In Frankfurt, May Day is associated with a very special tradition: the great cycling classic, which has been bringing the cycling elite to Frankfurt since 1962 and attracts many thousands of enthusiastic spectators to the race course. Since last year, the race on 01 May also marks the end of the great spring classics in the WorldTour calendar. In the style of these monuments, Germany's most traditional one-day race now has a new name: Eschborn-Frankfurt. Concise, without name extensions and as international as the region, the two start and finish locations will take centre stage. In terms of appearance, Eschborn-Frankfurt also becomes a modern classic: Taunus hills as well as elements of the skyline of Eschborn and Frankfurt characterize the new logo and tell the story of the race at a glance.
As in the renewed design, the Taunus and skyline were also the decisive milestones for a change in route planning. The 57th edition of the cycling classic contains more difficulties than before, spread over 211 kilometres and more than 2,200 metres of altitude. The Taunusrunde and a more demanding finale in Frankfurt will provide greater challenges. In return, some of the most legendary climbs from the race's history will return: the climb in Ruppertshain will be ridden three times instead of just once, the Billtalhöhe will be part of the course again after a seven-year break and will be crossed twice, and the finish line will be via the Hainer Weg, which was the race's finishing straight until 2001.
The spectators in Eschborn are offered a very special experience with the neutralized start. For the pros it is a relaxed roll-in over the first three kilometres of the race - for the Eschborn spectators it is a unique opportunity to be closer to the top stars at a leisurely pace than at any other point on the course. The official start is at the end of the town. The peloton will first head towards Frankfurt and from there on the big Taunus loop via Riedberg, Bad Homburg and through the old town of Oberursel. After 45 kilometers, the climb to the Großer Feldberg offers the first challenge of the day. The riders climb over eleven kilometres to an altitude of 850 metres. Following this familiar race opener, a newly designed small Taunusrunde awaits the pros.
From Glashütten it goes to the climb in Ruppertshain, which must be completed three times this year. The round goes on to Fischbach, Kelkheim, Sulzbach and Schwalbach. The Mammolshainer Berg is the climb that has become a true icon of the 1st of May. Although only about 1,000 meters long, it offers gradients of up to 23%. After that, it becomes no less challenging, as the Billtalhöhe is once again part of the cycling classic - a poisonous climb over 3.5 kilometres with a gradient of up to 8.4%, which last had to be mastered in 2011. This lap will be ridden twice. After crossing the Mammolshainer Stich for the third time, next year's riders will turn off in the direction of Opel-Zoo and Kronberg to complete the climb again shortly afterwards.
For the final 35 kilometres, a new and more selective approach to the finish in Frankfurt has been designed. The pros will ride across the Main River with the Frankfurt skyline behind them, and will first be taken on a loop through Frankfurt-Sachsenhausen. In the process, the wave at Hainer Weg must be conquered 15 kilometers before the finish. With the ride past the new Henninger Turm the cycling classic reminds of its historical roots, because this section was the finishing straight of the race until 2001. The crisp climb over 1,500 meters offers the classics-experienced riders the chance for a decisive attack. After the first finish at the Alte Oper, two more short laps of the three-kilometre inner-city course follow before the winner of the 57th edition of Eschborn-Frankfurt is decided.
There are many points along the course where riders can be particularly well cheered on. In Frankfurt, of course, the Opernplatz with its big party and the final finish attracts the crowds. But there will also be a great atmosphere at other places again. <link http: www.eschborn-frankfurt.de de event-infos fuerzuschauer streckenhighlights _blank>You can find an overview of the course highlights HERE
<link http: www.eschborn-frankfurt.de de event-infos fuerzuschauer zeitplan _blank>You can find the exact race schedule HERE
Naturally, such a race also brings some traffic obstructions through road closures again. In addition to car traffic, numerous tram and bus lines are affected by the closures. RMV and traffiQ recommend using suburban trains and underground trains. This is because the S-Bahns will run unhindered and according to schedule, and there will only be restrictions on two U-Bahn lines (U2 and U3) outside Frankfurt. Since experience has shown that particularly many people use public transport in the direction of Eschborn - here the S-Bahn lines S3 and S4 are particularly recommended - passengers should allow sufficient time for the journey - especially if they are taking a bicycle with them.
The destination area at the Alte Oper is easily reached by S-Bahn and U-Bahn. The "Taunusanlage" S-Bahn station, where lines S1 to S6, S8 and S9 stop, is just a few metres away. The underground lines U6 and U7 stop practically directly below the finish line, at the "Alte Oper" station. The underground lines U4, U6 and U7 run with additional carriages and thus offer more space than usual. The U7 line, as well as many tram and bus lines, already runs quarter-hourly from around 8 am instead of only every 30 minutes.
In total, however, applies. Inform yourself in time about the route closures and plan a little more time! <link http: www.eschborn-frankfurt.de de event-infos verkehrsinfos allgemein _blank>The most important information about closures and traffic obstructions can be found HERE
