Deutschland Tour 2023 | 1st stage | Thursday, 24 August | St. Wendel - Merzig | 179 kilometres
The assessment of the route by Fabian Wegmann, Sports Director of the Deutschland Tour
Today is already a sifting out: it's the key stage of this Tour of Germany. The route is beautifully scenic and predestined for attacks by the classification riders with its many tough climbs. The finale in particular is really difficult: the final lap, on which Matej Mohoric laid the foundation for his overall victory in 2018, is ridden twice this time. The key section is the narrow and up to twelve per cent steep Eller Weg past the Kreuzberg Chapel.
Wegmann's tip: Hotspot for fans
The best place for spectators is the extension of the steep section at the Kreuzberg Chapel towards the Garden of the Senses, where the racers will pass twice - there will certainly be attacks over the crest and bonus seconds on the second crossing 6.9 kilometres before the finish. The course above Merzig also offers a beautiful vantage point with a view of the Saar Loop.
Stage 1 of the Deutschland Tour 2023 - schedule, TV coverage and live stream
- Neutral start - 12:20, sharp start - 12:35
- Expected arrival time: between 16:39 and 17:03
- TV broadcast: ARD, from 4 p.m.
- Live stream: ARD Mediathek, GCN+, Discovery+, Eurosport
This is the Deutschland Tour 2023
The Deutschland Tour is entering its fifth round since its relaunch in 2018. This time, a total of over 730 kilometres will be covered. In addition to the red jersey for the overall winner, Adam Yates last year, there is also the green jersey for the best sprinter (Pello Bilbao), the blue jersey with white dots for the best climber (Jakob Geßner) and the white jersey for the best young rider (Georg Zimmermann).
The Deutschland Tour is organised by the Gesellschaft zur Förderung des Radsports (GFR), a subsidiary of the Amaury Sports Organisation (A.S.O.), which organises the Tour de France every year.
Only one rider has won the Deutschland Tour, which is currently classified in the second-highest race category (2.Pro), twice in its irregular history with many gaps in the programme. Jens Voigt won the most important German stage race in 2006 and 2007.
All stages at a glance:
- Wednesday, 23 August, Prologue: St Wendel - St Wendel
- Thursday, 24 August, 1st stage: St. Wendel - Merzig
- Friday, 25 August, 2nd stage: Kassel - Winterberg
- Saturday, 26 August, 3rd stage: Arnsberg - Essen
- Sunday, 27 August, 4th stage: Hanover - Bremen
Everyman race
Everyman races also take place regularly as part of the Deutschland. On the final day of the tour, the 106-kilometre "Weserrunde" and the 67-kilometre "Bremer Runde" start in front of the Weserstadion in Bremen. Both lead over completely closed-off routes, partly on the course of the professionals, and end in Bremen's Überseestadt.
Newcomer Tour
In recent years, the programme of the Deutschland Tour has also included a scouting race for female U17s organised by the German Cycling Federation, the Newcomer Tour. This will be held on 26 August in Essen with international participation.
