The Deutschland Tour 2021 runs over four stages from the Hanseatic city of Stralsund to Nuremberg. Next August, the 727-kilometer tour will stop in four federal states. Half of the tour runs symbolically in the eastern federal states, the other half in the western part.
Stage 1: Stralsund-Schwerin (191 kilometers, Thursday)
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is the host for the start of the DeutschlandTour. With the Hanseatic city of Stralsund the tour starts on the coast for the first time. On the way to the sprint classification in Rostock, the route runs through the Baltic Sea region. Part of the coastal premiere is that the elevation profile often only brings the riders to sea level on the first day. 191 flat kilometers have to be covered on the way from Western Pomerania to Mecklenburg to the state capital Schwerin. In the second part of the route, many changes of direction, narrow roads and open terrain prepare an exciting finale. The last 15 kilometers in the Schwerin city area will challenge the teams who expect a Sprint Royale near Schwerin Castle for the first stage decision.
Stage 2: Sangerhausen-Ilmenau (185 kilometers, Friday)
The second day starts in Saxony-Anhalt. Eleven years after Sangerhausen hosted the German Road Cycling Championships, the district town south of the Harz Mountains is once again the focus of professional cycling. Shortly after the start, the riders are challenged from the highest point in Kyffhäuser, the Kulpenberg. A historic moment is planned for half of the stage: the international field of the Deutschland Tour passes the Buchenwald concentration camp memorial. Shortly afterwards, Weimar, a center of Germany's cultural heritage, is reached. Between Weimar and the stage destination in Ilmenau, the stage profile is more suited to classic riders. Constant up and down makes it harder for early breakaways and rewards late attacks. A selective final awaits the decision of the day in Ilmenau: two finish laps of 7 kilometers each have to be completed. The finishstraight is slightly uphill. While a mass sprint is likely on the first day, the second stage rather awaitsthe arrival of a larger group.
Stage 3: Ilmenau-Erlangen (191 kilometers, Saturday)
The start of the Deutschland Tour weekend is uphill. From the start in Ilmenau it goes directly into the Thuringian Forest. In the Frauenwald district, the highest point of this year's tour is reached at over 780 meters. The early uphill will encourage attacks, but the day will be still long. The route leads through southern Thuringia to Upper Franconia. The state border between Thuringia and Bavaria is passed three times before the Coburg region is reached. In medieval Seßlach, riderscan expect historical flair with cobblestones, half-timbered houses, ramparts and city gates. The stage continues towards Central Franconia without any topographical difficulties. But the final promises excitement: the finish lap in Erlangen is 12 kilometers long and includes an ascent on the Rathsberg. Proswith hopes of the overall standings can use this to set themselves apart from the sprinters. Because the fast ridersrely on the 1,000-meter-longstraight to the finish line on Luitpoldstrasse.
Stage 4: Erlangen-Nürnberg (160 kilometers, Sunday)
The last stage has true final status. With only 160 kilometers, but peppered with 2,000 meters of altitude, the terrain in Middle Franconia is used perfectly after the start on the market square in front of the Kunstpalais Erlangen. No less than 13 climbs in Franconian Switzerland, some with inclines ofup to 20%, put a classic stamp on Sunday. Hellings, like those from the Flemish classics, with steep climbs and descents welcome the aggressive riders. But in addition to strength, they also require constant concentration and knowledge of the route. If you want to win the Deutschland Tour 2021, you have to be active on the final day. After the selection in the middle part of the stage, the final to Nuremberg is flat again. At the end of the tour in Nuremberg there are three laps of 5 kilometers each on the program. On the well-known race loop course in the old townof Nuremberg, a group will probably make the tour victory among themselves. Only those who still have power reserves on the final meters of the Deutschland Tour 2021 can hope for the red jersey of the overall winner at the finish in front of the Nuremberg Opera.
