Stage 1 is Germany is primarily flat with some small ascents and an ever so slight incline just before the finish. The sprinters should still be the favourites for the stage. There's a big list of them here, so let's see who can win today.
Favourites
FLA
RES
SPR
ACC
Coquard
73
74
84
83
Kennaugh
77
71
82
81
Groenewegen
73
71
82
81
Howard
76
70
82
79
Vanderbiest
74
69
82
77
Avelino
70
65
82
77
Guarnieri
75
75
81
80
Manninen
74
75
81
80
Cavendish
71
68
81
78
Appollonio
74
66
81
78
Boeckmans
72
70
80
82
Goss
72
68
80
75
Five riders get away early to form the day's break. Senyenov Eriksson Cherkasov Kumara Kurianov
Cherkasov wins the first KOM sprint, followed by Eriksson and Kurianov.
Cherkasov also wins the second KOM sprint with Eriksson second and Senyenov third.
Kurianov wins the first intermediate sprint ahead of Kumara and Eriksson. (Screenshot taken a bit late)
Cherkasov wins the third KOM sprint as well and confirms that he will keep the jersey tonight. Senyenov is second this time ahead of Eriksson.
100 kilometers to go for the peloton. Aegon, Valio and Festina mainly doing the dirty work here.
Cherkasov wins the second intermediate sprint ahead of Senyenov and Kurianov.
Cherkasov makes it four out of four KOM sprint victories. Senyenov and Eriksson take the points.
50 kilometers remain for the peloton with the same teams still at the front. They trail by 2'19:.
Senyenov wins the third intermediate sprint. Eriksson and Cherkasov come through next.
20 kilometers to go. Valio and Festina doing the chasing now as Aegon have stepped back. The gap is down to 1'2".
Cherkasov attacks with 18 kilometers to go. He has an 18 second gap to the others in the break with the pack fast closing in behind.
Cherkasov is caught 11 kilometers left and the break still holds on to a 28 second lead.
A few riders have been dropped from the peloton but no big names are here.
7 km. Senyenov and Eriksson have been caught but the other three have a 18 second gap.
With the gap increasing ever so slightly to 22 seconds with 3 kilometers left...
... Kraftwerk take up the chase in earnest in the pack.
The break is caught a kilometer later with Aegon now getting their leadout in place for Groenewegen. Appolonio, Howard and Manninen are on the latter's tail.
The leadouts drop under the Red Kite. Groenewegen is late to start his sprint as others move ahead. The front six have a gap to the rest.
Appolonio looks to be slowing already 600 meters from the line. Groenewegen tails Howard as Manninen moves into the lead.
Manninen still leads with 300 meters left. Groenewegen is moving up but Appolonio also has found a second wind. Behind them, it is Cavendish and Vanderbiest fighting for 5th.
The positions remain the same with 200 meters left, just that they're all getting closer!
And it's still the same as we enter the final 100 meters!
And it's same at the line! Manninen carries enough sprint from the longish sprint to take the win ahead of Howard.
Groenewegen finishes 3rd ahead of Appolonio.
Vanderbiest pulls away towards the finish to claim 5th.
Cavendish is 6th, ahead of Coquard and Stauff.
Boeckmans is 9th with Varga in 10th.
Today's winner - Matti Manninen.
Manninen takes the leader's jersey with Senyenov's breakaway exploits propping him up to 2nd. Howard is 3rd, ahead of Groenewegen and Cherkasov.
Manninen off course takes the Points jersey as well with Cherkasov the holder of the KOM jersey. The latter also holds the U25 jersey after today. Kraftwerk lead the Team standings.
