Alessio Magagnotti (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) blasted across the final 100 metres and sailed past favourite Paul Magnier (Soudal-QuickStep) to win stage 2 of the Deutschland Tour. Iúri Leitão (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) followed in third place.
The 19-year-old Italian stunned with his first pro career victory, delivering for his German team. Soudal-QuickStep tried to get Magnier in position, but their work was scattered. Behind with all the teams trying to sort good lines, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe's Danny Van Poppel and Jarrad Drizners positioned their young sprinter.
Magagnotti went full throttle from about 12 riders back, getting in the slipstream of Leitão and then getting daylight on the outside in the final 50 metres.
"For me, it's amazing because I don't believe it," Magagnotti, who usually rides with the development team, said to broadcasters at the finish.
"It's I think my fifth race in the WorldTour. Danny [Van Poppel] and Jarrad [Drizners] had to do the big work for me and thanks for the win."
Louis Barré (Visma-Lease a Bike) retained the overall lead, now six seconds ahead of Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG).
Surprise for the sprinters
After the longest day of the five-day stage race on Thursday, stage 2 came in 18km shorter at 197km on a day for the sprinters. From the start in Schwäbisch Hall the single classified climb was tackled 38.9km into proceedings leaving a few rollers the next 80km and then a speedway of roads for the final 73km.
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The customary flurry of attacks began quickly, and it was a trio of riders who got away in the opening minutes - mountains classification contender Ole Theiler (REMBE l Rad-Net), Ben Felix Jochum (Lotto Kern-Haus Outlet Montabaur), and Alvaro Sagrado (Storck-MRW Bau). From this group, both Sagrado and Jochum were the mild threats for the GC leader Louis Barré (Visma-Lease a Bike), at just over three minutes back each, but there was a long way to go.
Theiler had eyes on the stiff climb of Juxkopf, only 1.1km in distance but at a solid gradient of 10-14%. Sagrado and Jochum went one-two at the summit but the one point scored by Theiler moved him into the KOM lead, now one point ahead of teammate Miguel Heidemann.
The trio carried on past the mid-way point and rain began to fall as did the time gap, going from as much as 2:30 to 1:45. Leading a long line of riders in the peloton were Soudal-QuickStep and UAE Team Emirates-XRG, keeping both GC riders and sprinters in check.
The trio took all the points at the intermediate sprint in Landshausen and Oberhausen, but the peloton was closing down the gap, under 30 seconds for the final 50km, and the rain still making conditions dismal, which took away the normal sunshine in the area meadows filled with vineyards and villages.
Isaac Del Toro of UAE Team Emirates - XRG competes on soggy stage 2 (Image credit: Getty Images)
With 31km left, the peloton made their catch, UAE Team Emirates-XRG increasing the pace.
The race got a bit spicy at the Bonus time sprint on offer, with Del Toro accelerating around a corner in Belheim to get the better of the race leader Barré and grabbed three seconds. Nils Politt led out his teammate and in the process took two seconds himself.
The action disrupted the peloton as the final 20km approached, but a separation of riders at the front closed quickly and the sun succeeded in breaking through the clouds.
The bell rang with 13.3km to go on a pass through the finish line, the peloton still all together on narrow roads through the countryside. Unibet Rose Rockets moved en masse to the front as did Lidl-Trek for the final two kilometres.
Magnier was third wheel as his team tried to formulate a train in the final kilometre, but other riders infiltrated near the front. While Soudal-QuickStep, Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, Lidl-Trek and Bahrain Victorious riders spread on one side of the road, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe delivered their young Italian, who sprang from the bunch on a wide open path on the right and score the surprise win.
Louis Barré of Visma-Lease a Bike celebrates at podium in Blue Leader Jersey after stage 2 (Image credit: Getty Images)
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Jackie has been involved in professional sports for more than 30 years in news reporting, sports marketing and public relations. She founded Peloton Sports in 1998, a sports marketing and public relations agency, which managed projects for Tour de Georgia, Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah and USA Cycling. She also founded Bike Alpharetta Inc, a Georgia non-profit to promote safe cycling. She is proud to have worked in professional baseball for six years - from selling advertising to pulling the tarp for several minor league teams. On the bike, she has climbed l'Alpe d'Huez three times (not fast), and spends time on gravel around horse farms in north Georgia.
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