ADAC Cyclassics 2025

August 17, 2025 On paper, the Cyclassics Hamburg is a race for the fast men. The riders start from Buxtehude in Lower Saxony before swinging North, across the Elbe River and into Hamburg. There is one main loop on the Eastern bank of the river that makes up the character of the race. A smaller loop is comprised within the larger loop which contains the 700M, 10% Waseberg climb and a steep, narrow, technical descent. A flat run to the finish line in the center of Hamburg should result in a bunch sprint after 207KM of World Tour racing. It was a glorious day in Northern Germany and the public came out in droves to support the riders. A break got away early including Rory Townsend of Q36.5, Johan Jacobs of Groupama-FDJ, Nelson Oliveira of Movistar, and Dries De Pooter of Intermarché-Wanty. With 118KM to go, the gap was 5 minutes 20 seconds with Alpecin-Deceuninck and Lidl-Trek present at the front of the peloton. Townsend led the break passed the impressive Hamburger Rathaus and across the finish line with 102KM to go holding at around 5 minutes. The race got lively with 75KM to go over the Waseberg. XDS-Astana strung the peloton out on the twisting descent but all the action didn't have much impact on the gap which was still 4 minutes 30 seconds. 10KM later, the peloton hit the Waseberg again, this time damage was done. Jonathan Milan of Lidl-Trek and many others were dropped which significantly trimmed the bunch. A group of five broke clear on the descent including Mathias Vacek of Lidl-Trek, Jonas Abrahamsen of Uno-X Mobility, Robert Stannard of Bahrain Victorious, Toon Aerts of Lotto, and Damien Touzé of Cofidis but Soudal Quickstep and Ineos chased it back on the roads heading back into Hamburg. When the break hit the finish line for the penultimate time at 50KM to go, their lead was down to 2 minute 15 seconds and the bunch were moving quickly behind. At the top of the Waseberg for the penultimate time, the gap was down to 1 minute 45 seconds at the top. In the peloton, Lidl-Trek piled on the pressure at the bottom of the climb and by the top, only about 20 riders were left at the front. They were caught by the rest of the peloton with 23.5KM to go, just 7KM before they hit the Waseberg for the final time. The gap was just 52 seconds when the break started the Waseberg for the last time 16KM to go. De Pooter was dropped which left three at the front and behind, Vacek sprinted up the climb which decimated the peloton. This time, around 10-12 riders were at the front of the bunch and had closed to within 25 seconds to the break. Abrahamsen was in the group and tried to get it rolling. Marc Hirschi of Tudor Pro Cycling also tried but the peloton was large enough and caught the Hirschi/Abrahamsen group with 11KM to go. With De Pooter out of the break and Biniam Girmay in the peloton, Intermarché-Wanty started riding on the front with help from Alpecin-Deceuninck and Uno-X Mobility. With 5KM to go, the Oliveira, Townsend and Jacobs were in the sights of the peloton on the long boulevards leading into Hamburg but the gap was still 20 seconds. There was more panic than speed in the peloton and with 1KM to go, the leaders still had 10 seconds. Oliveira was stuck on the front with 500M to go as the lead outs got organized went into full speed behind. A rider from Redbull-Bora Hansgrohe opened the sprint first just inside 400M and the gap was evaporating. Townsend leapt from the break at 300M and Jacobs and Oliveira were absorbed by the bunch moments later. Townsend's jump got him just enough distance to fend off a charging Arnaud De Lie of Lotto and Paul Magnier of Soudal Quickstep. Townsend didn't get a chance to celebrate on the line because it was so tight but shortly after, he was visibly in disbelief.