Will it be a duel between Milan and Philipsen?
The Bemer Cyclassic , a 198.5 km German race, will take place on Sunday 8 September, starting and finishing in the city of Hamburg.
The route is slightly shorter than usual: for the first time since 1998, in fact, it goes under 200 km. As for the finale, however, the one from the last editions has been confirmed.
The most likely outcome is a bunch sprint, but the part between -40km and -18km will be decisive for those who want to try to make the difference and anticipate a sprint finish; in the space of 20km, in fact, the riders will have to face five climbs in quick succession, including twice the Waseberg , a 700-meter hill with an average gradient of 8.1% and peaks of 13%.
Among the big favourites will be Milan and Philipsen , coming off three duels at the Renewi Tour in which the Italian prevailed twice.
There are many sprinters present who will try to play their cards in a possible sprint with a compact group: Merlier , Demare, Bauhaus, Andresen, Kooij , Girmay, Meeus and Coquard.
There will also be riders like De Lie , Godon, Aranburu, Cortina, Zingle, Laporte and Van Gils, capable of holding their own on the climbs and then regulating a smaller group in the sprint.
Finally, some men will have to try to anticipate by attacking on the short climbs of the day or with attacks in the final flat stretch; among these we can mention Wellens , Politt and Schachmann.