Tour of Germany back into calendar

Spaniard -5th overall- covers 130km on the attack towards Bonn in revived German race's maiden day of racing; Hodeg (QST) first leader after bunch sprint.

Colombian Álvaro Hodeg (QST) narrowly beated German champion Pascal Ackermann (BOH) at the closing straight in Bonn to take the win on stage one of the Deutschland Tour (UCI 2.1), back to the calendar after a decade’s absence and starting on Thursday from Koblenz, home of the Movistar Team’s top bike sponsor Canyon.

The Telefónica-backed squad showed its colours at the front fo the race for most of the day thanks to a long break by Jorge Arcas, ahead of the bunch until the last 15km into a six-man attempt where the Sabiñánigo native fought for KOM points and took a 2″ bonus which puts him into 5th overall. The rest of the Blues focused on keeping their home rider, Jasha Sütterlin, well protected, with Nuno Bico and Dayer Quintana completing a fine job alongside the German through the hectic final kilometers.

The Tour of Germany will head on Friday into the hills that should decide the GC outcome. Up to six ascents on the final third of stage two -196km towards Trier- will start clearing up the GC result, in the beginning of an exciting weekend of racing through Sunday.

Picture (c): BettiniPhoto.net