Bayern Rundfahrt: Dowsett secures overall title in Nürnberg

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John Degenkolb (Giant-Alpecin) took his second stage win at the Bayern Rundfahrt during the stage 5 finale sprint on Sunday in Nürnberg. The German strong man won the bunch sprint to the finish line ahead of Rudiger Selig (Team Katusha) and Sam Bennett (Bora-Argon18).

"It was a perfect day, everything went according to plan and I am very happy with this victory," Degenkolb said.

"The finale was hectic but the team did well. We stayed together and they guys laid down another good lead-out for me. From 200 meters I started the sprint and won."

Alex Dowsett (Movistar) secured the overall title upon the conclusion of the five-stage race. He moved into the overall race lead after winning the stage 4 individual time trial on Saturday. He finished with the top spot in the overall standings ahead of Tiago Machado (Team Katusha) and Jan Barta (Bora-Argon18). 

"I’m really good on losing yellow jerseys, so keeping this one makes me really happy!" Dowsett said. "It was amazing to have the whole team working for me. Everyone committed at 100%, more or less from kilometre zero. We had a good plan for today by the team directors, plus Javi (Moreno) made some good calls on the road, took some good sort of decisions on how to ride so everything could go right. Really all of the guys gave their best - It was so fantastic that even inside three kilometers to go, the Movistar Team was still sending guys to the front to make sure the bunch came all together. When I crossed the finish… it was phenomenal. I barely did anything today."

The Bayern Rundfahrt concluded with a 197km stage from Hassfurt to Nürnberg where a breakaway of six riders made their way off the front of the peloton during the early kilometres. CULT Energy Pro Cycling’s Christian Mager was in that move, and with 20km to go, he attacked his breakaway companions in an attempt to make it to the finish line alone. 

Unfortunately for Mager, Movistar were looking to hold the race together for their leader Dowsett and the sprinters' teams were hungry for a bunch sprint. He was reeled back into the fold in the closing kilometres.

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