Germany's national champion was followed by two Italian cyclists - Giacomo Nizzolo, a member of Team Dimension Data, who finished second and Simone Consonni, who currently rides for UAE Team Emirates, in the third place.

Ackermann also won the second and fifth stages of the 2019 Giro d'Italia, becoming the first German rider to win the points classification and the best sprinter of this year's Italian race.

Luka Mezgec of Mitchelton-Scott in fourth place was the best among Slovenian cyclists participating in this year's Tour of Slovenia. He initiated the finishing sprint but then lagged behind the victorious trio.

Ackerman, who won the tenth stage win for Germany in Slovenia's prime road cycling race, said that "the start was quite easy, while the things got serious some 60 kilometres before the finish. I'm happy that I made it. Thanks to the team."

The 25-year-old admitted that it was the most difficult sprint finish in his life, as he needed to start sprinting 500 metres ahead of the finish line. "I had to start early. It was not easy."

Almost 130 cyclists started the 808.5-km, five-day race in Ljubljana at noon today.

This year's Tour of Slovenia does not feature Slovenia's best cyclist Primož Roglič, as the race's two-time winner, including last year, is taking a break after recently finishing third overall in the Giro D'Italia.

The race, which is broadcast live by Eurosport and the Slovenian public broadcaster TV Slovenija, will continue tomorrow in Maribor and end on 23 June in Novo Mesto.

The route provides opportunities for sprinters in the opening and final stages, while the remaining stages, in particular no. 3 and 4, will require some serious climbing power.