Cycle race in Frankfurt – and like before the pandemic on the traditional date on May 1st: After the cancellation in 2020 due to the corona and the postponement to September in 2021, the Eschborn-Frankfurt classic will take place again on May Day for the first time in three years. Here is an overview of the most important information and key data.
Eleven World Tour teams near Eschborn-Frankfurt
A total of eleven world tour teams from the elite will start at the cycling classic on May 1st. The organizers had already announced this at the beginning of April. Among others, the German top team Bora-hansgrohe will be there. UAE Team Emirates, Lotto Soudal, Trek-Segafredo and Team DSM, where local hero John Degenkolb from Oberursel is under contract, have also announced their participation. A total of 19 teams are registered – originally there should be 20. However: Contrary to what was planned a few weeks ago, a German national team with young talents will not be there.
Philipsen, Degenkolb and Co. do the honors
The starting field of Eschborn-Frankfurt is once again top-class this year. With Last year’s winner Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Fenix), Degenkolb and Alexander Kristoff (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux) the complete podium of the previous year is represented. At Bora-hansgrohe, the names of the two sprinters Danny van Poppel and Sam Bennett as well as Germany Tour winner Nils Politt stand out.
UAE have included Pascal Ackermann and Fernando Gaviria on the list. However: In times of Corona and targeted load control, the field of participants may change again in the coming days. The final entry list is expected on April 30th.
Only minimal adjustments to the route
After the start in Eschborn, it first goes to the city of Frankfurt for the first crossing of the finish line before heading for the Taunus. From Oberursel, the iconic Taunus circuit, including the climbs to the Feldberg, Ruppertshainer, Mammolshainer and Billtalhöhe, challenges the pros. The fourth crossing of the Mammolshainer Stich heralds the last hour of racing.
Then it’s back to Eschborn and on to the Mainschleife. The entrance to Frankfurt has been optimised: now the railway tracks are bypassed as a potential danger area in order to further increase the safety of the cyclists. After three laps and a total of 183.9 kilometers, the winner in 2022 will be chosen in front of the Alte Oper.
The route from Eschborn-Frankfurt 2022:
The elevation profile of Eschborn-Frankfurt 2022:
Jonasrutsch with the pros for the first time
Jonasrutsch (EF Education-EasyPost) is set to debut at the elite edition of his home race. The 24-year-old from Odenwald has already finished on the podium in the U17, U19 and U23 editions of the cycling classic – now the long-awaited start with the pros follows. He celebrates this premiere together with his teammate Georg Steinhauser, who finished third in the junior edition of Eschborn-Frankfurt in 2018. At that time, the U23 race was only beaten by Schiklas Larsen, who also started with the pros for the first time for his Uno-X Pro Cycling Team on May 1st.
Frankfurt cycle race in live stream and on TV
Of course, hr will also broadcast the Eschborn-Frankfurt cycle race live and in full in 2022. The broadcast on hr-fernsehen and the live stream on hessenschau.de will start on May 1st at 12 noon. Cycling fans should tune in from 11:15 a.m.: That’s when hr television shows the documentary “60 years of cycling”.
Fans and track festivals are returning
Everywhere along the route, fans are allowed again without restrictions. At the start in Eschborn, at the Taunus icons and in the finish area in the city of Frankfurt around the Alte Oper, visitors can look forward to a real cycling holiday after a two-year break, as the organizers announced on Friday.
Bike tour with a larger offer
In addition to the pros, an estimated 6,000 hobby cyclists will make May 1st a cycling holiday. The level of registrations shows just how excited they are for spring: 4,500 participants were already registered for the so-called Velotour at the beginning of March – a record at the time.
After the reduction in size last year, the race for everyone will be extended to three routes again. The long distance of over 100 kilometers leads over all Taunus climbs. The middle variant is 88, the shortest 40 kilometers long.
Seven races for youngsters
The little ones from the age of two have their big day at the popular balance bike race. Children up to the age of twelve can take part in the so-called Bike Parade in front of the Alte Oper. The licensed races of a junior cup are organized for the ambitious cycling talents. The cycling classic will be held in four age groups (U11, U13, U15, U17). On May 1st, the inclusion race for schoolchildren will return to the Alte Oper.
Source: HR