Cycling: Germany tour as a triumphal trip: Rad fans celebrate Lipowitz

Florian Lipowitz also wrote autographs with a painful hand. “I only keep the pen with your thumb and index finger,” the German bike star, which was damaged for a crash, joked a new euphoria with his third place at the Tour de France. The Swabian was the celebrated star at the Germany Tour, even if he only took a supporting role in terms of sport.

“When you see how many fans are here, I am delighted,” emphasized Lipowitz, who wanted to thank his own fans with his home game for the support in France. Fabian Wegmann, as the sporting director of the five-day event this year, registered the “by far the most spectators”, as the former cycling professional in the ARD emphasized: “This Lipowitz factor is definitely there.”

The new interest in the sport in the past due to doping scandals is also pleased. “Flo certainly contributed to this. There is something going on in Germany here,” said the German champion. The first podium at the world’s largest bike race in many years, as it was once again at Jan Ullrich, transferred to the Tour-de-France fever.

Important helper role despite pain

In view of the enthusiasm, Lipowitz could not be slowed down by a mishap on the second stage in the Sauerland when he crashed into an electric box after an evasive maneuver. With bruises on the hand, on the shoulder and on his collarbone, he bravely fought himself through.

But a battered Lipowitz was also a great sporting asset. On the third stage, he brought his Red Bull teammate Danny van Poppel back to the top group as a strong helper. “I like to do that. I got so much of them on the tour. I just wanted to give something back. I try to help as well as possible,” said Lipowitz.

Pogacar is annoyed by racing jury

Van Poppel finally won the target sprint, but was downgraded by the racing jury. The Dutch champion had blocked the British Matthew Brennan through a Schlenker. That even annoyed superstar Tadej Pogacar in the distance. “This downgrading is an absolute joke and not correct. Bad work … as so often,” criticized the four-time Tour-de-France champion on Instagram. Van Poppel was the clear winner, according to the Slovenian, who recovered from the hardships at the Tour de France.

Lipowitz has already done this in South Tyrol and Lake Garda in recent weeks. The 24-year-old wants to attack again in the next few weeks-only at the WorldTour race in Canada in September, then with the autumn classics in Italy. Lipowitz does without a World Cup participation in Rwanda, but he should have went to the height training camp again.

Maybe next year there is also an overall victory at the Deutschland Tour on its agenda. To do this, the profile of the tour, which was more tailored to Sprinter and classic specialists this year, would have to be made more difficult. A German winner would certainly do the race good, the last success by Nils Politt was four years ago.