Even in the heavy rain of the Italian province of Latina, Pascal Ackermann: The Sprinter of the Bora exudes team proves at his second stage victory at the Giro d’italia nerves – with a particular Sprint.
In the Form of his life: As a current freshman Ackermann triumphs
Air jumps in the rain: Pascal Ackermann is hovering at the Giro d’italia is currently on cloud nine – and it shows. In the destination of Terracina, he hopped euphoric on and off, as well as in the arms of his jubilant team-mates. Over them, as during almost the entire stage a cold continuous rain poured, it didn’t seem Ackermann and his assistants to deal with much. No wonder: With his second stage victory during this tour of Italy, the 25-Year-old has already achieved more than we had expected. It is the discovery of this Giro.
“It’s unbelievable, I’m just happy,” beamed the German Champions in the camera and took a bottle later, at the awards ceremony a SIP from the oversized Champagne. He had also earned a stage with a particular level of difficulty. Not the mountains, but the cold, wet weather over Central Italy made it to the drivers heavy. In the pouring rain, the Peloton chased to the finish line of the 140 km short 5. Stage 102. Giro d’Italia of Rome, and Terracina. And for a Moment it looked as if Pascal Ackermann will be blocked in the purple Jersey of the point of best of the competitors. However, with an effort, he accelerated again and raced to the finish line to the Leading Fernando Gaviria (Colombia/UAE, Emirates Team) – to second stage win after his Triumph at the second stage. Behind Gaviria Arnaud Demare (France/Groupama-FDJ) days of a third party.
That Ackermann Maldüpiert the assembled Sprint-Elite, for the second, on the one hand surprising and on the other hand. Because, of course, it is his first Grand Tour, so the first three-week tour of his career. Usually, young professionals need to learn, with the stress and the hustle and bustle of the big race. On the other hand, Ackermann has shown in the past, how carefree and confident, he approaches new tasks. So he won just before the Giro the Frankfurter Cycling classic – a race that is not made with gradients in the Taunus necessarily for sprinters. To be able to its reputation, mostly flat and “easy” Sprints win, had Ackermann sets already there.
Exemplary Preparation
That he was third and Fourth was also on the stages, he could not win, that shows his current Gala-Form. For example, while in the demanding Finale of the fourth stage in Frascati strong sprinters such as Elia Viviani (Italy) ran out of breath, remained Ackermann turn and sprinted to the victory. And his success is no coincidence: His German Team-boron-hansgrohe is consistently working for the young Sprinter. So, for example, key lead-out rider Rüdiger Selig, with the Ackermann have a friendship and he is blind, is an important pillar in the sprint preparation. “It was crazy today, but we actually did it again,” said Selig. Also in the rain of Terracina Ackermann was brought well in Position, would have lost, but by a wave of a driver from Groupama-FDJ almost all the chances. “Actually, there were two Sprints for me today. I had to take out,” said Ackermann, the tricky scene at Tempo 60. But not only there, it was tough: “It was throughout the day dangerous, we were lucky that no one fell. You could see in the box, hardly anything,” said the Palatine of the day in the rain, can’t comprehend his luck yet, as he revealed in the SWR Interview.
Over and out: Tom Dumoulin has to give up the Giro
Ackermann developed, thus becoming the successor of the previous German Top Sprinter Marcel Kittel, John Degenkolb and André Greipel. While Kittel suspended his career due to motivational problems recently, for an indefinite period of time, and Degenkolb, with moderate success, focused more on the classics, remained Greipel in the new Jersey of his French Arkea-Samsic-team so far, a lot guilty. Ackermann comes at exactly the right time by the German Cycling in his parade to revive the discipline of the Sprint.
Doping-a shadow of the Operation of bloodletting on the Giro
The lead in the overall standings defended meanwhile Top favorite Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma). One of the biggest Challenger of the Slovenes in the Pink Jersey would have to be Tom Dumoulin. However, the Dutch favourite for the title is out of the race. Already during the first kilometers of the stage, he rose due to the impact of his fall from Tuesday. A bitter disappointment for the German Sunweb Team and himself: “It is a pity, I had really good legs. I don’t know how bad my injury is. It is broken fortunately, nothing.”
In addition to Roglic two other Slovenes wrote this Wednesday headlines: Giro rider Kristijan Koren (Bahrain-Merida) and Borut Bozic (sports Director in the same Team) were suspended leave from the Cycling world governing body UCI on the basis of the latest investigations in the “Operation lead”. They are accused of cooperation with the doping doctor Mark Schmidt. In addition, Kristijan Durasek (UAE-Emirates Team), as well as the former driver Alessandro Petacchi was suspended. Previously Ex had been professional Danilo Hondo in the ARD Interview, blood doping.