Pascal Ackermann wins Tour of Slovenia first stage

Germany's national champion was followed by two Italian cyclists - Giacomo Nizzolo, a member of Team Dimension Data, who finished second and Simone Consonni, who currently rides for UAE Team Emirates, in the third place.

Ackermann also won the second and fifth stages of the 2019 Giro d'Italia, becoming the first German rider to win the points classification and the best sprinter of this year's Italian race.

Luka Mezgec of Mitchelton-Scott in fourth place was the best among Slovenian cyclists participating in this year's Tour of Slovenia. He initiated the finishing sprint but then lagged behind the victorious trio.

Ackerman, who won the tenth stage win for Germany in Slovenia's prime road cycling race, said that "the start was quite easy, while the things got serious some 60 kilometres before the finish. I'm happy that I made it. Thanks to the team."<...