Team Auto Eder takes the entire podium at the German stage race: Paul Fietzke wins the overall classification of the Junior Tour, Theodor August Clemmensen comes in second, and Martin Bárta takes third place.
The first three places in the overall classification, plus winning the sprint classification, the junior classification and the team classification. And as if that wasn't enough, victories in all four stages. Team Auto Eder dominated the International Cottbus Junior Stage Race on all days - and that despite the fact that the traditional stage race once again attracted a top-class international field of participants at its 46th edition: In addition to the best German teams, selections from Bulgaria, Denmark, Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic, among others, were at the start. Team Auto Eder entered six athletes: Martin Bárta (Czech Republic), Theodor August Clemmensen (Denmark), Paul Fietzke (Germany), Krystof Kral (Czech Republic), Karl Kurits (Estonia) and Duarte Marivoet (Belgium).
The riders of the BORA - hansgrohe U19 team showed right from the start why they belong to the top of international U19 cycling. Already on the first stage around Drebkau (77.2 kilometres), they celebrated a double victory with Karl Kurits and Krystof Kral. Paul Fietzke then won the morning time trial around Drachhausen (11 kilometres) on the second day. The Upper Bavarians then put in their strongest performance on the afternoon of the second day when they pulled off a triple win in the 60-kilometre road race around Cottbus after a tactically astute performance by Martin Bárta, Paul Fietzke and Theodor August Clemmensen. And on the final day, Karl Kurits also won the last section around Dissen (120 kilometres) in a bunch sprint.
The Auto Eder riders thus also won the overall classification: Paul Fietzke won the stage race with a 13-second lead over his teammate Theodor August Clemmensen. Martin Bárta rounded off the podium in third place, 40 seconds behind. With Duarte Marivoet (eighth, + 1:35 minutes) and Karl Kurits (ninth, + 1:36 minutes), two more Auto Eder athletes made it into the top ten. Krystof Kral also secured the sprint classification, Paul Fietzke won the junior classification of the younger U19 age group. Team Auto Eder also won the team classification.
After the successful performance in Cottbus, the Auto Eder athletes are now preparing for Paris-Roubaix, one of the biggest spring classics in the world. The one-day race will take place next Sunday.
Overall standings
1 FIETZKE Paul Team Auto Eder 5:51:07
2 CLEMMENSEN Theodor Team Auto Eder + 0:13
3 BÁRTA Martin Team Auto Eder + 0:40
4 LEIDERT Louis Team Rose NRW + 1:18
5 BENGELSDORF Lui LV Brandenburg + 1:23
Quotes
"It feels really good to win my first big race for Team Auto Eder - also because the race was very close to my home. But the race was not only very successful for our team from a sporting point of view, but also beyond that. We always worked together perfectly and also had a great atmosphere. It can definitely continue like this. Now I'm looking forward to Paris-Roubaix, one of the greatest classics of all, and I hope that I can give a lot back to the team after this successful weekend there and actively support my teammates." - Paul Fietzke, overall winner
"Overall it was a perfect race for us. The riders implemented the tactical instructions very well and the performance was also really strong. Accordingly, we can be optimistic for the next races. Next up is the spring classic Paris-Roubaix and we hope that we can show a similarly strong race there. In any case, we are top motivated." - Florian Wallner, Sport Director