The climb at Bensberg Castle is one of the highlights of Rund um Köln. It was last crossed twice on the long course. In previous years, there was repeated criticism from participants because there was a huge traffic jam and they had to push up the climb. Participants in the hobby races can now hope for a race without a forced break. Markus Frisch, Managing Director of Kölner AusdauerSport GmbH, explains: "We have a new course concept and new start times. This will benefit amateur athletes in particular. For the professionals, the Agathaberg is back on the programme, which guarantees an exciting race." Already 90 days before the event, 6500 athletes have registered, significantly more than in the entire last edition with 6150 participants.
Hobby race Velodom at Rund um Köln
One major change concerns the start of the Velodom 120 and Velodom 60 mass sport races. previous years participants were sent onto the course at separate times, this year both distances start together at 9:00 a.m. in Cologne's Rheinauhafen harbour. After 12 kilometres, the route is separated - probably one of the most dangerous moments of the day from the participants' point of view, when groups shuffle and riders head in different directions. The big advantage from the organisers' point of view: the fields of participants reach the cobblestone climb at Bensberg Castle at different times and the finish is also equalised. The Velodom 30 race starts separately at 12.30 pm in Bergisch Gladbach-Heidkamp.
Velodom route and distances
The route has been adapted for all distances. The Velodom 120 covers 121 kilometres and 1180 metres in altitude through the Bergisches Land region. After the start in the Rheinauhafen harbour, the route goes via Cologne/Bonn Airport through Altenrath, Lohmar, Overath, Kürten and Wipperfeld. The Velodom 60 turns off after 12 kilometres and leads over 67 kilometres and 480 metres in altitude through Brück, Dellbrück and the Bergisches Land. Both routes join up again for the final ascent to Bensberg Castle - which is only ridden once - and the finish in the Rheinauhafen harbour. The Velodom 30 covers 26 kilometres and 150 metres in altitude and follows the route of the Velodom 60 from Bergisch Gladbach-Heidkamp.
Around Cologne: professional race with a challenging profile
The professional race of Rund um Köln starts at 11:30 am at Holzmarkt in front of the art'otel cologne, with the actual race start after 3 kilometres on the Östlicher Zubringer. The route initially follows the same route as Velodom 120, but then turns onto the B506 in Wipperfeld. In total, the pros have to cover 181 kilometres and 1850 metres in altitude. The highlights are the five mountain classifications, including two sections of the Agathaberg. The last uphill classification takes place at Bensberg Castle before the finish in the Rheinauhafen harbour.
Velodom: Record number of participants on the horizon
Demand for starting places is high: 6500 participants registered 90 days before the event, which is a new record. The distribution between the individual competitions is as follows: Velodom 120 with 3190 registrations, Velodom 60 with 3080 participants and Velodom 30 with 230 athletes. For the professional race, 133 riders from 19 teams have registered. These figures emphasise the attractiveness of the event for both amateur and professional athletes and promise a record turnout for the 107th edition of Rund um Köln.
Kristian Bauer
Editor
