Royal sprint expected in Hamburg: Milan and the top sprinters challenge defending champion Kooij
August 6 th 2025 - 10:40
Who’s afraid of the Waseberg? No one, it seems – because on August 17, the ADAC Cyclassics will once again bring together the world’s top sprinters. After 207 kilometers through the Hamburg metropolitan region, starting in Buxtehude, the 23 teams appear to be expecting a mass sprint on Mönckebergstraße. Almost all of them have included their fastest finishers in the lineup. However, there are also a few wildcards on the provisional start list, which is led by Olav Kooij.
However, there are also a few wildcards on the provisional start list, which is led by Olav Kooij.
The defending champion from Team Visma | Lease a Bike is once again among the most successful sprinters this season and has already proven his strong form in August. But Kooij is just one of five former Hamburg winners returning to the peloton. Marco Haller (Tudor Pro Cycling Team, 2022), Elia Viviani (Lotto Cycling Team, 2017 to 2019), Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Mobility, 2014), and Arnaud Démare (Arkéa - B&B Hotels, 2012) will also be lining up.
However, last year’s runner-up Jonathan Milan (Lidl - Trek) may have the better odds of success. The two-time stage winner of this year’s Tour de France, who also took home the green jersey for the points classification, has already celebrated eight victories this year. While Biniam Girmay (Intermarché - Wanty) has yet to hit his stride this season, his third-place finish last year rounds out the full 2024 podium. With b (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe), the most recent winner of a big-city sprint this season in Copenhagen, and Kristoff, the fourth- and fifth-place finishers from last year are also returning.
Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) can also hope for a strong result. The Tour de France stage winner is likely one of the few riders who would welcome classic Hamburg “Schietwetter” (bad weather), as he is considered a true rain specialist. Paul Magnier (Soudal - Quick-Step), Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Cycling Team), and Tobias Lund Andresen (Team Picnic PostNL) also know how to win mass sprints – as do the German sprinters led by Pascal Ackermann (Israel - Premier Tech) and Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain - Victorious), who aim to deliver the first home victory in ten years, since André Greipel’s win in 2015.
But beyond the sprinters, there are once again riders who will be looking to break away. One of the specialists for long escapes is Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility), who used such a move to claim a Tour de France stage win. Hopes of making something happen on the Waseberg – which must be tackled five times – will also rest with Marc Hirschi (Tudor Pro Cycling), Kasper Asgreen (EF Education - EasyPost), and the strong contingent from UAE Team Emirates - XRG, including Nils Politt, Jan Christen, and this year’s Giro d’Italia runner-up Isaac del Toro.
The list of 161 starters is still provisional. All teams may still make changes to their squads. The final start list will be confirmed on August 16.
