'I'm just in shock' - Rory Townsend stuns himself with Hamburg heist

The German race typically ends in a bunch finish, and there were few alarm bells ringing when Townsend, Jacobs (Groupama-FDJ), Nelson Oliveira (Movistar) and Dries De Pooter (Intermarché-Wanty) forged clear in the opening kilometres.

The quartet stayed clear deep into the finale, however, and by the final ascents of the Waseberg, Townsend realised that he and his companions were on the cusp of a remarkable heist.

“No, I have to say not,” Townsend said when asked if he though the move could stay away. “It felt like there was a lot of interest for the breakaway, and my teammate Jannik [Steimle] and I were there to keep an eye on things. It had the potential to be a big group but in the end, it was just the four of us, and I said, ‘Ok, let’s settle in for a nice day and go for the sprint primes and things like this.’

“The target was to make it to the second last time up the climb because at least then we could get in with a group and maybe do a job in the end. But we just kept going and going… It’s incredible.”

Townsend, Jacobs and Oliveira survived in front over the final climb with 16km to go, and the trio kept exchanging turns until they were into the final kilometre, by which point they still had ten seconds or so on a reduced peloton.

Their unity, combined with the lack of cohesion behind, gave them a fighting chance, but the peloton still closed to within touching distance inside the final 500m. Townsend correctly deduced that he had no choice but to strike out from distance.

“I knew they were coming. I got the time checks in my ear every other second, and I could feel they were close,” Townsend said. “When I saw them come, I felt a bit more confident than the two other guys I was with. I felt I could have the jump on them, so I went early. 

“I have a good sprint usually, and actually it’s quite good after a long day like this. I kicked with about 400m to go. I went as long as I could out of the saddle and then I went as aero as possible and tried to just hold on to the line. I think you saw on my face when I came across the line – it was disbelief really.”

Townsend’s qualities of endurance carried him to Irish titles in 2022 and 2025, while his turn of speed helped him to victory at La Roue Tourangelle in 2023, but this, his sixth professional victory, was of another calibre.

The 30-year-old spent longer than he would have liked at Continental level after a series of setbacks, and he even returned to university to complete a Physical Education Degree before moving to Pro Continental level with Bolton Equities Black Spoke in 2023.

That in turn earned him a move to the ambitious Q36.5 set-up in 2024, and he has been an aggressive presence in that squad. Just two weeks ago, he was on the offensive at the Circuito de Getxo. On Sunday in Hamburg, there was a reward for his daring.

“It’s crazy. For sure, a WorldTour race is something I never thought I’d do, but just to win a race and especially in the national colours, is a very proud moment for me,” Townsend said. “I think I’m just in shock to be honest. Days like this are really special. This is what inspired me in cycling, watching guys like Steve Cummings do things like this. I love watching stuff like this, so to do it is incredible.”