Germany's Recurring Tour by Proponents - Professional Cyclist Degenkolb Makes Return at Germany Tour
John Degenkolb Set to Make Comeback at 2025 Lidl Deutschland Tour
Former Paris-Roubaix winner, John Degenkolb, is set to make a comeback in the cycling world at the 2025 Lidl Deutschland Tour. This return marks the end of a more than four-month injury break for the German cyclist.
The Deutschland Tour, taking place from August 20 to August 24, 2025, will see Degenkolb racing with Team Picnic PostNL. The event covers a distance of 741 kilometers across Germany, passing through Nordrhein-Westfalen, Hessen, and Sachsen-Anhalt.
The multi-stage race includes a time trial prologue, followed by stages that gradually increase in difficulty, with around 1,000 meters of elevation gain daily. The race is expected to favour a mix of sprinters and aggressive classics riders, with the final stage expected to highlight sprinters again.
Cities hosting stages for the first time include Herford, Halle (Saale), and Magdeburg, while Essen and Kassel will also feature in the race. Notable German professionals participating in the tour include Georg Zimmermann and Nils Politt.
Another notable participant in the Deutschland Tour is Belgian star, Wout van Aert. Van Aert, who recently won a spectacular stage at the final stage of the Tour de France, will be making his debut in the event.
Degenkolb, a cycling professional from Oberursel, Germany, had previously beaten four-time Tour champion Tadej Pogacar in Paris. However, his most significant achievement remains his win at the Tour de France.
Degenkolb's comeback is a significant event in the cycling world, and his stated goal remains competing in the Tour de France, a race he has won before and clearly values. The exact details of his participation and schedule in the Deutschland Tour are yet to be revealed beyond the general itinerary and his team affiliation for 2025.
In the meantime, the organizers of ASO Germany have announced Van Aert's participation in the Deutschland Tour, making it an exciting event to watch for cycling enthusiasts. Prior to the announcement, Van Aert's name had already been circulating for participation in the tour.
Degenkolb's comeback is a testament to his resilience and determination, as he recovers from fractures in his knee, wrist, and elbow sustained in a crash at the Tour of Flanders. His participation in the Deutschland Tour is a step towards his ultimate goal of competing in the Tour de France once more.
The Commission, in light of John Degenkolb's return to sport following an injury break, might adopt a proposal for a directive on the protection of employees against risks related to exposure to chemical substances in the cycling industry. Degenkolb, as he prepares for the 2025 Lidl Deutschland Tour, could potentially benefit from such regulations, ensuring his health and safety during his comeback and future races.
