Hobby sport year 2025: How the year of the hobby rider went
TOUR
· 31.12.2025
After a break of several years, the Köhlbrand Bridge made its comeback on the course of the Cyclassics Hamburg. The 3,618 metre-long structure is an official cultural monument of the city of Hamburg and is firmly anchored in the memories of many Cyclassics participants. The bridge was crossed after the start and at the end of the long lap - before the traditional finish on Mönckebergstraße. The reintroduction of the landmark into the Cyclassics route can be considered the comeback of the year in German amateur cycling. Another prominent landmark, the Waseberg, was presented to the pros five times this year. In 2025, around 9000 amateur men and women rode over 109 and 57 kilometres to the finish. The "young classic" in Hamburg will be in its 30th year in 2026.
Spectacular accidents
Mass crash at the Riderman
On the 3rd stage of the Riderman in Bad Dürrheim, there was a mass crash at high speed just a few kilometres after the start. The news spread rapidly across all media - the number of suspected casualties exploded. In the end, it wasn't quite that bad, which was also due to the good organisation of the rescue. The race was cancelled. The rescue services and the organiser received a lot of praise on social media for the way they handled the accident.
Mass crash in Belgium
There was also a mass crash at the newly launched UCI Gran Fondo Belgium - Lacs de l'Eau d'Heure, south of Charleroi. Up to 150 participants were involved and 47 required medical assistance. The race was first neutralised and then abandoned.
Doping cases
Seven in one go
The Italian anti-doping agency has provisionally suspended an amateur cyclist who had seven banned substances in his blood: testosterone, boldenone, drostanolone, trenbolone, clomiphene, clostebol and ephedrine.
50,000 euro fine?
An Italian amateur could pay dearly for his positive EPO doping test. He was on the podium of the L'Etape Parma by Tour de France. The event has strict anti-doping rules and threatens a fine of 50,000 euros for doping offences.
Race cancellations
3Rides Aachen - Cancellation due to rain and thunderstorms
Just a few minutes before the start, the participants of the UCI Gran Fondo 3Ride Aachen received the bad news: the race on 1 June had to be cancelled due to rain and the risk of thunderstorms. Bitter news - not only for the athletes, but also for the organisers. Nevertheless, all those registered will get a starting place for the event in 2026, and the starters who were unable to take part showed great understanding for the decision on social media.
506 Gran Fondo Costa Rica - Cancellation due to tropical storm
At the beginning of April, the CRC 506 Gran Fondo Costa Rica fell victim to a tropical storm. Wind gusts of 80 km/h, fallen trees and heavy rain, which caused landslides and flooding, left no other choice. The qualifying race for the UCI Gran Fondo World Championship was postponed until August.
The fastest sea journey
Cycling races are getting faster and faster - and the King of the Lake in Austria is particularly fast. Four new records were set in 2025 at Europe's biggest time trial. The winner of the hobby starters completed the 47.2-kilometre low-flying course around Lake Attersee in 57:39:53 minutes at an impressive average speed of 49.1 km/h. RH77 Factory Racing also set a new record in the ten-man team time trial with a time of 57:52.61 minutes. The U23 junior crowns at the KOTL went to Elisa Winter (1:05:25.02 hours) and Matthew Dodd (56:16.79 minutes), both with a new U23 course record. Around 1,400 men and women braved the wind on the closed Uferstraße - on time trial bikes or normal racing bikes in various categories.
