Breakaway coup on the Alster: Townsend wins ADAC Cyclassics

August 17 ^th 2025 - 17:23

It is the biggest surprise of recent years at the ADAC Cyclassics. While the question beforehand was whether sprinters or classic riders would secure victory in Hamburg, nobody had the breakaways on their radar. Not even the peloton. Because the winner was Rory Townsend (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team), who came from the leading group that broke away after just a few of the 207 kilometers. The Irish champion saved two bike lengths from the approaching peloton. Second was Arnaud De Lie (Lotto), third Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step). Around 150,000 spectators followed the race along the route.

"Winning a WorldTour race is great," said Townsend after his surprising victory. For the 30-year-old, it was the sixth success in his professional career - and by far the biggest. "I knew that the chasers were coming from behind, my sporting director kept telling me the lead after the last climb. In the absolute final, I set off quite early because I normally have a good sprint. I don't know if that's still the case after such a hard day. So I started 400 meters before the finish and made myself as aerodynamic as possible. When I actually crossed the line first, you could probably tell that I couldn't believe it at all."