Press Releases

The Škoda Velotour 2023 will be the biggest race in the 60-year cycling classic tradition. Already, more starters have registered for May 1 than ever before. Once again, the capacity has been increased, but the countdown for the last starting places has begun. Those who have not yet signed up must be especially quick now and book their starting place at www.skoda-velotour.de.

There are still eight weeks until May 1, but already 6500 amateur athletes have booked their starting place for the Škoda Velotour - a new record! And it is foreseeable that this trend will continue. In order to offer all participants a high-quality experience even with this great demand, the starting places have been limited for the first time in the history of the cycling classic. A maximum of 7500 registrations will be allowed on www.skoda-velotour.de.

"We would like to make the race available for even more cyclists. But in order to guarantee the high quality of the cycling classic for every single starter, we have to limit the registration. Therefore, it is now certain: There are only 1000 entries left - more is not possible for the best possible organization. We will probably soon be fully booked," says Nathanael Bank, project manager for Eschborn-Frankfurt at the Society for the Promotion of Cycling.

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After a three-year break due to the pandemic, the U23 edition of Eschborn-Frankfurt will celebrate its comeback on May 1. More than 160 young riders are expected at the cycling classic. Like the WorldTour pros, the talented riders will start in Eschborn and ride through the Taunus Mountains to the finish line in front of the Alte Oper.

108 kilometers are on the program for the U23 riders. It will also be a challenging cycling classic for the youngsters, because the Feldberg, a Taunus icon, shapes the course profile. After the mountain classification has been taken here at the race's midpoint, the race will head back to Frankfurt's city center.

"We are pleased that the U23 riders are back at the cycling classic. Our decision for the junior race comes at exactly the right time, because the demand from the teams was huge. Now the world's best development teams will start together with a colorful international field and the German talent pools," says Nathanael Bank, project manager for Eschborn-Frankfurt.

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The Frankfurt Heros will once again be sought in 2023. Whoever completes not only the Škoda Velotour on May 1 but also the Frankfurt Half Marathon (March 19) and the Frankfurt City Triathlon (August 6) can call themselves "Frankfurt Hero".

Nearly 300 "Frankfurt Heros" participated in the last regular event in 2019. They ran a half marathon, raced a bike and finished a triathlon. A third of them even qualified for the "Frankfurt Hero Champion". These athletes not only mastered three top sporting events in the Main metropolis, but also opted for the longest distances. In addition to the half marathon and the middle distance in the triathlon, this is the Škoda Velotour Taunus Classic over 103 kilometers.

The athletes who achieve the fastest overall time at the end of the season will be honored with the Champion title. They will be rewarded by Tissot, the new partner of the Champion classification, with a high-quality watch for their exceptional performance.

For the first time in the history of the Škoda Velotour, 5000 participants have already registered at the beginning of January. There are still more than 100 days to go until May 1. But the anticipation for the cycling classic seems to be particularly high among racing bike enthusiasts this year.

"Start place booking is booming. We have used this early jump for a new forecast and increased the start place limit for the Škoda Velotour. For the first time, we can accept up to 7000 registrations. Nevertheless, it is more worthwhile than ever to book early - if this pace continues, we would be fully booked well before May 1," says Nathanael Bank, Project Manager for Eschborn-Frankfurt.

The amateur athletes* can choose between three routes at the cycling classic. The Škoda Velotour Taunus Classic is the longest and most popular route on May 1 - a true classic. Over 103 kilometers, it leads from the start in Eschborn along the route of the elite race with its Taunus climbs. The climb to the Feldberg, including the classifications for the Tissot Mountain King and the Tissot Mountain Queen, as well as the unique atmosphere at the Mammolshainer Stich characterize the long distance.

Those who are not yet up to the challenge in Mammolshain can opt for the Škoda Velotour Taunus Express variant with 92 race kilometers. With 40 flat kilometers, the Škoda Velotour Skyline is particularly suitable for the cycling classic debut or e-bike fans who want to experience a lap on closed roads without time measurement. The Skyline lap is also ideal for company teams, where the shared experience is more important than the result. Companies and company sports groups can find individual offers at firmenteams.eschborn-frankfurt.de.

With the many different routes on offer, all racing bike enthusiasts will find the ideal course. Whether individual start, family lap or company team, the cycling classic on 1 May is guaranteed to be an experience once again. 3,500 starting places have already been allocated. Those who are not yet there can register in the next four weeks at the low early bird price. At the beginning of January, the fees will increase.

ŠKODA Velotour Taunus Classic is the name of the most popular route on 1 May. Next year, it will once again exceed the magic 100-kilometre distance and become a true classic for amateur athletes. The 103-kilometre route starts in Eschborn and follows the route of the elite race with its Taunus climbs.

With only slight changes to the course, the ambitious character will be retained in 2023. New is the approach from Schlossborn via Eppstein to Kelkheim and the second, though short, cobblestone sector in Eppstein. The climb to the Feldberg, including the classifications for the Tissot Bergkönig and the Tissot Bergkönigin, as well as the unique atmosphere at the Mammolshainer Stich characterise the long distance. Those who are not yet up to the challenge in Mammolshain can turn off beforehand and opt for the ŠKODA Velotour Taunus Express variant with 92 race kilometres.

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In cooperation with Eschborn-Frankfurt, the "Bike Academy by kinder Joy of Moving" was launched. In October, a programme began at Frankfurt schools that teaches pupils how to use a bicycle safely in a playful way. The goal of the cycling classic and the Bike Academy by kinder Joy of Moving is clear: to get even more kids excited about cycling.

The kick-off was at the Meisterschule, a primary and secondary school in Frankfurt Sindlingen. On 12 October 2022, the first of three Bike Academy by kinder Joy of Moving lessons began as part of the physical education curriculum. Certified and experienced bike trainers work together with physical education teachers to train kids on three days for 90 minutes each. The new school project takes place at Frankfurt primary and secondary schools for grades 1 to 6. These schools can join in and bring the Bike Academy by kinder Joy of Moving to them.

The background to the cooperation is that children are showing increasing deficits in handling bicycles. Primary school children in particular need support to learn to ride a bike better. It is therefore all the more important to playfully ensure more safety and thus fun on the bike. As a side effect, the Bike Academy by kinder Joy of Moving provides extra exercise and the kids improve their endurance and sense of balance.

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Six months before 1 May, the WorldTour race is sharpening its classic profile. With more altitude metres and the comeback of the 200-kilometre distance, the cycling classic is becoming more demanding. Attacking riders will again be in the focus of Eschborn-Frankfurt, the race outcome will be more open. At the centre of the innovations is the Feldberg, which must be conquered twice.

3000 metres of altitude spread over 202 kilometres - these are the pure route facts of the 2023 cycling classic. A glance at the profile reveals it: the highest mountain in the Taunus will dominate the race on 1 May.

After the start in Eschborn and a first finish in Frankfurt, the Feldberg is traditionally the first difficulty of the day after 46.5 kilometres of racing. For the first time next year, however, it will also leave its mark on the second half of the race. At kilometre 116.6, it must be conquered again - and from the more difficult, south-western ascent. After the pros already have the second crossing of the Mammolshainer in their legs, they continue directly over the Billtalhöhe up to the Feldberg.

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Nagarro, IT full-service provider based in Kronberg im Taunus, is a new partner of the Eschborn-Frankfurt cycling classic. The innovative company complements the event's existing partnerships, which are led by the two namesakes, the cities of Eschborn and Frankfurt am Main, as well as the long-standing main partners ŠKODA and Tissot. For the globally active Nagarro, the appearance as "Official IT Partner" on 1 May is a premiere in cycling.

Nagarro is a global leader in digital product development. With over 17,000 employees in 32 countries, the IT company offers its customers digital product engineering, e-commerce and customer experience services, managed services, ERP consulting and technology services. The company motto "Thinking Breakthroughs" stands for the entrepreneurial spirit and the agile mindset. At the Kronberg headquarters, 750 specialists work in the SAP Business Unit of Nagarro.

"As a partner of Eschborn-Frankfurt, we as Nagarro can communicate our values to the outside world. Cycling is a great way for people of all ages to get around, to be active and to have fun. It protects our environment and we experience it much more intensively when cycling. In addition, we contribute to our health when we cycle. That is why Nagarrians all over the world are passionate about cycling," says Jörg Dietmann, Managing Director of Nagarro ES GmbH.

Nathanael Bank, project manager for Eschborn-Frankfurt at the Gesellschaft zur Förderung des Radsports, adds: "An agile, global company based in the Taunus region - that suits the cycling classic. Nagarro's commitment shows that our event on 1 May is firmly anchored in the region and offers modern industries a lot of appeal. Nagarro will use its extensive presence at the WorldTour race Eschborn-Frankfurt and the ŠKODA Velotour in all its diversity, whether for the balance of employees, in the competition for new talents or to convince new customers."

The partnership between Nagarro and Eschborn-Frankfurt is designed for the long term. As "Official IT Partner", the company benefits from an extensive brand presence that ensures visibility along the route between Eschborn and Frankfurt as well as in the worldwide live broadcasts. The Nagarro employees themselves will get on their racing bikes with a large team on 1 May and experience their home region during the ŠKODA Velotour.
 

June 3^rd, 2022

Just in time for today's World Bike Day, there is a special gift for classic bike fans. Registration for the next ŠKODA Velotour is now open. On May 1, 2023, the race will once again take amateur cyclists through the Taunus region. Those who already book their starting place for the coming spring at www.skoda-velotour.de will save a lot of money.

For the first 1,500 starters, a particularly inexpensive "Early Bird" contingent is available. For example, the start of the ŠKODA Velotour Skyline - the short distance over 40 flat kilometers between Eschborn and Frankfurt - costs only 35 euros. Quick decisions are in demand. Last year, it took less than 48 hours for the "Early Bird" places to be allocated. If the attractive early bird contingent is fully booked, the entry fee increases by 15 euros.

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May 1^st, 2022

Sam Bennett has won the 61^st 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.

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May 1^st, 2022

At 8:45 a.m., the first starting signal of the day sounded in Eschborn. Divided into six starting areas, the participants of the ŠKODA Velotour Classic took to the course first. They rode the long distance over 100 kilometers with the legendary climbs and Taunus icons. From the Feldberg to the Mammolshainer Stich, the amateur cyclists tested the classic bike route before the professionals.

The large majority of all starters had decided for the long round with 1700 meters of altitude. After the start in Eschborn, the course headed towards Frankfurt city center. From the finish area of the professionals at the Alte Oper, the route led towards the Feldberg. Here there were already the first attacks from the peloton, but they were stopped in Oberursel, at the foot of the eleven-kilometer climb. The fastest ascent to the 500 meters of altitude was completed by Martin Maertens (25:33 minutes) and Laura Tibitanzl (28:36 minutes). They secured the title of Tissot Mountain King and Tissot Mountain Queen, receiving the official mountain jersey and a high-quality Tissot watch.

Shortly before the summit of the highest mountain in the Taunus region, three other athletes launched attacks, but were caught up again by Niederreifenberg. Immediately afterwards, Sean Feldhaus of Team Strassacker broke away as a soloist on the climb to Kittelhütte. As the race progressed, he built up a lead of up to 1:30 minutes.

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April 30^st, 2022

60 years after the first edition, Eschborn-Frankfurt is back on May 1. Tomorrow at 12:15 pm, 131 riders will start the German Classic. The first German pro race of the season will cover 183.9 kilometers. A demanding Taunus circuit characterizes the route into the city of Frankfurt. Sprint royale or arrival of a group - the outcome of the race is open, and the favorites are preparing for all options.

It's been ten years since a group decided the victory. Since then, a sprinter has always come out on top in the big showdown. Last year's winner Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin - Fenix) is in special focus. But the veterans around local hero John Degenkolb (Team DSM) and Alexander Kristoff (Intermarché - Wanty - Gobert Matériaux) want to steal the show from the youngster this time. Kristoff has already competed seven times in the cycling classic - six times he has been on the podium. Whether his team will rely on experience or youth, will be revealed tomorrow at around 4:30 pm. Eventually Biniam Girmay will also use his return to racing for the next WorldTour success.

A look at the start list promises an open race. Many teams are going for the double strategy with sprinters and classics riders both lining-up. Will the iconic Taunus circuit with the steep Mammolshainer climb cause a selection or will the peloton regroup for a sprint at the Alte Oper in the heart of Frankfurt?

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April 29^th, 2022

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.

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April 28^th, 2022

When the Eschborn-Frankfurt cycling classic kicks off the German professional season on May 1, ŠKODA will once again be right in the thick of things. The long-standing partnership with ŠKODA AUTO Germany has now been extended until at least 2023, including an option for a further extension. The brand is sending a fleet of 35 support and organization vehicles on the road, including the electric ŠKODA ENYAQ iV as the lead vehicle of the professional field.

The striking red-painted electric SUV already has Tour de France experience. On May 1, it will also lead the cycling elite as they race for the prestigious victory in the German UCI WorldTour classic. The race's sporting director, Fabian Wegmann, will use the vehicle as a mobile command center, directing the race action from the ENYAQ iV thanks to sophisticated communications technology.

In addition to the top professionals, 6,000 amateur cyclists will also be racing their cycling classic on May 1. It is already the 21st edition of the ŠKODA Velotour, where everyone can choose from three routes between Eschborn, Frankfurt and the Taunus. As the name giver, the brand is sending over 140 starters into the race with the ŠKODA Veloteam. The ŠKODA Velotour has established itself as one of the largest hobby bike races in Germany.

ŠKODA AUTO Deutschland has put together a colorful supporting program for fans along the route. At the central roadshow on Frankfurt's Opernplatz, the brand will be exhibiting current model highlights such as the new ŠKODA ENYAQ COUPÉ iV and the new ŠKODA FABIA.

For fans who can't make it to the race track to visit, the entire professional race will be broadcast live on TV and stream. Thanks to the hr production, fans will not miss a second of the race action from the start in Eschborn to the finish in Frankfurt. The cycling classic is the only German cycling race to offer a complete, five-hour live broadcast.

April 27^th, 2022

Back at the traditional date, Eschborn-Frankfurt is attracting big names. On May 1^st, the entire podium of last year's 60^th 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.

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