Tour of Slovenia: Ackermann wins stage 1

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Pascal Ackermann (Bora-Hansgrohe) claimed victory on the opening stage of the Tour of Slovenia, beating Giacomo Nizzolo (Dimension Data) and Simone Consonni (UAE Team Emirates) to the line in a bunch sprint from a reduced peloton in Rogaska Slatina.

The German champion, making his first appearance since winning two stages and the points jersey at the Giro d’Italia, had to produce what he described as "my longest sprint ever" on a messy run-in at the end of an undulating stage.

With few riders possessing teammates in a peloton that was around half capacity, Luka Mezgec (Mitchelton-Scott) launched a long-range sprint some 500 metres out. Consonni his teammate Rui Oliveira reacted first, and Ackermann jumped onto the back of that trio before finding another gear to kick clear in the final 200 metres.

That turn of pace was emphatic, and while Nizzolo edged Consonni for second place, he did so a good bike length behind the celebrating Ackermann. Mezgec, understandably fading, hung on for fourth place.

"I think it was my longest sprint ever. I started with 500 metres to go because Mezgec from the back with high speed and I just had to go for a long sprint. I was so happy to cross the finish line," said Ackermann, who takes the first overall leader's jersey of the race.

"After the Giro I recovered well and I also got a boost from my first Grand Tour. On the climbs I had fun today."

One rider who did not have fun on the climbs was Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data), who was dropped on the third-category ascent to Planina pri Sevnici with just over 50km to go. The Manxman has suffered with Epstein Barr virus in the past couple of years and, despite clearing the medical threshold last month, still seems some way off his former self with the Tour de France just 17 days away.

The 168km opening stage, starting in the capital Ljubljana, started out in calm fashion, with a three-man breakaway of local riders gaining five minutes, but ignited on the climb and descent at Planina pri Sevnici. Although most sprinters remained in contention, Cavendish was among the riders dropped as the bunch started to thin out, both in the final section of the 2km climb and on the uphill section that continued some way beyond the KOM marker.

At that point, just Aljaž Jarc (Adria Mobil) was left from the breakaway, and he was soon joined by a group of 10 that went clear on the descent. With WorldTour riders in Michael Schwarzmann (Bora-Hansgrohe), Enrico Gasparottto (Dimension Data), and Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates), it was a dangerous move, especially on the twisting, undulating terrain. They gained nearly a minute as the group split again, but by the time they crossed the finish line for the first time with 13km to go the peloton was almost upon them. The catch was eventually made with 6km to go, leaving Ackermann without teammates but with enough firepower to collect his sixth win of the season.

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