Pascal Ackermann takes most impressive win in years at Tour de Pologne: "I must thank the team for believing in me today"

Pascal Ackermann has seemed a distant figure from his former self throughout the 2022 season, but things seem to be turning around at the Tour de Pologne where he had shown good signs, and today he took the win on the hilly stage into Sanok.

"It’s amazing after the injury I had and I finally feel back and have power in the legs again so it’s really important for the next races and the rest of the season" Ackermann said in a post-race interview. "The stage was really amazing, we had many climbs but they were not too steep so perfect for myself. I said to myself let’s try today and go and get the victory".

With the peloton riding conservatively through the day's climbs, many sprinters managed to survive the the two UAE riders were between them. With Zdenek Stybar caught almost in sight of the line, the UAE duo came through, and Pascal Ackermann had the legs to seal the win on the day - his second of the season and first World Tour win since the 2020 Vuelta a España. "I had a brilliant lead-out from Molano and I must thank the team for believing in me today," he added.

In the internal battle for the spots at the Vuelta a Espana, the German sprinter - and Juan Sebastián Molano who led him to the win today - have likely had a big boost during this race, whilst Fernando Gaviria struggled immensely through the opening day of the Vuelta a Burgos. Nevertheless there is still one more sprint to go, and Ackermann is likely to be one of the main favourites on the final day.