Throngs of people hail Florian Lipowitz in Essen, in spite of a mid-level ranking
The Germany Tour 2025 has officially begun, drawing a significant crowd of cycling enthusiasts in Essen. This year's event, while smaller in scale and less demanding than the Tour de France, still managed to attract some of the biggest names in cycling.
Among the notable attendees were Wout van Aert, Kaden Groves, and Jonathan Milan, three stage winners from this year's Tour de France. They were joined by Geraint Thomas, a former Tour champion, who made a special appearance at the Germany Tour before his retirement.
However, one cyclist who was notably absent was Florian Lipowitz, the third-place finisher in the Tour de France and the white jersey winner for the best young rider. Despite his absence, the presence of Dieter Senft, a cult figure in cycling, was felt throughout the event.
Known as the Tour devil, Senft is famous for wearing a red devil costume and wielding a plastic trident. Before the start of the Germany Tour, Senft expressed hope that Lipowitz could maintain his form and continue his success.
Lipowitz, who finished the Tour de France as the overall third, admitted that he needed to get back into form after the holiday. Thunderous applause greeted him as he crossed the finish line in the prologue stage, which was 3.1 kilometers long, flat, and technically challenging with sharp corners.
Despite finishing the opening stage as 36th out of 106 starters, Lipowitz sees himself in a supporting role in the Germany Tour and wants to enjoy his appearance in his home country after his France coup.
The first stage of the Germany Tour will continue on Thursday from Essen to Herford, passing through Gladbeck and Gelsenkirchen, and out of the Ruhr region. The event saw Norwegian Søren Wærenskjold win ahead of Briton Samuel Watson and Austrian Marco Haller in the first stage.
Erik Zabel, a German cycling legend, watched the race in the starting area and expressed his love for the blend of tradition and modernity in the location. It was the first time in 19 years that a German cyclist was on the podium.
Thousands of people gathered at Zollverein Coal Mine for the event, making it a spectacle to behold. The VIP at the Deutschland Tour 2025 in Essen, a former professional cyclist who participated in the Tour de France, remains unnamed in the search results.
As the Germany Tour continues, fans and cyclists alike are eager to see what the rest of the event holds. With the presence of some of the biggest names in cycling and the support of legendary figures like Senft and Zabel, the Germany Tour 2025 is sure to be an exciting event.
