Overview

• Norway’s Sören Wärenskjold took the 3.1 km prolog at Essen’s Zeche Zollverein to claim the blue leader’s jersey, edging Britain’s Samuel Watson by under a second with Austria’s Marco Haller third.
• Florian Lipowitz placed 36th in his first race back after the Tour de France, saying the short time trial is not his specialty but praising the large crowds.
• Lipowitz has played down overall ambitions, describing the Deutschland Tour as form-building and a chance to give back to fans and support Red Bull–Bora-hansgrohe teammates.
• The five-day route from Essen to Magdeburg favors sprinters and classics riders, with the Arnsberg–Kassel stage seen as the key test; stages also pass through Herford and Halle (Saale).
• A high-profile field features Wout van Aert and Jonathan Milan, while ARD, ZDF and Eurosport are broadcasting live as organizers highlight a visibility boost from Lipowitz’s participation.