May, 1st - The UCI WorldTour race at Eschborn-Frankfurt the German Classic.
Sam Bennett has won the 61st edition of Eschborn-Frankfurt and delivered a win on home soil for his team BORA-hansgrohe. After 183.9 kilometers the winner of the Green Jersey of the Tour de France won the Sprint Royale in Frankfurt City. Fernando Gaviria (UAE Team Emirates) and four-time winner Alexander Kristoff (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Materiaux) finished on the podium; Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain-Victorious) was the best German rider in fourth place.
A breakaway and many attacks made the first half of the race. And it was the iconic, steep Mammolshainer climb that influenced the outcome of the race. After the second crossing, still 95 kilometers from the finish, the gap was already down to 1:35 minutes. Local rider Jonas Rutsch (EF Eduaction-EasyPost) and his compatriot Georg Zimmermann (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Materiaux) attacked, the speed in the field increased, more and more breakaway riders were caught– which led to even more attacks. In the fourth and final Mammolshain passage, all breakaways were neutralized.
The start of May traditionally also opens the season of German professional races. After a two-year break, Eschborn-Frankfurt will again take place on the traditional date. Back on May 1 is also the typical cycling classic atmosphere. In the best spring weather, numerous fans are expected at the start in Eschborn, at the Taunus icons and in the finish area in Frankfurt City. Sixty years after the race was first held, the cycling festival will once again provide a fitting backdrop.
Elite race
The professionals will start at 12:15 p.m. on Sunday in Eschborn. For them, 183.9 kilometers are scheduled on the way through the Taunus to the finish in Frankfurt. Fans who want to plan their visit to the course can find the passage times of the pros at the key points of the Taunus course at www.eschborn-frankfurt.de/en/home/verkehr. Starting at 4:30 p.m. at the Alte Oper, visitors can expect to see the winner of the 2022 cycling classic.
Favorites include last year's winner, Jaspar Philipsen (Alpecin-Fenix), as well as local hero John Degenkolb (Team DSM) and series winner Alexander Kristoff (Intermarché - Wanty - Gobert Matériaux). From a German perspective, all eyes will be on Jonas Rutsch (EF Education - EasyPost), who makes his debut in the pro edition of his home race. Deutschland Tour winner Nils Politt (BORA-hansgrohe) and Rick Zabel (Israel - Premier Tech), runner-up in 2017, are also looking forward to the first race of the season in front of German fans.
Read more (pdf) Startlist Order Team Präsentation
Back at the traditional date, Eschborn-Frankfurt is attracting big names. On May 1st, the entire podium of last year's 60th edition will meet again. Jasper Philipsen already sprinted to three wins this season and will go for the title again with full confidence. Likewise, local hero John Degenkolb and serial winner Alexander Kristoff want to get the trophy back.
The new team of four-time winner Alexander Kristoff (Intermarché – Wanty – Gobert Matériaux) has several options on the Taunus course. After a strong showing at Paris-Roubaix, Kristoff will confidently target a fifth win at one of his favorite races. German youngster Georg Zimmermann, who was caught just short of the finish last year, and Biniam Girmay are also part of the squad. The 21-year-old is set to return to racing in Eschborn after he wrote cycling history a few weeks ago.
Four weeks before Germany's most prestigious classic, the 20 participating teams are selected. In addition to eleven WorldTeams and eight ProTeams a German national team will compete in Eschborn-Frankfurt. The selection promises a top-class start list, including all favorites of the last editions.
Last year, youngster Jasper Philipsen prevailed in Frankfurt's city center ahead of the big names. On May 1st, his Alpecin – Fenix team is ready to defend its title. The two new teams from last year's podium riders, John Degenkolb (Team DSM) and Alexander Kristoff (Intermarché – Wanty – Gobert Matériaux), are ready to accept the challenge. For the Belgian team, Biniam Girmay has already announced his return to racing in Eschborn. His victory at Gent-Wevelgem was a milestone in cycling: the 21-year-old is the first African rider to win a WorldTour classic.
Above, the teams of the German riders will compete in this key classic. Besides the only German team BORA – hansgrohe also Bahrain Victorious, Cofidis, EF Education – Easypost, Israel – Premier Tech, Lotto Soudal and UAE Team Emirates might select their German riders for the home audience. AG2R Citroën Team and Trek – Segafredo complete the international squads. From the ProTeams, the Top 5 of the UCI Europe Tour have confirmed their participation, including French outfits Team Arkéa – Samsic and TotalEnergies. The last spot on the starting list is assigned to a German national team. This give talents from the German Continental teams a chance to compete with the world's best in a WorldTour race.
