2015 Vattenfall Cyclassics
| 2015 UCI World Tour, race 23 of 28 | |||||||||||||
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The peloton during the race
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| Race details | |||||||||||||
| Dates | 23 August 2015 | ||||||||||||
| Stages | 1 | ||||||||||||
| Distance | 221.3 km (137.5 mi) | ||||||||||||
| Winning time | 4h 57' 05" | ||||||||||||
| Results | |||||||||||||
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| Winner |
 André Greipel (GER)
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(Lotto–Soudal) | |
| Second |
 Alexander Kristoff (NOR)
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(Team Katusha) | |
| Third |
 Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA)
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(Trek Factory Racing) |
The 2015 Vattenfall Cyclassics was a one-day classic cycling race that took place in Northern Germany on 23 August. It was the 20th edition of the Vattenfall Cyclassics one-day cycling race, and was the twenty-third race of the 2015 UCI World Tour. The race started in Kiel and ended in Hamburg. The course was mainly flat; the race generally suits sprinters, such as the defending champion, Alexander Kristoff (Team Katusha).
Despite several attacks in the late part of the race, the outcome was decided in a sprint finish. Pre-race favourite Marcel Kittel (Team Giant–Alpecin) was dropped on the final climb, while Mark Cavendish (Etixx–Quick-Step) was caught up in a crash with 3 kilometres (2 mi) remaining. Kristoff started the sprint, but André Greipel (Lotto–Soudal) was able to follow him and come past to take his first victory in a one-day World Tour race. With Kristoff finishing second, third place was taken by Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek Factory Racing).
The Vattenfall Cyclassics was the only UCI World Tour race held in Germany during the 2015 season. To celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the race, the organizers picked a new route, starting on board of the ferry MS Stena Scandinavica in the harbour of Kiel, and heading in a southwesterly direction towards Hamburg. The overall distance was shortened from 247.2 kilometres (153.6 mi) in the previous year to 221.3 kilometres (137.5 mi). The final kilometers inside the city remained the same, with the finish line on Mönckebergstrasse. The course was largely flat, thereby suiting sprinters. However, the 0.7 kilometres (0.4 mi) Waseberg with a gradient of up to 15% was to be climbed three times. The first ascent of the Waseberg came with 68.9 kilometres (42.8 mi) left to ride, the second and third at 28.3 kilometres (17.6 mi) and 15.5 kilometres (9.6 mi) respectively. Race director Roland Hofer said of the course: "Although the race profile may appear more suitable for the sprinters, it can ultimately be won by all types of great rider, and it’s exactly this kind of race that’s needed for a well-balanced WorldTour."
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