live ticker
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, 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:
05/01/26, 11:56 a.m.: Degenkolb announced Contract extension
John Degenkolb is also at the start at Eschborn-Frankfurt this year. And not for the last time: Immediately before the start, the 37-year-old announced on the hr microphone that he would continue his career. “I’ve already had 16 years under my belt and can say: This won’t be the last time I’ll be at Eschborn-Frankfurt, but I’ll attack again in 2027,” said Degenkolb. His contract with the PostNL team would actually have expired at the end of the season.
05/01/26, 11:50 a.m.: The drivers are on the way
The official start has been postponed by another three minutes. But the wheels have been rolling since 11:48 a.m.
05/01/26, 11:43 a.m.: Start of a long day of cycling
It’s starting! The professional field is at the start and is ready for the over 200 kilometer long route. From now on we will accompany you through the long day of cycling on hr television and in our ticker and stream.
04/23/26, 2:40 p.m.: Cycling race promises pure excitement
Tradition is tradition: On May 1st, the Eschborn-Frankfurt cycling race will get down to business again. From 11.45 a.m. the elite will set off on the route, which this year promises a lot of excitement thanks to the challenging terrain. The arrival at the finish line in front of the Alte Oper in Frankfurt is expected around 5 p.m. We will be there for you on this day in the live ticker with the most important information about the racing events.
