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SportsPascal Ackermann abandons Tour de France on penultimate stage due to injury
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German sprinter Pascal Ackermann (32) withdrew from the Tour de France on the penultimate stage, citing exhaustion and a knee injury sustained when hit by a car on the way to Alpe d'Huez. Riding for Jayco Alula, Ackermann never found his form, with a 7th place as his best result. He abandoned during the queen stage climb up Col de la Croix-de-Fer, with the Galibier and Alpe d'Huez still ahead. Ackermann, who has won stages at the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España, has never won a Tour de France stage. He joins fellow German Florian Lipowitz, who withdrew earlier with a broken collarbone. The Tour concludes Sunday in Paris, where Tadej Pogacar is expected to win his fifth title.
Source report
That wasn't how he imagined it. On the penultimate stage of the Tour de France, Pascal Ackermann (32) dropped out. The German sprinter from Kandel was simply finished on the queen stage and is also plagued by a knee injury.
Ackermann, who rides for the Australian team Jayco Alula, never found his rhythm at this year's Tour. His best result was 7th place on the stage from Périgueux to Bergerac.
The Breaking Point
On the climb up the 2067-meter-high Col de la Croix-de-Fer, Ackermann threw in the towel. Still ahead lay the Galibier (2640 meters) and a second ascent of Alpe d'Huez within 23 hours — pure horror for a fast-twitch athlete. It was too much.
It remains that Ackermann simply cannot win at the Tour de France. At the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta, the other two Grand Tours, he has won three and two stages respectively.
Pascal Ackermann before the Tour start in Barcelona. He could still laugh then. Photo: WITTERS
Ackermann's Statement
"My legs were gone. I've been at my limit for two days and just couldn't get going. Then on Friday, on the way to Alpe d'Huez, I was hit by a car and twisted my knee. Nothing was possible today."
Previous German Abandonment
Before Ackermann, Florian Lipowitz (25) had already been forced to withdraw on Tuesday during the individual time trial. The best German professional crashed and suffered a broken collarbone. After surgery the same evening, the Swabian from Laichingen is already back home in Austria.
A Difficult Finale
As recently as Friday, Ackermann seemed in good spirits. He posted photos of the climb to Alpe d'Huez, where he involuntarily came into contact with spectators — he almost ran over a spectator's backside. But the agony of the 21 switchbacks uphill was ultimately too great, especially while injured.
It is possible he will 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 Conclusion
The Tour de France ends 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