Kiel - Bremen   

Only the second stage, but at over 200km the riders will really know and feel the tour has begun with the longest stage coming this early. The route heads south out of Kiel to Hamburg before taking a more westerly course to Bremen. Bremen is a cultural and economic hub in northern Germany and home to Werder Bremen football club. The climbing teams will be on their guard, but with only a few short hills as the peloton leaves Ha...

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Only the second stage, but at over 200km the riders will really know and feel the tour has begun with the longest stage coming this early. The route heads south out of Kiel to Hamburg before taking a more westerly course to Bremen. Bremen is a cultural and economic hub in northern Germany and home to Werder Bremen football club. The climbing teams will be on their guard, but with only a few short hills as the peloton leaves Hamburg, the stage is one for the sprinters to sweat and the climbers to stay safe. This stage is crucial in shaping the sprinting classification. The winner here may well also take temporary ownership of the yellow race leader’s jersey from the prologue winner.

Historical victors Jan-Joost Dussel and Frederick Longosiwa have shown on multiple occasions that translating form on the fast and technical approach to Bremen gives a good guide to the likely winner of green jersey competition.