25 years of Audax Randonneurs Allemagne - long-distance riders celebrate anniversary of foundation

The Audax Randonneurs Allemagne (ARA) has existed in Germany since 1992 - a tribute to the French origins of the long-distance movement. What was once the only starting point in Hamburg has now grown into fifteen teams that organise brevets all over Germany. In Germany alone, 667,000 kilometres were ridden in Brevets in 2016.

ARA is celebrating the anniversary with two events: On 29 April, the Flèche Allemagne will take place, a rally to Wartburg Castle in Eisenach, the geographical centre of Germany. Teams of three to five cyclists will cover at least 360 kilometres in exactly twenty-four hours before arriving in Eisenach at nine o'clock in the morning, after a mostly sleepless night in the saddle, to celebrate their arrival amidst hundreds of like-minded people from all over the country.

The next event, which aims to draw attention to the historical roots of the movement, is a 1,200-kilometre brevet from Paris to Hamburg, which will take place from 11-14 September. The route leads from the French capital via Champagne to Saarland and on through Rhineland-Palatinate, the Bergisches Land and Münsterland to the Lüneburg Heath before reaching the finish line in the metropolis on the River Elbe. A series of 200 to 600 kilometres completed in 2017 is a prerequisite for participation.

Info: http://audax-randonneure.de