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The Eschborn-Frankfurt 2026 cycling race promises great excitement thanks to a top-class field of riders and a challenging route. You can follow the race live here.
05/01/26, 3:47 p.m.: Wellens now at the front
The leading group has reorganized itself: Tim Wellens and Emiel Verstrynge have pulled away, the rest – including Jonasrutsch – have been left behind for the time being.
05/01/26, 3:37 p.m.: The leading group has been caught up
Now the four leaders have been hit: Tim Wellens, Emiel Verstrynge and Jamie Meehan have caught up with them. Now it will be exciting to see who can keep up at the front and who has to give up. At the moment there are still seven of them in front.
05/01/26, 3:32 p.m.: The pursuers and the peloton are lurking
The gaps have now leveled off a bit: the chasing group is still around 20 seconds behind the leader around Jonasrutsch. The peloton lurks a good minute behind.
05/01/26, 3:23 p.m.: Something is happening at the top
80 kilometers from the finish there is movement at the top: Jonasrutsch and Thomas Gachignard briefly pulled away, but now there are four riders at the front again – only Samuel Leroux can no longer keep up. Meanwhile, a chasing group approaches from behind, including co-favorite Tim Wellens.
05/01/26, 3:13 p.m.: Gleit secures the mountains classification
The first decision of the day has been made: Jonasrutsch will win the mountain classification at the Eschborn-Frankfurt cycling race in 2026. The Odenwälder can no longer be caught in the classification after the third crossing on Burgweg. This is above all a prestige success forrutsch, because as the winner of the mountain classification he only receives an additional 500 euros.
Jonasrutsch has fun on Mammolshainer Berg
05/01/26, 3:00 p.m.:rutsch continues to collect mountain points
Jonasrutsch continues to collect points diligently for the mountain classification: he was also first on the Feldberg. However, the time at the front will soon be up for the five leaders, as the peloton is now within a minute and a half.
05/01/26, 2:55 p.m.: We’re going back to Feldberg
The drivers are now on their way to Feldberg again, this time from the other side. The pressure on the leading group is increasing more and more; the lead of the five at the front is only a good two minutes. Meanwhile, more and more drivers are having to drop at the back – as expected, the route is extremely demanding.
05/01/26, 2:30 p.m.: First crossing at Mammolshainer Stich
The first crossing on the Mammolshainer Stich (up to 23 percent gradient) is behind the leaders – again local hero Jonasrutsch does most of the work. The drivers are celebrated extensively by the thousands of fans. The peloton follows, is drawn out and reduces the gap from six to around five minutes.
05/01/26, 2:19 p.m.: These are the five outliers
Another look at the leading group. It includes the French Thomas Gachignard and Samuel Leroux, the Czech Matyas Kopecky, the Lithuanian Aivaras Mikutis and the South Hesse Jonasrutsch. With 115 kilometers to go, it is not impossible that one of these drivers will be the first to cross the finish line in front of the Alte Oper in Frankfurt.
05/01/26, 2:14 p.m.: Pace in the main field can still be improved
There is a bit of idleness in the race at the moment. On the one hand, because the leaders have worked well together so far. On the other hand, because the peloton is still not really pushing the pace. The lead remains around six minutes. Jonasrutsch and Co. could continue to dominate the race for quite some time.
05/01/26, 2:14 p.m.: Summary the first 90 kilometers
Around 90 of the 211 kilometers have now been completed. The summary of the race so far:
05/01/26, 1:56 p.m.: Degenkolb in the middle of the main field
What does John Degenkolb actually do? The 37-year-old from Oberursel has kept a low profile so far and is still part of the peloton. However, the Hesse is not a contender for victory.
05/01/26, 1:45 p.m.: Good atmosphere along the route
The atmosphere on the route is great – an example: When the leaders scramble up the Burgweg for the second time, there is loud applause from the fans. And local hero Jonasrutsch animates them again with a hand movement. Little has changed in the race: the peloton is currently around six minutes behind.
05/01/26, 1:31 p.m.: Feldberg the “German Mont Ventoux”
While the peloton is also dragging itself up the Feldberg, ex-professional Rick Zabel at the TV microphone comes up with a very nice name for the Taunus giant, based on a classic in French Provence, namely: “The German Mont Ventoux.”
05/01/26, 1:26 p.m.: Slide also leads on the Feldberg
Jonasrutsch collects a lot of mountain points, and the Erbacher also reached the top of the Feldberg as the leader of the top group. The quintet’s lead has now shrunk to five and a half minutes.
Jonasrutsch at the Paris-Roubaix race
05/01/26, 1:19 p.m.: A day for the amateurs
In addition to the international cycling elite, there will of course be thousands of amateurs on the route on May 1st, as always. Including: Jan Bickel from Kelkheim. The 34-year-old has planned something very special.
05/01/26, 1:13 p.m.: Burgweg celebrates its premiere – slide in front
The Burgweg in Niederreifenberg has just celebrated its Eschborn-Frankfurt premiere. The five leaders climbed 500 meters long and had an average steepness of eleven percent. The peloton will follow suit in a few minutes. Jonasrutsch was the first to reach the top – the South Hesse man was obviously aiming for the mountain jersey of the day.
05/01/26, 1:10 p.m.: Pidcock team works in the peloton
The breakaway’s lead has now grown to over seven minutes – and leads to an initial reaction from the peloton. A driver from the Pinarello Q36.5 team has now taken the lead. He takes over the tracking work for his teammate Tom Pidcock, the favorite of the day. Side fact: The team’s sporting director is a true Hesse. Jens Zemke was born in Wiesbaden.
05/01/26, 1:03 p.m.: Rick Zabel over Eschborn-Frankfurt
Since not much is happening at the moment, a quick look at our TV expert Rick Zabel. The former professional, once second in Frankfurt himself, answered a few questions about the race in advance:
05/01/26, 12:55 p.m.: Leading group now five
The leading group of the race has grown: Lithuanian Aivaras Mikutis, who was previously chasing the four others, has worked his way up and is now right at the front. They are now over five minutes ahead of the main field.
05/01/26, 12:50 p.m.: Overview of the favorites
However, the drivers who are currently at the top are not among the favorites. The biggest name in the field is the Brit Thomas Pidcock, who, among other things, has already won a stage in the Tour de France. The Spaniards Ion Izagirre and Pello Bilbao also deserve attention. From the Germans, Lennard Kämna, Nils Politt and Georg Zimmermann could have a say in the front. Here you can find an overview of the favorites.
05/01/26, 12:35 p.m.: Four professionals drive ahead
The breakaway group of the day seems to have been found. In any case, the field initially accepts that four drivers are ahead by more than a minute. They are Thomas Gachignard, Samuel Leroux, Caspar Kopecky and local hero Jonasrutsch.
05/01/26, 12:31 p.m.: Who has the best overview?
There are of course many perspectives on the bike race on this day: at the finish in Frankfurt, on the Feldberg, at the Mammolshainer Stich. And, and, and. But one of the best seats is certainly one of hr cameraman Rüdiger. But see for yourself:
05/01/26, 12:23 p.m.: Local herorutsch tries it out
And the professionals are out of Frankfurt again. Some drivers are still trying to get into an escape group – including Jonasrutsch from Erbach (Odenwald). Sprinter Max Walscheid, who actually has no chance of winning, has also been very active so far. However, the field is currently led by a French duo: Thomas Gachignard and Samuel Leroux.
05/01/26, 12:11 p.m.: The pace is immediately pretty high
The race picks up speed, the pace is the same. The first professionals are trying to break away from the field. People are currently pedaling through downtown Frankfurt. A total of 211 kilometers have to be completed – and more than 3,300 meters of altitude. The right efforts for the professionals will come later. The route is shown here in the video:
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