BiciRace.com :: 2005 Deutschland Tour

2005 Deutschland Tour, Preview

Deutschland Tour, Germany

15 - 23 August

Preview

Stages
15 August, Stage 1, Altenburg - Plauen, 170K, Map
16 August, Stage 2, Pegnitz - Bodenmais, 180K, Map
17 August, Stage 3, Bodenmais - Kufstein, 232K, Map
18 August, Stage 4, Kufstein - Sölden, 175K, Map
19 August, Stage 5, Sölden - Friedrichshafen, 215K, Map
20 August, Stage 6, Friedrichshafen - Singen (Hohentwiel), 175K, Map
21 August, Stage 7, Singen - Feldberg (Schwarzw.), 173K, Map
22 August, Stage 8, Ludwigshafen - Weinheim TT, 30K, Map
23 August, Stage 9, Bad Kreuznach - Bonn, 170K, Map

Patrik Sinkewitz, 2004 Deutschland Tour Winner, photo: Deutschland Tour

The Deutschland Tour (Tour of Germany) now occupies a new spot on the calendar. This year, with the new ProTour, the race is now after the Tour de France. This is good news if your name is Jan Ullrich. The T-Mobile rider has always showed form in the late season, and there is no better place to do that then your home tour. In addition to a scheduling shift, there is also the addition of two stages. This makes the Deutschland Tour a race to be reckoned with, one that looks good on any rider's palmarès.

The Deutschland Tour has been firmly established with good organization and attacks some quality winners. Last year it was Patrik Sinkewitz (Quick-Step), taking out a home win. The year before (2003) it was the Italian-based Aussie, Michael Rogers (also Quick-Step).

This year the race organizers take the riders on a tour of the lower half of Germany. The parcours is a "U" shape, starting off in Altenburg, and ending in Bonn nine stages later. Perhaps the most feared stages are 4, 7 and 8. Stages 4 and 7 are mountain-top finishes, that will will shred the favorites. Stage 8 is a TT, that will give the big engines a chance to excel.

Stage 4 (175K) features the HC climb of Kühtai-Sattel (2017m) at 66K to go. This climb is followed by the HC summit finish of Rettenbachferner (2670m). The race should see an explosion on the climb of the Rettenbachferner. The climb proper is around 14K, but there is a long lead up before the real climbing begins that will tire out the legs before the grand finale.

Stage 7 is 173K, taking the riders from Singen to Feldberg. Notschrei (1.116 m) is a Cat 1 climb, leaving the riders with 15K to go after the climb. It is a quick descent and then another Cat 1 climb up to the finish in Feldberg. Any mountain men hoping for an overall GC win will need to establish a solid enough time advantage in Feldberg. After stage 7 any time gains will have to be defended in the following day's TT.

Stage 8 is a 30K TT test from Ludwigshafen to Weinheim. It is mostly a flat course, but with some undulations (at 25K) as the stage approaches Weinheim. This will be the stage for the overall GC to be decided. Expect to see a man like Jan Ullrich to light up this course and take the leader's yellow jersey, if he does not already have it. However, if a mountain man has enough advantage he could hold on in the final TT. The following day's stage to Bonn, the final stage, should not make much of a difference in the overall standings.