Stage 4 of the Deutschland Tour covers 170.8 km from Herxheim to Bad Dürkheim on August 22, 2026, rated as a hilly profile with a flat finish. The parcours will favor punchy riders who can survive the undulations before contesting a bunch sprint or a small breakaway finish. At 2.Pro level, the race attracts top continental and WorldTour squads making this a competitive and unpredictable stage.
★★★★
Topfavoriet
Isaac del Toro is the consensus pick at the top of the board. His Hills stat of 79 is unmatched in the field, he has a win in similar-profile races over the last 90 days, and UAE Emirates will ride to protect him through the finale.
UAE Emirates
UAE Emirates
Isaac del Toro leads the startlist with a Hills rating of 79 and has a race win among his 11 similar-profile outings in the last 90 days. The UAE Emirates Legendary card is the clear favorite for this hilly stage finishing in Bad Dürkheim.
★★★
Sterke Kanshebbers
Giulio Ciccone and Louis Barré both rate 78 on Hills and have genuine winning pedigree on this type of terrain. Ciccone brings Legendary status and a podium in nine recent hilly races, while Barré's win and two podiums in 13 outings make him arguably the most consistent performer in the field.
Lidl-Trek
Lidl-Trek
Giulio Ciccone matches del Toro on Hills (78) and boasts a podium finish among nine recent hilly-profile races. The Lidl-Trek Legendary is a reliable threat on terrain like this and should contest the finish.
Visma - Lease a Bike
Visma - Lease a Bike
Louis Barré carries a Hills stat of 78 and has recorded a win plus two podiums in 13 similar races over the past 90 days. The Visma Epic punches above his rarity and is one of the most in-form riders in the field.
★★
Buitenbeentjes
Schachmann, Zambanini, and Lemmen form a credible second tier. Schachmann's local knowledge and race-reading ability compensate for modest average positions, Zambanini's two podiums in 12 recent races stand out, and Lemmen's win and consistent top results make him a sneaky threat inside the Visma setup.
Visma - Lease a Bike
Visma - Lease a Bike
Bart Lemmen has been quietly consistent with a win and two podiums in 13 hilly-profile races (avg 39.2) and a Hills stat of 75. The Visma support structure also gives him freedom to follow moves on the final approach.
Bahrain Victorious
Bahrain Victorious
Edoardo Zambanini has the strongest podium return among the mid-tier riders, with two podiums and five top-10s in 12 similar-profile races at an average of 34.0. His Hills stat of 76 backs up that form.
Soudal Quick-Step
Soudal Quick-Step
Maximilian Schachmann (Hills 77) is a former Deutschland Tour stage winner who knows how to read races in Germany. Despite a modest recent average position of 40.6, his best result of 7th in similar profiles shows he can be dangerous on the right day.
★
Om in de Gaten te Houden
Tesfazion's two wins in recent hilly races make him a value pick despite the outsider tag, while Hirschi's punching ability and Venturini's remarkable average position of 14.5 across eight recent hilly outings keep them firmly in the conversation. Sobrero rounds out the ten as a dependable Lidl-Trek option if Ciccone needs a teammate card played in his favor.
Unibet Rose
Unibet Rose
Clément Venturini has the best recent average finishing position (14.5) of any rider with multiple starts, including four top-10s in eight hilly outings. He is a speculative but intriguing pick at 1-star given his outstanding recent form.
Tudor Pro Cycling
Tudor Pro Cycling
Marc Hirschi (Hills 77) is a proven puncher who can exploit a hilly run-in to the line. He has been racing this event and brings the quality of an Epic-rated Tudor rider capable of surprising on his day.
Lidl-Trek
Lidl-Trek
Matteo Sobrero (Hills 76) offers solid all-round ability with a TT stat of 74 that could help him time efforts on the final climbs. He has one top-10 in nine similar races and adds Lidl-Trek depth alongside Ciccone.
Movistar
Movistar
Natnael Tesfazion has two wins and two podiums in 10 recent hilly-profile races, making him statistically one of the best performers in the field. His Hills stat of 75 is solid and his aggressive racing style suits a rolling finish.
Verdict
Isaac del Toro is the standout favorite given his top Hills rating of 79 and recent race win in similar conditions, with Giulio Ciccone and the in-form Louis Barré as the most likely challengers.