Martin Goetze, club member and former participant in the Berlin-Leipzig cycle race, developed the idea for a new edition of the classic RTF in mid-February. AC Leipzig implemented the concept and organised the premiere for 24 May 2026.
Start of Berlin-Leipzig at the Brandenburg Gate
The Brandenburg Gate was the starting point for the 188-kilometre route. After registering and handing out race numbers, the field set off in the sunshine. The temperatures remained pleasantly cool early on Whit Sunday morning. 50 riders took part in the premiere. The two youngest participants, born in 2008 and 2012, rode together with their father.
Berlin-Leipzig route through three federal states
The route led along Straße des 17. Juni in a westerly direction, past the Victory Column. At Kaiserdamm, the field turned south-west into the Grunewald forest. The route ran parallel to the Avus motorway towards Kleinmachnow. The Central Germany motorbike escort team secured the field with three riders throughout the entire route. After 50 kilometres, the participants reached Brandenburg via Saarmund, Tremsdorf and Zauchwitz. The profile was undulating through the young and terminal moraine area of the Fläming. The route led via Züllichendorf, Bardenitz and Klausdorf to the first refreshment point.
Two refreshment stations
The first aid station was waiting at kilometre 78 in Tiefenbrunnen. The organisers provided 150 litres of water, 30 litres of cola, 200 bananas, 250 bars and 150 cookies. The calculation was 3 litres of drinks per person. Table salt for lost minerals completed the offer. Up to the first feed point, the peloton rode as one. From kilometre 78, the riders sorted themselves according to their pace. Some rode faster, others formed groups for the rest of the route. In Seehausen, the route changed to Saxony-Anhalt. Via Mark Friedersdorf, Zahna and Abtsdorf, the field reached Lutherstadt Wittenberg and crossed the Elbe. The second refreshment point was at kilometre 132 in Kemberg. The rising temperatures increased the need for water to drink and cool down. The groups arrived at different times. The Düben Heath with its trees offered temporary protection from the heat, while the undulating profile challenged the riders in the final kilometres.
Finish in the Stadium of Peace
The mule crossing in Bad Düben marked the arrival home for the Leipzig starters. The new exhibition centre in Leipzig heralded the approaching finish. The final kilometres led to the Stadion des Friedens, the largest athletics stadium in Saxony. SG Motor Nord Gohlis e.V. organised a final lap on the tartan track. All participants crossed the finish line on the tartan track, as was customary in the days of the Friedensfahrt. Athletes and organisers rounded off the day in the SG Motor Nord Gohlis beer garden.
Historical background
The Berlin-Leipzig cycle race took place for the first time in 1910. Fritz Schallwig from Berlin won the 315 kilometre route to Berlin and back in rain, wind and snow flurries in 11 hours and 32 minutes. From 1920 onwards, the organisers held the race from Berlin to Leipzig for amateurs on a regular basis. Otto Papenfuß was the first Berliner to win, ahead of Fritz Brenne from Leipzig.
Almost all of the sprint finishes took place on Leipzig's Lindenallee in Schönefeld in front of thousands of spectators. In 1934, Paul Reichel from Leipzig won at almost 40 kilometres per hour. The Deutsche Radfahrer-Zeitung described this speed as the speed of a passenger train. Paul Reichel was not allowed to take part in the 1936 Olympic Games because of his critical stance on National Socialism. He was killed on the Eastern Front in 1942.
After the Second World War, Otto Busse from Leipzig won in the Lindenallee in 1948. Täve Schur won twice. Between 1974 and 1984, the race was only held sporadically. In 1985, the classic experienced a renaissance thanks to BSG athletes. The 50th edition in 1992 was the last. A 15-kilometre-long traffic jam in the field caused by the increase in car traffic put an end to the tradition.
Kristian Bauer
Editor
