Overview

• The five-day race runs August 20–24, opening with a 3.1 km prolog at Essen’s Zeche Zollverein and finishing in Magdeburg, with live coverage alternating between ARD and ZDF.
• Lipowitz says he will ride to “give something back” to supporters and treat the event as training after a short post‑Tour break and a mild cold.
• The course favors sprinters and classics specialists, with outlets pointing to Wout van Aert and Jonathan Milan as leading contenders rather than the Tour podium finisher.
• Red Bull–Bora‑hansgrohe brings fast finishers Jordi Meeus and Danny van Poppel, and Lipowitz indicates he will work to set up his teammates.
• Organizers and analysts say his presence has lifted public interest, following a hometown reception in Laichingen attended by about 1,000 fans.