As the first week of the final Grand Tour of the season unfolds in Spain, another group of Bahrain Victorious riders is set to take on the newly named Lidl Deutschland Tour in Germany.
The race, which was resumed in 2018 with a renewed format and is now in its sixth edition, will run from August 21 to 25. It begins with a 2.9-kilometer prologue in Schweinfurt, followed by four stages through the scenic and demanding landscapes of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Rheinland-Pfalz, before concluding in Saarbrücken.
Bahrain Victorious enters the race with a clear focus on securing a stage win and delivering a strong performance in the general classification. The team is led by Santiago Buitrago, who has the potential to shine on the tougher stages, and Matevz Govekar, a versatile rider capable of both sprinting and climbing.
Enrico Poitschke, Team Bahrain Victorious Sports Director, comments:
“We have a good team competing here, especially with Buitrago and Poels, two strong climbers, although we miss the long climbs this year in Germany. The stages are more likely classic stages, but I think we have the chance to fight for a good result in the GC with Santiago, but also with Matevz Govekar. He is fast, climbs well, and could capitalize on bonus seconds.”
In addition to Alberto Bruttomesso and Nicolò Buratti, two of the young riders on the team, Vlad Van Mechelen will make his debut with Bahrain Victorious, having recently joined as a stagiaire.
“He is very talented and also very motivated to ride for the first time with the team. We will see how he can help the team. He is eager to contribute and potentially achieve a stage result already in this first race for him,” Poitschke comments about the 20-year-old Belgian rider.
The Deutschland Tour kicks off in Schweinfurt with a fast, flat prologue that promises tight competition, setting the stage for the days to come. “The team aims for a solid start,” Poitschke continues. “The opening time trial is followed by a 177-kilometer route featuring short ascents, including two category climbs, and a challenging finish at the Jägerhaus in Heilbronn, making it a stage where tactics and timing will be crucial. We will approach it with an aggressive strategy, looking for bonus seconds 8 km before the finish.”
“Stage 2 ends with a steep 13% climb and two laps around Schwäbisch Gmünd, offering a tough test for all riders. With three category climbs and an uphill finish, the team will focus on securing a strong position, aiming for bonus seconds 1.5 km before the end.”
Stage 3 (Schwäbisch Gmünd – Villingen-Schwenningen, 212 km) is the longest stage of this edition, presenting the riders with nearly 3,000 meters of elevation gain, making it the most grueling day of the race. Bahrain Victorious plans to capitalize on their climbers’ strengths during this challenging stage.
The Lidl Deutschland Tour will conclude with Stage 4 (Aneiler am Trifels – Saarbrücken, 172 km), which features two significant climbs and a fast finish in Saarbrücken, where the GC contenders will battle for the overall win.
“The final stage will be tackled with an eye on GC standings, with a particular focus on the bonus seconds available 4.7 km before the finish,” Poitschke adds.
Poitschke concludes, “Our goal is to win a stage, and we will see what’s possible in the end. We have a mix of experienced riders and young talent, all motivated to deliver strong results in the Deutschland Tour.”
