Cycling: The German championship jersey in road racing remains in the German team Bora-hansgrohe - but it changes shoulders. The new wearer is sprinter Pascal Ackermann. The German team also won in Austria: Lukas Pöstlberger will present the colors of his country at the Tour de France. Steve Morabito (Groupama-FDJ) also became national champion for the first time in Switzerland.
German road championship: Ackermann before Degenkolb, Kittel no chance
Pascal Ackermann has become German champion in the elite men's road race for the first time in his career. The 12,0-kilometer circuit in Einhausen had to be completed a total of 19 times. The professional from the German team Bora-hansgrohe proved to be the fastest sprinter in the end. Star sprinter Marcel Kittel (Katusha-Alpecin) had no chance. André Greipel (Lotto Soudal) managed to secure fourth place. John Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo) was narrowly beaten. Max Walscheid (Sunweb) completed the podium in third place. Team Sunweb fared even better in the women's race. Yesterday, Liane Lippert surprisingly won ahead of Christa Riffel (Canyon SRAM Racing) and Corinna Lechner (BTC City Ljubljana).
Austrian road cycling championship: Pöstlberger and Großschartner with double victory
The Bora-hansgrohe team had reason to celebrate not only in Germany. The Austrian special jersey also went to the successful German team. Lukas Pöstlberger and Felix Großschartner were among the two professionals in the breakaway that gradually managed to escape the peloton. Pöstlberger eventually attacked, with Großschartner providing cover behind him. Georg Preidler (Groupama-FDJ), who won the time trial title yesterday, finished only third after 180 kilometers in Vienna. The Austrian women had to complete 100 kilometers. Sarah Rijkes won ahead of Barbara Mayer and Angelika Tazreiter.
Swiss road cycling championship: Morabito at the age of 35 national champion for the first time
After 200,4 kilometers, Steve Morabito celebrated his first victory at the state championships in Schneisingen. The 35-year-old proved to be the fastest rider among the remaining professionals on the undulating course. In the sprint, he beat the relatively unknown Patrick Schelling (Vorarlberg Santic). Michael Schär (BMC) crossed the finish line 16 seconds behind. In the women's competition, mountain biker Jolanda Neff triumphed after 118,8 kilometers, ahead of Sina Frei and Nicole Hanselmann.