Press Releases 2023

May 1^st, 2023

The Danish youngsters dominated the first U23 race of Eschborn-Frankfurt after a three-hiatus. In a bunch sprint after 108 kilometers, Joshua Gudnitz (Team Coloquick) won ahead of his compatriot Gustav Wang (Restaurant Suri - Carl Ras) and Eritrean Aklilu Arefayne (Circus - ReUz - Technord). Best German in front of the Alte Oper in Frankfurt was Tobias Müller (Rad-Net Osswald) in sixth place.

For Gudnitz it was the fourth victory this season. The 21-year-old commented on his success: "I already felt very good on the Feldberg and went into a breakaway group. There were seven of us, but we didn't work well together because the others knew I was fast. So, we were caught up again. Then we said in the team: Take it easy until the sprint. Even then I was still doing well, which I could prove in the end."
For third-place finisher Arefayne, it was a special day. Not only were several fans from his home country waiting for him in the finish area with flags and cheering him like the winner: for the 18-year-old it was only the second race ever in Europe, the first at UCI level. "I immediately sprinted to the podium, which is an incredible result." Yet the young African wasn't even intended for the role in the final. "Unfortunately, our captain was boxed-in, and I had to take over his role. Maybe even something more than third place would have been possible. Still, the podium makes me really happy."

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May 1^st, 2023

8000 entries made the Škoda Velotour on May 1 a fully booked record event. For the first time, the race for everyone was fully booked. The start phase alone took almost an hour until all participants had passed the starting arch. The most prominent starter was certainly Boris Rhein, Prime Minister of Hesse. He tackled the 40-kilometer Škoda Velotour Skyline.

There, on a flat course, the winners needed considerably less than an hour to reach the finish. Wiebke Bull won the women's competition in 50:10 minutes, delivering an exceptional average of more than 46 km/h. The men's race was won by Florian Alexander Ehm (53:02 minutes). The 92-kilometer Škoda Velotour Express, which crossed the Feldberg but did not make the extra loop to Mammolshain, was won by Portugal's Fabio Abreu (2:14:34 hours) in the men's race and Carmen Burgmeister (2:31:09 hours) in the women's race.

The highlight, however, was the long distance over 103 kilometers and 1700 meters of altitude, the Skoda Velotour Taunus Classic, which led all starters also over the Feldberg. There the mountain king and queen were crowned by Tissot. The fastest times were set by Christian Kreuchler (24:36 minutes) and Lisa Tertsch (29:29 minutes) - both secured the prestigious title as well as the official mountain jersey and a high-quality watch from Tissot.

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April 30^st, 2023

Will it once again be the sprinters who cheer in front of the Alte Oper in Frankfurt, or will the route change have an effect and a classics chaser will be the first to cross the finish line of the 60th edition of Eschborn-Frankfurt after just under 204 kilometers? In any case, the field again includes numerous top sprinters who have also been successful in classics. And they are optimistic despite a second Feldberg crossing.

Like Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team), the cycling classic king with four wins (2014 to 2018) and three third places (2019, 2021, 2022): "I'm happy to come back to Frankfurt. It is one of my favorite races, I have always done well. I know that the course has changed a bit this year and the Feldberg must be ridden twice. That will make it harder. At least there is one time less Mammolshainer on the way. Hopefully I'll manage to survive that and then get another good result."

Last year's winner Sam Bennett (Bora - hansgrohe) also has fond memories of his last appearance in Frankfurt: "The victory in 2022 was really important for me because it was the turning point after the problems I had at the beginning of the season. This year, things are not going so well for me again so far. I had a good winter, but the specific sprint training didn't have the effect. So, I hope it will be Frankfurt again where I find my way back to top performance."

Eschborn-Frankfurt is a unique race every year for John Degenkolb (Team DSM), winner of 2011, who has lived in Oberursel for years. "It's always special to enter the race as a local hero. As always, it will be a great pleasure with the many friends, family, and familiar faces along the route. With the good Paris-Roubaix behind us, there is even more anticipation. Accordingly, I am eagerly awaiting the race. I've used the last few days to train on the course so that I'll be in top form when I start on Monday."

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April, 28^th, 2023

May 1 is Labor Day and so the pros will have to do a lot this year to finish Eschborn-Frankfurt at the top. For everyone else around Eschborn, the Main metropolis and in the Taunus region, it is the day to celebrate, because the cycling classic also has plenty to offer amateur athletes, youngsters, and anyone else interested - even the day before.

Elite race longer and tougher

A few more than 200 kilometers and a course that is significantly more profiled than last year, due to a second Feldberg crossing, give the WorldTour race more classic character again. Whereas in previous years the race always ended in a bunch sprint in front of the Alte Oper in Frankfurt, this is no longer a matter of course on Monday.

Nevertheless, with Sam Bennett (Bora - hansgrohe), Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin - Deceuninck), Pascal Ackermann (UAE Team Emirates), Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team) and local hero John Degenkolb (Team DSM) all former winners are back. From a German perspective, however, Nils Politt (Bora - hansgrohe), Jonas Rutsch (EF Education - EasyPost) or Georg Zimmermann (Intermarché - Circus - Wanty) could also make a splash. Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious), fourth last year, and Maximilian Walscheid (Cofidis), on the other hand, would prefer the sprint finish.

With Arnaud de Lie (Lotto Dstny), Michael Matthews (Team Jayco Alula) or Hugo Hofstetter (Team Arkea - Samsic), international classics specialists have also registered on the provisional start list. Two winners of previous U23 editions are also on the list: Niklas Larsen (2018) will stand alongside series winner Kristoff and Sven Erik Bystrom (2012) will ride in Georg Zimmermann's team.

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April 28th, 2023

Route celebrations in Eschborn and the Taunus places - large Expo with stage program already starting from Sunday in Frankfurt

May 1 will once again be a classic bike festival for all fans and visitors. Who wants to celebrate May comes already on Sunday to the Old Opera. For the first time, the large expo with many exhibitors, stage program and live music will also take place there the day before the race. On Monday, many festivals await along the route again. Especially in the communities of the Süwag Team Taunus it is worth visiting the hotspots to cheer on the participants of the Škoda Velotour, the U23 and the professional race.

In Eschborn, the large german classic fan festival will take place on Monday from 11 a.m. on the town hall square. A big screen and a colorful entertainment program with music offer lots of fun for young and old. Shortly after 12 noon, the pros will come by for the first time to get their applause before the sharp race start. More than 4 hours later, the fans in Eschborn will see a different picture at the second pass, because for the riders at the front, there are less than 25 kilometers left to the finish line in Frankfurt.

Route festivals in the towns and communities of Süwag Team Taunus

The communities of the Süwag Team Taunus also have a lot to offer on May 1: In Oberursel, German classic fans traditionally celebrate at the market square, in Sulzbach at the Dalles, in Schwalbach at the gas station and in Kronberg with a big screen at Berliner Platz. The castle town of Eppstein is a newcomer to the event and will host a festival for the whole family in the middle of the old town below the castle. In Oberursel, fans will experience all pelotons. Already in the morning, from 09:23, the participants of the Škoda Velotour will pass by, around 12 o'clock the talents of the U23 race and only three quarters of an hour later the WorldTour professionals. In Eppstein, Sulzbach and Schwalbach, the day starts at 10:30 a.m. with the amateur riders of the medium and long distance - the pros come first around 2 p.m. and then another 2 hours later. Kronberg welcomes first the riders of the Škoda Velotour Taunus Classic and from 2:30 pm the professionals.

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April 27^th, 2023

Eschborn-Frankfurt is on course for growth. This year, the Škoda Velotour is attracting more amateur cyclists than ever before, the U23 junior race is back on the program and the WorldTour race for professionals promises excitement with a top field of starters. In addition, there is good news from numerous partners and sponsors of the German classic.

When the world's best professionals celebrate their German season opener in the first race of the year here in Germany and thousands of active cyclists ride themselves on May 1, many companies also take advantage of the German classic. In addition to new partners who present themselves for the first at Eschborn-Frankfurt, long-standing supporters also expand their commitment.

New companies at the German classic

With Nagarro, a new major partner was presented in the fall. The full-service IT provider based in Kronberg im Taunus complements the event's existing partnerships, which are led by the two name sponsors, the cities of Eschborn and Frankfurt am Main, as well as the long-standing main partners ŠKODA and Tissot. As "Official IT Partner", the innovative company benefits from an extensive brand presence. In addition, Nagarro employees will get on their racing bikes on May 1 and experience their home region.

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April 19^th, 2023

May 1 will be a reunion of all active German classic winners. No less than five riders are aiming again for another title at Eschborn-Frankfurt. John Degenkolb (2011 winner), Alexander Kristoff (2014-2018), Pascal Ackermann (2019), Jasper Philipsen (2021) and Sam Bennett (2022) want to cheer again in front of the Alte Oper. Whether the course update of the Sport Director Fabian Wegmann (2009, 2010) will suit them or a new name will enter the list of winners of the German WorldTour race remains open.

One thing is already certain: Eschborn-Frankfurt 2023 will have a noticeably more classic character. The 200-kilometer classic distance will be reached again and there will be more altitude. The focus of the course update is the Feldberg. The highest mountain in the Taunus region will be climbed twice this year, as it must be conquered again halfway into the race - plus from the more difficult, southwestern ascent. After the pros already have the second crossing of the Mammolshainer in their legs, it goes directly on for them over the Billtalhöhe to the Feldberg.

With the new climbing part and a shorter route from the last Mammolshainer climb to the finish, the chances of success for Taunus attacks increase. This route update and previously offensively ridden spring classics guarantee excitement on May 1.

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Premiere at the German classic: For the first time, the Škoda Velotour is fully booked! After record-breaking registration numbers, the online booking was closed today already two weeks before the race. 8000 hobby cyclists have registered for May 1.

Cycling is booming. The demand for a starting place at the German classic on May 1 was higher than ever before. Already weeks ago the previous record was surpassed and the number of bookings had to be limited for the first time to ensure the high quality of the German classic for every single starter. On Monday the last of the 8000 available starting places was booked.

After 6200 participants last year, even more cyclists are now enjoying their cycling festival. By far the most starting places were booked for the longest route. 70% of the German classic fans have set their sights on the 103 kilometers of the Škoda Velotour Taunus Classic. From the start in Eschborn, the route takes in the roads of the WorldTour race, the Taunus climbs and along the atmosphere hotspots of the Süwag Team Taunus.

In addition to the long distance for the many ambitious athletes, the Škoda Velotour Taunus Express variant with 92 kilometers and the Škoda Velotour Skyline with 40 kilometers are offered. The flat short route is particularly suitable for the cycling classic debut or e-bike fans who want to experience a lap on closed roads without time measurement.

One month before May 1, another strong peloton is emerging at the cycling classic. Ten UCI WorldTour teams and nine ProTeams will start at this year's edition of Eschborn-Frankfurt. All the teams of the active cycling classic winners will also be taking part.

For John Degenkolb and his team DSM, the home race is as firmly anchored in the calendar as it is for Bora - hansgrohe, the only German team in the UCI WorldTour. With Sam Bennett, the team won last year and goes into the race in front of home fans on May 1 as defending champions.

2021 Alpecin-Deceunick has prevailed with Jasper Philipsen. The Belgian team is looking to add another WorldTour classic success to its successful spring. UAE Team Emirates, the current leader in the world rankings and home to 2019 winner Pascal Ackermann, has also signed up. Series winner Alexander Kristoff, who has been on the podium at every event in the last eight years, will start in Eschborn this time with his new team Uno-X.

For Jonas Rutsch and his team EF Education - EasyPost, the new, more demanding course of the cycling classic could pay off. With Bahrain Victorius, Cofidis, Intermarché - Circus - Wanty and Team Jayco Alula, other international WorldTour teams with German riders in their ranks have announced their participation. The French Team Arkea - Samsic rounds off the strong lineup of WorldTeams.

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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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