When the top stars race for the title at the Bemer Cyclassics on 8 September, there will be a new sporting director in the lead car of the World Tour race: Fabian Wegmann will take over from long-time race director Roland Hofer, who is retiring at the age of 80.
Fabian Wegmann experienced a dozen Cyclassics editions himself during his professional career. At the end of his active career, the three-time German champion switched sides and took on the role of sporting director for the most important German races. He is already involved in organising the Eschborn-Frankfurt cycling classic, the Deutschland Tour and his home race, the Sparkassen Münsterland Giro. Now the Bemer Cyclassics, the second German World Tour race, will follow. The new task comes as no surprise: the Tour de France organiser A.S.O. did not announce the Cyclassics Hamburg until the end of 2023. adopted. The A.S.O. portfolio already includes the Deutschland Tour, which was relaunched in 2018, and the classic Eschborn-Frankfurt. Wegmann had already been appointed by A.S.O. as the sporting director for these races.
"I'm really looking forward to the new task. I'm familiar with the GFR (editor's note: Gesellschaft zur Förderung des Radsports) and A.S.O. teams - that's a big advantage when it comes to race planning. I have started in Hamburg more often than in many other races. So I know the character of the Bemer Cyclassics. Now I'm interested in what we can optimise and what adjustments we can make to sharpen the race character," commented Wegmann.
Main task route planning
As sports director, Wegmann is jointly responsible for planning the route of the professional race. Together with the A.S.O. team, the 43-year-old has already travelled the roads in Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein. Further inspections will follow until September in order to guarantee an exciting and safe bike race. He is also in contact with the pros to promote the race in the Elbe metropolis. On race day itself, he will be pulling all the strings for the professional race in the lead vehicle.
As Roland Hofer's successor, Fabian Wegmann will take over as the next generation of race organisers. Matthias Pietsch, Managing Director of the Gesellschaft zur Förderung des Radsports: "Roland Hofer was a Cyclassics constant. He helped to organise this classic and shaped it as race director. Under his leadership, the Hamburg fans cheered on many world stars. He made great cycling possible in and around Hamburg."
Cyclassics Hamburg: Everyman race
For many amateur cyclists, the focus is not on professional cycling, but on their own sport in Hamburg. Since 1996, the Cyclassics Hamburg have been a firmly established event in the amateur calendar. It offers routes over 60 and 100 kilometres. The start of the Bemer Cyclassics Hamburg is in the city centre with views of the Outer and Inner Alster. The route is varied and takes participants from the city of Hamburg to the rural areas of Schleswig-Holstein. The route is characterised by marshland landscapes, small towns, lighthouses, dykes and views of the Elbe. In Hamburg, the Kösterberg awaits as the final challenge before the participants are led to the Reeperbahn and then back to the city centre. The arrival will take place on Mönckebergstraße, Hamburg's largest shopping street. Registration for the race is already open.
Kristian Bauer
Editor
