Lidl Germany Tour in the original version – offered a 1st stage that is not very hilly and long from 202.6 km to reach the city ofHerford. Logically, it is therefore a first massive sprint that took place this last Thursday, and we were able to attend a magnificent duel between the announced favorite Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) and the new Sprint nugget Matthew Brennan (Visma | lease a bike). The first launched the final packaging and took the lead, but he saw the second come back as a ball in the last straight line. At the shoulder to shoulder to the finish line, the two men had to be decided at the photo-finish … And if the Italian was first announced winner, it is ultimately the young British, more efficient on his bicycle throw, who won the set after long minutes of waiting (nine precisely) to offer his 12th bouquet of the season!
Video – The day before, Waerenskjold had dominated the prologue
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Six runners in a second general … Danny Van Poppel leader of nothing!
Behind this duo which ended far ahead of the others, there was less suspense for 3rd place, the champion of the Netherlands Danny van Poppel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) Amount on the podium of the day ahead of the two French Emilien Jeannière (Totalnergies) and Hugo Hofstetter (Israel-Prime Tech). In the general classification, the combination of differences from the prologue from the day before and the day's enforcements give rise to a real traffic jam at the top … since no less than 6 runners are held in a second!
It is ultimately Danny van Poppel which seizes the leader jersey worn by Søren Wærenskjold (UNO-X Mobility), the Dutchman taking advantage of his good time (6th) and the 4 “of bonifs on arrival to pass the Norwegian. But we had to go and get the prologue's hundredths to decide between him with Sam Watson (Ineos grenadiers), 2nd the day before and which pocketed 2 “during an intermediate sprint, and the winner of the day Matthew Brennanwho pays for his poor performance on Wednesday (only 32nd). Behind this trio equally, we find a second Wout van Aert (Visma), which won an intermediate sprint, then Jonathan Milan and the former leader Wærenskjold. Enough to promise an exciting and ultra tight battle for the general and the bonuses on Friday on the 2nd stage.
