The 58th edition of Eschborn-Frankfurt offers the pros a customarily selective course through the Taunus. The WorldTour race ranks with the major spring classics on the international cycling calendar. Only three days after the Ardennes monument Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the pros can also look forward to challenges on May 1. 187.5 kilometres long and peppered with 3,222 metres of altitude, the cycling classic will once again live up to its name. The Taunus circuit, which was redesigned last year, has proven itself and will be run in a slightly different sequence this year. In addition to the Feldberg, the race will again lead four times over the Mammolshainer Stich as well as twice over the Ruppertshainer Anstieg and once over the Billtalhöhe. In 2018, the most traditional German one-day race was characterized by many attacks and its outcome was very open until the finale. Reason enough to keep the Taunus icons and its unique classic character.
New finish lap
The race decision at the cycling classic falls this year on a new Mainschleife in Frankfurt. Coming from Eschborn, the elite riders reach the Mainmetrople and cross the Main on the Untermainbrücke. Directly on the river, the route goes over the Schaumainkai to the Alte Brücke and back again on the other side of the river with a view of the Frankfurt skyline. After the passage between Römer and EisernerSteg, the pros reach Neue Mainzer Straße. Via Grüneburgweg, the riders turn onto Reuterweg and head towards the finish at the Alte Oper. The new finish lap is 6.5km long and will be ridden two and a half times.
Between the namesakes Eschborn and Frankfurt, the Taunus region attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to the course on May 1. Fans in the town of Oberursel(Taunus), the municipality of Sulzbach (Taunus), the city of Schwalbach am Taunus and the town of Kronberg im Taunus provide goosebump moments for amateur cyclists and professionals alike. In Oberursel (Taunus), not only the cobblestones of the city center create great classic feelings.Especially the fans offer all cyclists, from the amateur athletes at the ŠKODAVelotour to the professionals, with the great Streckenfestein foretaste of the Taunus atmosphere.After conquering the Feldberg and the first climb in Ruppertshain, the elite field passes Sulzbach (Taunus) and Schwalbacham Taunus-two other communities from Team Taunus.
Police traffic advisories:
The bike race will cause disruptions to road traffic as well as public transportation in downtown Frankfurt starting around 06:00 in the morning. Details of the road closures can be found on the organizer's website at: https://www.eschborn-frankfurt.de/en/verkehr
Timetable changes of the public transport will be published on the website of the Rhein-Main-Verkehrsbund (RMV).
Please note that from 30 April 2019, 12.00 h until 01 May 2019, approx. 23.00 hrs, full closures will be in place in the following areas:
- Taunusanlage in the direction of Platz der Republik; between Bockenheimer Landstraße and Guiolettstraße
- Bockenheimer Anlage; from Eschenheimer Tor
- Reuterweg in the direction of Alte Oper; from Böhmerstraße
Furthermore, the
- BAB 66 in the direction of Frankfurt am Main, Miquelallee junction between 08.15 hrs to 14.00 hrs and the
- BAB 66 in the direction of Frankfurt am Main, Ludwig-Landmann-Straße junction between 08.00 hrs to 17.00 hrs
will be closed on 1 May 2019.
It is recommended to avoid the Frankfurt city center on the day of the event widely and be prepared for restrictions in road traffic and public transport.
The route highlights:
Opernplatz Frankfurt: Finish. Not only is there a super atmosphere here, but there is also a sports and leisure fair with lots of stalls, even more fun for the kids and culinary treats. At 8:30 clock it goes off - musical highlight this year is the band "Backtrip".
Eschborn at Mömax/Mann Mobilia XXXL/Poco: starting point of the drivers. In addition to the sport, there will also be a large expo, various food offerings, a huge bouncy castle for the kids and music by the Terrible Noises, the band of Batschkapp owner Ralf Scheffler.
In front of the town hall in Eschborn: Big fan festival with lots of music, walking acts and the race on big screen. The pros can also be seen live at the town hall square, which they will pass at 12:10pm and at around 4:10pm.
Mammolshain: The mountain classification Mammolshain (district of Königstein) is legendary in German cycling, as it goes up the "Stich". The "Stich" is a climb of 23 percent and was previously reserved for the elite. That changes this year, as the riders of the Škoda Velotour Extreme get the chance to push their limits. For the thousands of spectators who traditionally attend this one (early arrival is mandatory), it's sure to be a feast!
Sandplacken (Feldberg):If you take the A661 to Hohemark and then continue to Sandplacken, you can follow the elite, U23, juniors and ŠKODA Velotour riders in their efforts through the Taunus at close range. Hessen's second highest mountain is a real challenge for all cyclists. A special place where watching is really worth it!
Schwalbach and Sulzbach: In Schwalbach, the pros pass twice and the U23 once. There is usually a great atmosphere especially in good weather! Sulzbach is already for the fifteenth time with Team Taunus, in which the localities have joined together, which are particularly committed to the cycling classic outside of Frankfurt. At the so-called Dalles in Sulzbach, a big festival has been taking place for many years on May 1st, which also invites visitors from outside. This year, the elite race can even be followed live on a screen there for the first time.
Oberursel: The market square in Oberursel, where the elite and the U23 race through the cobblestones of Oberursel's city centre, is sure to attract many fans again this year.
Kronberg: Spectators have a great chance to cheer on the elite riders and then add a visit to Kronberg's old town. It's worth it!
