Cycling: Yesterday, the news of the return of the Deutschland Tour and the cooperation between BDR and ASO caused jubilation not only in our editorial office, but in the entire German cycling scene. The German professionals at Paris-Nice are also happy about the news.
In 2018, the Deutschland Tour will return to the racing calendar - in the long term, BDR and ASO want to establish the stage race as one of the absolute top events of the season. This is of course not only great news for the fans, but also for the active pros. André Greipel, Marcel Kittel and Simon Geschke commented on the surprising news on the outskirts of Paris - Nice.
Andre Greipel: "I think it's definitely a very nice sign for us as drivers and of course also for the association. We have many fans in Germany who also want to see the cycling races in Germany. The Deutschland Tour was always a very nice event. The start of the 2017 Tour in Düsseldorf and hopefully the Germany Tour are of course a very nice moment for us as cyclists. In terms of the conditions in Germany, we have every type of terrain to offer and there will always be exciting bike races there.”
Marcel Kittel: “If a cooperation has now developed, then I am of course very happy about it. Especially the ASO and the Federation of German Cyclists - I think a lot can be possible there and for me it's a good sign for the future. I think that German cycling is definitely on the up at the moment, but it's still not at its peak. I think it's also a bit negative this year because the Bayern Rundfahrt isn't taking place. That's why it's always good when the signs for the future are pointing in the direction of a new race. Of course, the Deutschland Tour is a dream for every German racing driver.”
Simon Geschke: "It's great news. It's a very nice race and Germany offers many opportunities for exciting stages. Of course it would be great if it could be like the Deutschland Tour a few years ago - as part of the WorldTour. There are many fans in Germany who have followed the Tour de France and all other races, such as the Giro and the Vuelta, over the years and who root for the German riders. Of course, it is particularly nice for them when a really big race takes place on German soil again.”