The Tour of Germany (2.Pro, 26-29/08) started at the Baltic coast in Stralsund this Thursday. A royal sprint was expected at the end of the 191 kilometer parcours towards Schwerin. But this was without taking into account the wind, which added nervosity to peloton in which some teams tried to create echelons with 100, 80 and with 20 kilometer to go. The multiple accelerations of the peloton made the 4 minute advantage of the six leaders melt.
The young line up of Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert was vigilant all day in order to be able to lead German rider Jonas Koch to the sprint. After a good positioning job for his leader, trainee Dries De Pooter (18 years old) was victim of a crash involving ten riders within the final 3 kilometer. In the end, Ackermann was the fastest at the end of the chaotic final. Koch sprinted to 12th in Schwerin.
