It was supposed to be the queen stage and it ended in a bunch sprint. The third stage of the Deutschland Tour was over 200 kilometres long and featured more than 3300 metres of climbing - and yet it was a sprinter who came out on top.
In addition to a stage win, the overall classification of the Deutschland Tour is on the agenda for Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe this year. As the race developed more and more into a bunch sprint, the team set its sights on the first passage of the finish line in Villingen-Schwenningen. It was a proper sprint as the stakes were high. A total of 3 bonus seconds were awarded to the fastest rider - Danny van Poppel won confidently, securing the time credit and moving up to 3rd place in the GC. He knows this place from last year, when it was the Dutchman's first ever GC result.
But there were still 8 kilometres to go. The day's victory was waiting. As in Heilbronn, no rider was able to get past Jonathan Milan today. In Heilbronn Jordi Meeus was second - today he was on the podium again, finishing third.
Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe leads the team classification ahead of the final stage.
Two podium sprints by Jordi Meeus & Danny van Poppel
