BiciRace.com :: 2006 Deutschland Tour

2006 Deutschland Tour, Preview

Deutschland Tour, Germany

1 - 9 August

Preview

Overall Map
Startlist
Photos
2005 Results

Stages
1 August, Prologue, Düsseldorf TT, 5.5K, Map
2 August, Stage 1, Düsseldorf - Bielefeld, 198K, Map
3 August, Stage 2, Minden - Goslar, 181.5K, Map
4 August, Stage 3, Witzenhausen - Schweinfurt, 203.3K, Map
5 August, Stage 4, Heidenheim - Bad Tölz, 203K, Map
6 August, Stage 5, Bad Tölz - Seefeld (Austria), 192K, Map
7 August, Stage 6, Seefeld - St. Anton (Austria), 196K, Map
8 August, Stage 7, Bad Säckingen TT, 38.2K, Map
9 August, Stage 8, Bad Krozingen - Karlsruhe, 172.1K, Map
Total 1,390.5K

Leipheimer Celebrated as 2005 Champion, photo: Capture- The-Peloton.com

Miss the smaller tours, like Tour de Suisse and Dauphiné Libéré? After a long July, breaking for the grandest of Grand Tours, the Tour de France, August is here and it brings with it the Deutschland Tour.

The Deutschland Tour (AKA Tour of Germany or D-Tour) kicks off on 1 August with a prologue, followed by eight more days of racing. It presents a creditable parcours for those riders who under performed or simply missed the Tour de France.

The ProTour event starts with a 5.5K time trial prologue in Düsseldorf. The prologue will help sort out the GC standings for the following three sprinters' stages; taking the riders in an easterly direction. After the flat-landers have their chance to shine; the organizers directed the riders to more vertically inclined roads.

Stage five, in southern Germany, kicks in the climbing with a vengeance. From Bad Tölz to Seefeld (Austria), the queen stage will put the riders to their limits; covering the D-Tour's Cima Coppi, if you will, with Mount Kühtai. Kühtai, the highest point of the German tour tops out at 2017 meters. After the hors catégorie beast the riders will have 60 more kilometers, including the race's first summit finish up Mösern to the finish in Seefeld.

Stage six will keep the pain level in the red zone. The 196K stage will take the riders over two Alpine passes, the second one being the summit finish on the Arlberg Pass. The mountain goats will want to score as much time as possible in stage six because the next day will be the decider.

Overall Parcours

If there is any energy left in the tank after two leg-zapping days, the stage seven 38.2K time trial will be the day to shine. Any riders with hopes on the GC title will have to perform well over the mostly flat crono parcours. Like last year, where American Levi Leipheimer barely saved his overall lead, the TT will prove dramatic.

Speaking of Levi, he will want to win the race after a lack-luster Tour for two reasons: to satisfy his German squadra Gerolsteiner in their home tour and to please his new, 2007 employers, Discovery Channel. But beware, Milram and T-Mobile will be out for blood. These German squadras will be revved-up on their home soil and be a force to reckon with for any outsiders.

Past Winners:
2005 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Gerolsteiner
2004 Patrik Sinkewitz (Ger) Quick-Step
2003 Michael Rogers (Aus) Quick-Step
2002 Igor González de Galdeano (Spa) ONCE-Eroski
2001 Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Telekom
2000 David Plaza (Spa) Festina
1999 Jens Heppner (Ger) Telekom