Saturday, August 22nd, 3rd stage: Herxheim > Bad Dürkheim – Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) has won the queen stage of the Lidl Deutschland Tour 2026. After 170.8 demanding kilometers from Herxheim to Bad Duerkheim, the Italian prevailed ahead of Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG). Del Toro created the decisive move around 35 kilometers from the finish with an attack, distanced the previous overall leader Louis Barre (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) and reclaimed the Blue Jersey.
Racing was aggressive from early on during the queen stage, which featured more than 3,000 meters of elevation gain. Miguel Heidemann (REMBE|rad-net) was at the center of the action. The German was part of an eight-rider breakaway and pursued a clear goal: collecting points for the mountains classification. Heidemann claimed maximum points at the Lolosruhe and on the first ascent of the Kalmit, taking over the lead in the mountains classification from his teammate Ole Theiler. The German Continental team's plan paid off.
After the breakaway was caught, Nelson Oliveira (Movistar Team) took charge at the front of the race. The Portuguese rider broke away from the peloton and briefly built a lead of more than a minute. The decisive attack in the battle for the Blue Jersey came on the Rotsteig climb. Nils Politt positioned Del Toro, before Antonio Morgado increased the pace. Around 35 kilometers from the finish, Del Toro himself attacked. Barre initially tried to follow the Mexican but could not close the gap.
Shortly after, Pellizzari also broke clear of the chase group. The Italian first passed Barre and then caught up to Del Toro. Together the pair set off in pursuit of Oliveira, caught the Portuguese rider and continued as a trio. On the penultimate climb, Oliveira could no longer hold the pace. Del Toro and Pellizzari were now alone at the front and worked excellently together in the finale. Behind them, Barre was far from giving up his Blue Jersey. The Frenchman repeatedly tried to raise the pace and cut the deficit but could not decisively break away from his companions.
With around ten kilometers to go, the leading duo entered the closing circuit around Bad Duerkheim together. The final climb at the Annaberg changed nothing in the standings at the front: Del Toro and Pellizzari stayed clear and settled the stage win between themselves. In the closing kilometers, Del Toro once again invested heavily in the pacemaking. In the sprint on the “Wurstmarktgelände”, Pellizzari ultimately had the greater reserves and secured victory on the queen stage. Del Toro finished second in the same time and could nonetheless celebrate a major success in the overall classification battle. Marc Hirschi (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) completed the podium.
For Barre, it was a combative day that ended with the loss of the overall lead. The Frenchman reached the finish with the chase group and, despite several attempts of his own, could not decisively counter Del Toro's attack in the finale.
Del Toro therefore heads into the final day of racing at the Lidl Deutschland Tour 2026 as the new wearer of the Blue Jersey. After his prologue win in Bad Orb and the temporary loss of the overall lead to Barre, the Mexican struck back impressively on the queen stage. The day also brought success from a German perspective: Heidemann's aggressive riding was rewarded with the lead in the mountains classification.
