
Archie Ryan (EF Education-EasyPost) out in another all-out effort on the final stage at Lidl Deutschland Tour (2.Pro), though just came up short in his bid to get on the final general classification podium.
The Irish rider kicked off an absolutely hectic final 5km - after also attacking on the climbs earlier - by piling on the pace on the last climb of the race, with three bonus seconds up for grabs at the top.
With the crest of the 1km climb just 5km from the finish, it also looked like a perfect section of the course for Ryan to use as a springboard to collecting the seconds and perhaps almost get clear.
However, though he made a very good fist of it, race leader Mads Pedersen (Lidl Trek) and 2nd placed overall Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility), and others, were able to follow the Irishman's power on the incline.
And as the front group arrived at the top, Pedersen attacked hard, decisively dragging clear a nine-man group. Ryan tried to hang on to the back but was distanced, after his all-out effort on the climb, and slotted back into the remains of the peloton.
Up front, despite a series of attacks on the run-in, the group stayed together and the sprint for victory was won by Pedersen; the Dane wrapping up overall victory in style and ensuring his team won every stage in the race.
Danny van Poppel (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe) was 2nd and Luke Lamperti (Soudal Quick-Step) claimed 3rd; both important results as they took time bonuses that secured them strong general classification positions.
On the final of the stage, Ryan looked like he would move up one place overall to 4th as Ethan Hayter (Ineos Grenadiers), who was just ahead of him overall, was distanced. However, Lamperti moved above Ryan in the final general classification - due to his time gain in the breakaway and also his bonus seconds at the finish for 3rd.
Ryan finished at the back of the remains of the peloton, which was six seconds down on the nine leaders. But that still meant he held on to his 5th overall, a fine result after a really impressive attacking display on the road stages at this race.
Pedersen won overall from Van Poppel, by 22 seconds, with Johannessen 3rd at 23 seconds, Lamperti 4th at 26 seconds and Ryan 5th at 38 seconds. Though Ryan tried his best to secure a higher finish, he was competing in a race where the climbs were simply not hard enough to eliminated the faster riders like Pedersen and Van Poppel.
5 stages & 5 stage wins for @LidlTrek ?
Mads Pedersen wins the final stage of the Deutschland Tour, completing a clean sweep of stage victories for the team in Germany ? pic.twitter.com/i4hzF5GDye
— Eurosport (@eurosport) August 25, 2024