Pilgrimage Cycling Tour of German Fans in Alsace
By Joachim Logisch and Felix Mattis from Le Markstein
Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull – Bora – hansgrohe) at the Tour de France | Photo: Cor Vos
July 18, 2026 | (rsn) – Today marks the “German Day” of the Tour de France 2026. The finish line at Le Markstein, perched along the picturesque panoramas of the Route des Crêtes, is only about 80 kilometers from the border. As anticipated, this proximity has drawn numerous fans from Germany and Switzerland, and of course, the riders, including Florian Lipowitz (Red Bull – Bora – hansgrohe), greatly appreciate the support from their homeland.
“It’s incredible how many German fans are here today. It really motivates me,” said Lipowitz, who finished third in last year’s Tour de France, in an interview with ARD following Stage 13 in Belfort. “I’m looking forward to the weekend, especially Saturday, when we’ll have so much German enthusiasm along the route.” Similarly, stage winner Mauro Schmid expressed excitement from a Swiss angle: “It makes it even more special to see so many Swiss fans and flags. The atmosphere was truly electric!”
Starting in Mühlhausen, riders will face the Grand Ballon (Category 1), the 8.9 kilometers ascent to the Ballon d’Alsace (Category 1), already crossed on Friday, and the 11.2 kilometers long climb to Col du Haag (Category 1), along with the undulating finale to the finish at Markstein will be predominantly colored in black-red-gold.
Massive Crowds of Cyclists
Our team from radsport-news.com traveled the usual press route this morning, opting instead for the scenic path up the Grand Ballon. We witnessed an impressive sight: an abundance of German license plates lining the roads, showcasing the fervor of fans. The nearly 30 kilometers stretch from Cernay over the Hartmannswillerkopf, Col Amic, and Grand Ballon, passing the Col-du-Haag junction, led to an unending parade of cyclists climbing the mountain. This included everything from six-year-olds with their parents to highly ambitious hobby cyclists of all ages. For approximately 20 kilometers uphill, there were almost no gaps; two or three cyclists could be seen riding side by side throughout.
What awaits in the Vosges is a true cycling festival that can stand proudly alongside L’Alpe d’Huez and other famous routes!
“It’s going to be truly epic in Alsace,” shared Felix Engelhardt (Jayco – AlUla) with RSN on Friday in Belfort, a sentiment that resonates well. Many friends and supporters of the German and Swiss participants are expected to line the course on Saturday. Red Bull team manager Ralph Denk remarked in a conversation, “This pushes him, it makes Lipo happy, it makes us happy. We’re hoping to see many German flags. It adds an extra boost of morale.”
