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SportsPascal Ackermann withdraws from Tour de France due to knee injury
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German sprinter Pascal Ackermann (32) has withdrawn from the Tour de France on the penultimate stage due to knee problems and exhaustion. The Jayco Alula rider abandoned during the queen stage on the climb up Col de la Croix-de-Fer (2067m), with the Galibier and Alpe d'Huez still ahead. Ackermann, from Kandel, Germany, never found his rhythm in this Tour, with a 7th place finish being his best result. He has won stages at the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España but remains winless at the Tour. Earlier in the week, German rider Florian Lipowitz also withdrew after a crash during the individual time trial, suffering a broken collarbone. The Tour de France concludes Sunday on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, where Tadej Pogacar is expected to secure his fifth overall victory.
Source report
Pascal Ackermann (32) has withdrawn from the Tour de France on the penultimate stage. The German sprinter from Kandel was forced to abandon the queen stage, plagued by a knee injury.
Ackermann, who rides for the Australian team Jayco Alula, never found his rhythm in this year's Tour. His best result was a 7th-place finish on the stage from Périgueux to Bergerac.
The Decisive Moment
On the climb up the 2,067-meter-high Col de la Croix-de-Fer, Ackermann threw in the towel. Still ahead lay the Galibier (2,640 meters) and a second ascent of Alpe d'Huez within 23 hours — a grueling prospect for a sprinter.
It was too much. Ackermann has yet to win a stage at the Tour de France. By contrast, he has claimed three stage wins at the Giro d'Italia and two at the Vuelta a España.
Pascal Ackermann before the Tour start in Barcelona. He could still laugh then. Photo: WITTERS
Earlier Withdrawal
Before Ackermann, Florian Lipowitz (25) had already abandoned the race on Tuesday during the individual time trial. The best German professional crashed and suffered a broken collarbone. After surgery the same evening, the rider from Laichingen is already back home in Austria.
What's Next for Ackermann
On Friday, Ackermann appeared in good spirits, posting photos of the climb to Alpe d'Huez, where he involuntarily came into contact with spectators — nearly running over a spectator's backside. However, the ordeal of the 21 switchbacks uphill proved too great, especially while injured.
It is possible that Ackermann will now take a few days off before competing in one or two post-Tour criteriums. What the teammate of German champion Felix Engelhardt (25) — currently the best German in the Tour — will race next remains open.
Tour de France Finale
The Tour de France concludes on Sunday evening on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. Barring a crash, Tadej Pogacar (27/Slovenia) will be crowned Tour winner for the fifth time.
Source
BILD - SportWestern
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German Cyclist Pascal Ackermann Withdraws from Tour de France Due to Injury