Tour of Slovenia 2019 – Stage 1 [LAST 30 KM]

June 19, 2019

Tour of Slovenia 2019 – Stage 1 – Ljubljana – Rogaška Slatina : 171 km

The Tour of Slovenia is marking its jump to 2.HC level this year with a line up that includes five WorldTour teams and a roster that includes Mark Cavendish, Tadej Pogacar, Pascal Ackermann and Esteban Chaves.

Pascal Ackermann (Bora-Hansgrohe) claimed victory on the opening stage of the Tour of Slovenia, beating Giacomo Nizzolo (Dimension Data) and Simone Consonni (UAE Team Emirates) to the line in a bunch sprint from a reduced peloton in Rogaska Slatina.

The German champion, making his first appearance since winning two stages and the points jersey at the Giro d’Italia, had to produce what he described as “my longest sprint ever” on a messy run-in at the end of an undulating stage.

With few riders possessing teammates in a peloton that was around half capacity, Luka Mezgec (Mitchelton-Scott) launched a long-range sprint some 500 metres out. Consonni his teammate Rui Oliveira reacted first, and Ackermann jumped onto the back of that trio before finding another gear to kick clear in the final 200 metres.

That turn of pace was emphatic, and while Nizzolo edged Consonni for second place, he did so a good bike length behind the celebrating Ackermann. Mezgec, understandably fading, hung on for fourth place.

“I think it was my longest sprint ever. I started with 500 metres to go because Mezgec from the back with high speed and I just had to go for a long sprint. I was so happy to cross the finish line,” said Ackermann, who takes the first overall leader’s jersey of the race.

“After the Giro I recovered well and I also got a boost from my first Grand Tour. On the climbs I had fun today.”

One rider who did not have fun on the climbs was Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data), who was dropped on the third-category ascent to Planina pri Sevnici with just over 50km to go. The Manxman has suffered with Epstein Barr virus in the past couple of years and, despite clearing the medical threshold last month, still seems some way off his former self with the Tour de France just 17 days away.

The 168km opening stage, starting in the capital Ljubljana, started out in calm fashion, with a three-man breakaway of local riders gaining five minutes, but ignited on the climb and descent at Planina pri Sevnici. Although most sprinters remained in contention, Cavendish was among the riders dropped as the bunch started to thin out, both in the final section of the 2km climb and on the uphill section that continued some way beyond the KOM marker.

At that point, just Aljaž Jarc (Adria Mobil) was left from the breakaway, and he was soon joined by a group of 10 that went clear on the descent. With WorldTour riders in Michael Schwarzmann (Bora-Hansgrohe), Enrico Gasparottto (Dimension Data), and Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates), it was a dangerous move, especially on the twisting, undulating terrain. They gained nearly a minute as the group split again, but by the time they crossed the finish line for the first time with 13km to go the peloton was almost upon them. The catch was eventually made with 6km to go, leaving Ackermann without teammates but with enough firepower to collect his sixth win of the season.

Results :
1 Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe 4:04:58
2 Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Dimension Data
3 Simone Consonni (Ita) UAE Team Emirates
4 Luka Mezgec (Slo) Mitchelton-Scott
5 Andrea Vendrame (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec
6 Rui Oliveira (Por) UAE Team Emirates
7 Grega Bole (Slo) Bahrain-Merida
8 Jérémy Leveau (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTM
9 Kristian Sbaragli (Ita) Israel Cycling Academy
10 Umberto Marengo (Ita) Neri Sottoli–Selle Italia–KTM
11 Marko Kump (Slo) Adria Mobil
12 Vincenzo Albanese (Ita) Bardiani CSF
13 Andi Bajc (Slo) Felbermayr Simplon Wels
14 Iuri Filosi (Ita) Delko Marseille Provence KTM
15 Ben Hermans (Bel) Israel Cycling Academy
16 Ivan Rovny (Rus) Gazprom–Rusvelo
17 Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates
18 Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus) Gazprom–Rusvelo
19 Simone Velasco (Ita) Neri Sottoli–Selle Italia–KTM
20 Jan Polanc (Slo) UAE Team Emirates
21 Radoslav Rogina (Cro) Adria Mobil
22 Matthias Krizek (Aut) Felbermayr Simplon Wels
23 Tomá_ Kalojiros (Cze) AC Sparat Raha
24 David Lozano Riba (Spa) Team Novo Nordisk
25 Péter Kusztor (Hun) Team Novo Nordisk
26 Diego Ulissi (Ita) UAE Team Emirates
27 Daniel Savini (Ita) Bardiani CSF
28 Stephan Rabitsch (Aut) Felbermayr Simplon Wels
29 Esteban Chaves (Col) Mitchelton-Scott
30 Matteo Spreafico (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec
31 Lucas Hamilton (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott
32 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Neri Sottoli–Selle Italia–KTM
33 Aleksei Rybalkin (Rus) Gazprom–Rusvelo
34 Ildar Arslanov (Rus) Gazprom–Rusvelo
35 Matteo Montaguti (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec
36 Charles Planet (Fra) Team Novo Nordisk
37 Sebastian Schönberger (Aut) Neri Sottoli–Selle Italia–KTM
38 Lorenzo Rota (Ita) Bardiani CSF
39 Matteo Busato (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec
40 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Meridiana Kamen Team
41 Alessandro Fedeli (Ita) Delko Marseille Provence KTM
42 Cameron Meyer (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott
43 Guy Sagiv (Isr) Israel Cycling Academy
44 _iga Groselj (Slo) Adria Mobil
45 Fausto Masnada (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec
46 Alja_ Jarc (Slo) Adria Mobil
47 Jay Mc Carthy (Aus) Bora-Hansgrohe
48 Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Dimension Data
49 Edoardo Zardini (Ita) Neri Sottoli–Selle Italia–KTM
50 Francesco Manuel Bongiorno (Ita) Neri Sottoli–Selle Italia–KTM
51 Ruben Plaza (Spa) Israel Cycling Academy
52 _iga Rucigaj (Slo) Ljubljana Gusto Santic
53 Nikolai Cherkasov (Rus) Gazprom–Rusvelo
54 Dion Smith (NZl) Mitchelton-Scott 0:00:14
55 Heinrich Haussler (Aus) Bahrain-Merida 0:00:27
56 David Per (Slo) Adria Mobil 0:00:32
57 Marco Marcato (Ita) UAE Team Emirates 0:00:55
58 Conor Dunne (Irl) Israel Cycling Academy 0:00:58
59 Davide Cimolai (Ita) Israel Cycling Academy
60 Michael Schwarzmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:02:16
61 Shane Archbold (NZl) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:04:18
62 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Dimension Data 0:05:45
63 Martin Lavric (Slo) Slovenia 0:06:24
64 Andrea Peron (Ita) Team Novo Nordisk
65 Kristjan Hocevar (Slo) Slovenia
66 Mauro Finetto (Ita) Delko Marseille Provence KTM
67 Domen Novak (Slo) Bahrain-Merida
68 Lorenzo Fortunato (Ita) Neri Sottoli–Selle Italia–KTM
69 Josip Rumac (Cro) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec
70 Marco Frapporti (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec 0:08:05
71 Edoardo Affini (Ita) Mitchelton-Scott
72 Mamyr Stash (Rus) Gazprom–Rusvelo
73 Brian Kamstra (Ned) Team Novo Nordisk
74 Alja_ Prah (Slo) Ljubljana Gusto Santic
75 Rok Korosec (Slo) Ljubljana Gusto Santic
76 Benjamin Hill (Aus) Ljubljana Gusto Santic
77 Matic Veber (Slo) Slovenia
78 Ga_per Katrasnik (Slo) Adria Mobil
79 Luka Lakota (Slo) Slovenia
80 Ivan Santaromita (Ita) Nippo-Vini Fantini-Faizane
81 Imerio Cima (Ita) Nippo-Vini Fantini-Faizane
82 Matthias Mangertseder (Ger) Felbermayr Simplon Wels
83 Daniel Lehner (Aut) Felbermayr Simplon Wels
84 Igor Boev (Rus) Gazprom–Rusvelo
85 Marco Maronese (Ita) Bardiani CSF
86 Mirco Maestri (Ita) Bardiani CSF
87 Przemys_aw Kasperkiewicz (Pol) Delko Marseille Provence KTM
88 Matej Drinovec (Slo) Slovenia
89 Erik Baska (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe
90 Luka Cotar (Slo) Slovenia
91 Phil Bauhaus (Ger) Bahrain-Merida
92 Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) Bahrain-Merida
93 Callum Scotson (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott
94 Jan Stohr (Cze) AC Sparat Raha 0:10:08
95 Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Bahrain-Merida
96 Oscar Gatto (Ita) Bora-Hansgrohe
97 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Dimension Data
98 Tilen Finkst (Slo) Ljubljana Gusto Santic
99 Timothy Guy (Aus) Ljubljana Gusto Santic
100 Damiano Cima (Ita) Nippo-Vini Fantini-Faizane
101 Matteo Rabottini (Ita) Meridiana Kamen Team
102 Andrea Guardini (Ita) Bardiani CSF
103 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Dimension Data
104 Emanuel Ki_erlovski (Cro) Meridiana Kamen Team
105 Alessandro Pessot (Ita) Bardiani CSF
106 Giovanni Lonardi (Ita) Nippo-Vini Fantini-Faizane
107 Joan Bou Company (Spa) Nippo-Vini Fantini-Faizane
108 Lars Bak Ytting (Den) Dimension Data
109 Umberto Poli (Ita) Team Novo Nordisk
110 Florian Kierner (Aut) Felbermayr Simplon Wels
111 Rasmus Tiller (Nor) Dimension Data
112 Joonas Henttala (Fin) Team Novo Nordisk
113 Tomá_ Schuhler (Cze) AC Sparat Raha
114 Omer Goldstein (Isr) Israel Cycling Academy
115 Michal Schuran (Slo) AC Sparat Raha
116 Franti_ek Honsa (Cze) AC Sparat Raha
117 Juraj Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe
118 Matic Groselj (Slo) Ljubljana Gusto Santic
119 Fabien Schmidt (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTM
120 Julien Trarieux (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTM
121 Laurent Evrard (Bel) Meridiana Kamen Team
122 Ruben Dario Acosta (Col) Nippo-ViniFantini-Faizane
123 Antonino Pigliese (ita) Meridiana Kamen Team 0:18:16
124 _iga Horvat (Slo) Adria Mobil
DNF Fabian Steininger (Aut) Felbermayr Simplon Wels
DNF Petr Malan (Cze) AC Sparat Raha
DNF Jan Rajchart (Cze) AC Sparat Raha
DNF Lorenzo Marenzi (Cro) Meridiana Kamen Team
DNF Ale_ Pirih (Slo) Slovenia

General Classification after Stage 1 :
1 Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe 4:04:48
2 Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Dimension Data 0:00:04
3 Simone Consonni (Ita) UAE Team Emirates 0:00:06
4 Diego Ulissi (Ita) UAE Team Emirates 0:00:07
5 Alja_ Jarc (Slo) Adria Mobil
6 Matteo Busato (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec 0:00:08
7 Matthias Krizek (Aut) Felbermayr Simplon Wels 0:00:09
8 Luka Mezgec (Slo) Mitchelton-Scott 0:00:10
9 Andrea Vendrame (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec
10 Rui Oliveira (Por) UAE Team Emirates
11 Grega Bole (Slo) Bahrain-Merida
12 Jérémy Leveau (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTM
13 Kristian Sbaragli (Ita) Israel Cycling Academy
14 Umberto Marengo (Ita) Neri Sottoli–Selle Italia–KTM
15 Marko Kump (Slo) Adria Mobil
16 Vincenzo Albanese (Ita) Bardiani CSF
17 Andi Bajc (Slo) Felbermayr Simplon Wels
18 Iuri Filosi (Ita) Delko Marseille Provence KTM
19 Ben Hermans (Bel) Israel Cycling Academy
20 Ivan Rovny (Rus) Gazprom–Rusvelo
21 Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates
22 Aleksandr Vlasov (Rus) Gazprom–Rusvelo
23 Simone Velasco (Ita) Neri Sottoli–Selle Italia–KTM
24 Jan Polanc (Slo) UAE Team Emirates
25 Radoslav Rogina (Cro) Adria Mobil
26 Tomá_ Kalojiros (Cze) AC Sparat Raha
27 David Lozano Riba (Spa) Team Novo Nordisk
28 Péter Kusztor (Hun) Team Novo Nordisk
29 Daniel Savini (Ita) Bardiani CSF
30 Stephan Rabitsch (Aut) Felbermayr Simplon Wels
31 Esteban Chaves (Col) Mitchelton-Scott
32 Matteo Spreafico (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec
33 Lucas Hamilton (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott
34 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Neri Sottoli–Selle Italia–KTM
35 Aleksei Rybalkin (Rus) Gazprom–Rusvelo
36 Ildar Arslanov (Rus) Gazprom–Rusvelo
37 Matteo Montaguti (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec
38 Charles Planet (Fra) Team Novo Nordisk
39 Sebastian Schönberger (Aut) Neri Sottoli–Selle Italia–KTM
40 Lorenzo Rota (Ita) Bardiani CSF
41 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Meridiana Kamen Team
42 Alessandro Fedeli (Ita) Delko Marseille Provence KTM
43 Cameron Meyer (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott
44 Guy Sagiv (Isr) Israel Cycling Academy
45 Ziga Groselj (Slo) Adria Mobil
46 Fausto Masnada (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec
47 Jay Mc Carthy (Aus) Bora-Hansgrohe
48 Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Dimension Data
49 Edoardo Zardini (Ita) Neri Sottoli–Selle Italia–KTM
50 Francesco Manuel Bongiorno (Ita) Neri Sottoli–Selle Italia–KTM
51 Ruben Plaza (Spa) Israel Cycling Academy
52 Ziga Rucigaj (Slo) Ljubljana Gusto Santic
53 Nikolai Cherkasov (Rus) Gazprom–Rusvelo
54 Dion Smith (NZl) Mitchelton-Scott 0:00:24
55 Heinrich Haussler (Aus) Bahrain-Merida 0:00:37
56 David Per (Slo) Adria Mobil 0:00:42
57 Marco Marcato (Ita) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:05
58 Conor Dunne (Irl) Israel Cycling Academy 0:01:08
59 Davide Cimolai (Ita) Israel Cycling Academy
60 Michael Schwarzmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:02:26
61 Shane Archbold (NZl) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:04:28
62 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Dimension Data 0:05:55
63 Martin Lavric (Slo) Slovenia 0:06:34
64 Andrea Peron (Ita) Team Novo Nordisk
65 Kristjan Hocevar (Slo) Slovenia
66 Mauro Finetto (Ita) Delko Marseille Provence KTM
67 Domen Novak (Slo) Bahrain-Merida
68 Lorenzo Fortunato (Ita) Neri Sottoli–Selle Italia–KTM
69 Josip Rumac (Cro) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec
70 Marco Frapporti (Ita) Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec 0:08:15
71 Edoardo Affini (Ita) Mitchelton-Scott
72 Mamyr Stash (Rus) Gazprom–Rusvelo
73 Brian Kamstra (Ned) Team Novo Nordisk
74 Alja_ Prah (Slo) Ljubljana Gusto Santic
75 Rok Korosec (Slo) Ljubljana Gusto Santic
76 Benjamin Hill (Aus) Ljubljana Gusto Santic
77 Matic Veber (Slo) Slovenia
78 Gazper Katrasnik (Slo) Adria Mobil
79 Luka Lakota (Slo) Slovenia
80 Ivan Santaromita (Ita) Nippo-Vini Fantini-Faizane
81 Imerio Cima (Ita) Nippo-Vini Fantini-Faizane
82 Matthias Mangertseder (Ger) Felbermayr Simplon Wels
83 Daniel Lehner (Aut) Felbermayr Simplon Wels
84 Igor Boev (Rus) Gazprom-Rusvelo
85 Marco Maronese (Ita) Bardiani CSF
86 Mirco Maestri (Ita) Bardiani CSF
87 Przemys_aw Kasperkiewicz (Pol) Delko Marseille Provence KTM
88 Matej Drinovec (Slo) Slovenia
89 Erik Baska (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe
90 Luka Cotar (Slo) Slovenia
91 Phil Bauhaus (Ger) Bahrain-Merida
92 Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) Bahrain-Merida
93 Callum Scotson (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott
94 Matic Groselj (Slo) Ljubljana Gusto Santic 0:10:17
95 Jan Stohr (Cze) AC Sparat Raha 0:10:18
96 Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Bahrain-Merida
97 Oscar Gatto (Ita) Bora-Hansgrohe
98 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Dimension Data
99 Tilen Finkst (Slo) Ljubljana Gusto Santic
100 Timothy Guy (Aus) Ljubljana Gusto Santic
101 Damiano Cima (Ita) Nippo-Vini Fantini-Faizane
102 Matteo Rabottini (Ita) Meridiana Kamen Team
103 Andrea Guardini (Ita) Bardiani CSF
104 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Dimension Data
105 Emanuel Ki_erlovski (Cro) Meridiana Kamen Team
106 Alessandro Pessot (Ita) Bardiani CSF
107 Giovanni Lonardi (Ita) Nippo-Vini Fantini-Faizane
108 Joan Bou Company (Spa) Nippo-Vini Fantini-Faizane
109 Lars Bak Ytting (Den) Dimension Data
110 Umberto Poli (Ita) Team Novo Nordisk
111 Florian Kierner (Aut) Felbermayr Simplon Wels
112 Rasmus Tiller (Nor) Dimension Data
113 Joonas Henttala (Fin) Team Novo Nordisk
114 Tomá_ Schuhler (Cze) AC Sparat Raha
115 Omer Goldstein (Isr) Israel Cycling Academy
116 Michal Schuran (Slo) AC Sparat Raha
117 Franti_ek Honsa (Cze) AC Sparat Raha
118 Juraj Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe
119 Fabien Schmidt (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTM
120 Julien Trarieux (Fra) Delko Marseille Provence KTM
121 Laurent Evrard (Bel) Meridiana Kamen Team
122 Ruben Dario Acosta (Col) Nippo-ViniFantini-Faizane
123 Antonino Pigliese (ita) Meridiana Kamen Team 0:18:26
124 Ziga Horvat (Slo) Adria Mobil