Ilan van Wilder wins stage 1 of the Deutschland Tour after late attack

In a thrilling finale to stage 1 of the 2023 Deutschland Tour, it was Ilan van Wilder that emerged victorious after attacking on the final climb of the day.

A hilly day, not an easy one to manage as it features plenty of small climbs, and in the final climb two ascents of the Ellerberg which is 1.8 kilometres at 6.2%.

Six riders formed the day's breakaway, Harm Vanhoucke (Lotto Dstny) and a quintet of German riders, Silas Köch (Saris Rouvy Sauerland Team), Oliver Mattheis, Jasper Levi Pahlke (BIKE AID), Albert Gathemann (P&S Benotti) and Vincent John (Rad-Net Oßwald).

Vanhoucke was the last man left out front but with over 40km still to go he too had been reeled in by the bunch.

With Soudal - Quick-Step and Israel - Premier Tech among the teams taking to the front and setting an infernal pace on the punchy, up-and-down run to the finishing circuit, a number of the top sprinters began to be put into difficulty at the back of the bunch.

As they summited the Ellerberg climb for the first time, Brandon McNulty made a testing attack, although it ultimately came to nothing.

The second time up the Ellerberg, bonus seconds were on offer and the GC came out to play. Pavel Sivakov and Ilan van Wilder riding clear together with the Soudal - Quick-Step taking the maximum bonuses.

As they began to descend towards the line, the leading duo were joined by Felix Grossschartner.

Into the final kilometre, the three leaders had around 10 seconds over a chasing trio of Pello Bilbao, Dylan Teuns and Kevin Vermaerke.

Van Wilder led out the sprint and there was no stopping him by the line, taking a brilliant victory.