Cyclassics Hamburg 2025: Everything you need to know about the major cycling event in Hamburg

The ADAC Cyclassics, one of the most important one-day cycling races in Germany, will undergo a significant change in 2025. For the first time in the history of the race, the starting shot will be fired in Lower Saxony. On 17 August 2025, Buxtehude in the district of Stade will host the start of the UCI WorldTour race. The event will mark a premiere for the Hamburg metropolitan region. Ten years after the first start outside of Hamburg - back then in Kiel - the race will once again leave the borders of the Hanseatic city. All riders will be introduced at an official team presentation on the market square in Buxtehude's historic city centre before the starting signal is given at around midday.

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ADAC Hamburg Cyclassics 2025 route

At 207 kilometres, the organisers present the longest Cyclassics edition of the past five years. The route first leads through the streets of Buxtehude in a neutralised start before heading south to the district border. The peloton then crosses the district of Harburg for around 30 kilometres before reaching the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. A special feature of this year's route: from the outskirts of Hamburg, the pros will remain in the Hanseatic city throughout. With 170 kilometres through the Hanseatic city, the ADAC Cyclassics 2025 offers more Hamburg routes than ever before.

Waseberg already in the first half of the race

A special highlight awaits the riders in Hamburg harbour: the Köhlbrand Bridge returns as part of the professional route after a break of several years. After crossing the Elbe, the route leads through Hafencity to the city centre and on to the west of Hamburg. Another innovation awaits the participants there: the Waseberg will be crossed for the first time in the first half of the race. After just two and a half hours of racing, the riders reach Mönckebergstraße for the first finish.

A total of five crossings of the legendary Waseberg form the centrepiece of the race. Between the climbs, the route leads the riders back to the finish area. After the last crossing of the Waseberg, the participants still have 15 fast kilometres ahead of them before the winner is crowned on Mönckebergstraße. Fabian Wegmann, Sports Director of the ADAC Cyclassics, explains: "The new route changes the race: The start in Buxtehude brings a breath of fresh air, while the ride on the Köhlbrandbrücke remains a favourite for every pro in Reminder and the compact sequence of Waseberg climbs makes it much more selective. Pure sprinters will have a harder time - riders with punch have a clear advantage."

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ADAC Hamburg Cyclassics 2025: TV broadcast & live stream

The Cyclassics 2025 can be seen on free-to-air TV on two channels in Germany: NDR will broadcast the race from 3:15 pm to 5:00 pm, Eurosport 1 from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm. There will also be live streams on sportschau.de (free of charge) and Discovery Plus (for a fee).

ADAC Hamburg Cyclassics 2025 Everyman Race

More than 10,000 riders can experience their own personal race day on 17 August 2025. There are two distances to choose from: 60 or 110 kilometres. Both routes run on closed roads through Hamburg and the metropolitan region.

110-kilometre route with professional flair

The long-distance race over 110 kilometres starts in Hamburg's Hafencity and leads over the Köhlbrand Bridge into the Altes Land to Buxtehude. From there, the participants follow the exact route of the professional race through the districts of Stade and Harburg back to Hamburg. After around 90 kilometres, the second crossing of the Köhlbrand Bridge is on the agenda, before heading through the city centre to the finish on Mönckebergstraße.

60-kilometre loop through familiar terrain

As in the previous year, the short 60 kilometre route starts at Kennedybrücke/Alsterglacis. The route leads past the Volkspark to the city limits of Schleswig-Holstein. Via Schenefeld, Holm and Wedel, the route leads through the district of Pinneberg back to Hamburg. The Kösterberg is a well-known climb in the west of Hamburg before the professionals' finale on the Elbchaussee.

Cyclassics 2025 schedule, Sunday, 17 August