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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, 4:46 p.m.: Have fun at the balance bike race
Every year a secret highlight at the Eschborn-Frankfurt cycle race: the children’s balance bike race in the finish area in Frankfurt. This time too, the little ones had great fun.
05/01/26, 4:41 p.m.: Top group works together
The twelve drivers at the top are currently working together harmoniously and taking turns in leadership. It is difficult to predict who would have the best chance of winning if they reached the finish line together. But the peloton cannot be left behind either and is still only around half a minute behind. The last kilometers promise excitement.
05/01/26, 4:35 p.m.: Field back in Eschborn
The field is now leaving the Taunus behind and is back where it started early in the afternoon: in Eschborn. From there we continue to our destination in Frankfurt. There are still around 20 kilometers to go.
05/01/26, 4:30 p.m.: Twelve riders in the lead
A total of twelve riders have now broken away and are a good 30 seconds ahead of the main field. Not only will the top favorite Thomas Pidcock be there, but also the three German drivers Georg Zimmermann, Felix Engelhardt and Florian Stork.
05/01/26, 4:23 p.m.: Wellens loses his lead
The display of the lead was obviously incorrect: Tim Wellens was overtaken by the peloton right at the Mammolshainer jump. Now a larger group around Thomas Pidcock has taken the lead.
05/01/26, 4:17 p.m.: Wellens now alone in front
Tim Wellens pulls away! Emiel Verstrynge can no longer keep up, so Wellens is now driving alone at the front. The lead over the main field has increased again to around 50 seconds. If Wellens gets over the Mammolshainer Berg for the last time, his pursuers will have to stretch hard to catch up with him. On the other hand, a ride all alone at the top could be quite a feat of strength.
05/01/26, 4:04 p.m.: The main field is closing in
Was that it for the two Belgians at the top? The main field is currently rapidly closing in on the two, the gap is now only 20 seconds.
05/01/26, 4:00 p.m.: Slide falls behind
Jonasrutsch is exhausted: The 28-year-old has fallen further behind in the last few minutes and was finally swallowed up by the main field. However,rutsch has already done his day’s work: he was present in the strong leading group for a very long time and has already secured the mountain classification of the race ahead of time. The drivers have now passed the Mammolshainer Stich for the second time.
05/01/26, 3:54 p.m.: Belgian duo pulls away
The two Belgians are now pulling away, the former leaders are already clearly distant. While Wellens was one of the favorites anyway, Verstrynge has not yet won a professional race. “If they stay together on the two crossings at Mammolshainer Berg and still have a 30 or 40 second lead afterwards, then they have a good chance of getting to the finish,” said expert Rick Zabel in the hr broadcast.
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.
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