On 19. September is finally the time: after the cycling classic Eschborn-Frankfurt had to be canceled in its classic form last year and could not be held traditionally on May 01 in 2021, now pedals to the 60th edition of the bike race an impressive start list in Frankfurt. For the first time, 13 teams from the WorldTour will start at Eschborn-Frankfurt. The complete podium of the last edition is there: Pascal Ackermann (Bora-hansgrohe, winner 2019), John Degenkolb (Lotto Soudal, winner 2011) and Alexander Kristoff (UAE-Team Emirates, winner 2014 - 2018). They are joined by Tour of Germany winner Nils Politt (Bora-hansgrohe), among others, as well as three other stage winners from this year's Tour de France. The impressive starting list underlines the special cycling classic date this year. Eschborn-Frankfurt will be a dress rehearsal for the World Championships, as the race takes place exactly one week before the UCI Road World Championships. Many riders are using the Taunus for a final endurance test before heading to Flanders.
Over 187.4 kilometres, they ride from the start in Eschborn first into Frankfurt city and on to the climb up the Feldberg. Then it's on to the iconic Taunusrunde: four times over the Mammolshainer Stich, twice over the Ruppertshainer Anstieg and once over the Billtalhöhe. The pros already have more than 3,200 metres of altitude in their legs when preparations are made on the Mainschleife in Frankfurt for the decision at the Alte Oper.
The anniversary of the cycling classic is not to be celebrated by fans along the route, however, but in front of the television. To get in the mood, hr will show the film "60 Jahre Radrennen" - a documentary about the last six decades of the cycling classic - starting at 12:30 pm. Just in time for the start of the pros, the five-hour live broadcast on TV and via live stream will then begin at 1:15 pm. There will be no trackside festivities on site. And no spectators are allowed in the start area in Eschborn either. At least 800 people are allowed in the finish area at the Alte Oper in Frankfurt. For them, the 3G rule (vaccinated, recovered, tested), the mask requirement, contact tracking via app and a distance requirement of at least 1.5 meters apply.
ŠKODA Velotour
In addition to the 60. Eschborn - Frankfurt cycle race, another anniversary will be celebrated on 19 September, as the ŠKODA Velotour also has an anniversary. For the 20th time, amateur cyclists will experience a true Everyman classic. 6,000 participants are expected for the two routes. The ŠKODA Velotour Classic (100 kilometres) starts in the morning before the professionals in Eschborn. Legendary climbs and Taunus icons, from the Feldberg to the Mammolshainer Stich, await the amateur athletes. In the afternoon, the ŠKODA Velotour Skyline leads over 40 almost completely flat kilometres to the city of Frankfurt and back to Eschborn. This year, both distances will start from smaller starting blocks, which will be sent into the race at staggered intervals. The 3G rule (vaccinated, recovered, tested) applies to all participants. All information and schedules concerning the ŠKODA Velotour can be found at any time on www.skoda-velotour.de.
Traffic reports
Of course, this edition of the bike race will once again see some route closures that will affect motorists, but also public transport to some extent. All information about the route closures and resulting traffic obstructions in and around Frankfurt can be found HERE
Please note that from 18.09.2021, 12:00, until 19.09.2021, approx. 23:30, full closures will be in place in the following areas:
Bockenheimer Landstraße from the height of the junction Liebigstraße
Bockenheimer Anlage; from Eschenheimer Tor
Reuterweg in the direction of the Alte Oper; from the junction of Staufenstraße and Elsheimerstraße
City centre circuit around the Alte Oper (Reuterweg, Grüneburgweg, Eschersheimer Landstraße, Hochstraße, Neue Mainzer Straße, Mainkai, Alte Brücke, Schaumainkai, Untermainbrücke, Taunusanlage)
Further, the
BAB 66 in the direction of Frankfurt am Main, junction Miquelallee between 08:30 hrs to 14:00 hrs
and the
BAB 66 in the direction of Frankfurt am Main, Ludwig-Landmann-Straße junction between 08:15 hrs to 16:45 hrs
on 19.09.2021 will be closed.
It is recommended to avoid the Frankfurt city center on the day of the event, as there will be restrictions on road traffic and public transport.
We keep our fingers crossed for all professionals and participants of the ŠKODA Velotour and are already looking forward to hopefully being able to come to the track again next year to cheer them on. You can find more info on the timing, hygiene concept and route HERE
