Cyclocross is off-road cycling: the routes take riders across meadows, through sand, up steps and through mud. A short, technically demanding circuit is completed several times. The number of laps is determined by the time – though a rough guide is provided in advance. In the amateur category, races are often scheduled to last between 30 and 40 minutes. Jumping off the bike, running and jumping back on are as much a part of cyclocross as the bell that signals the final lap. Riders who have fallen too far behind or been lapped are withdrawn from the race by the marshals. Races take place from October to February, right in the middle of winter.
Amateur races or licensed races?
Anyone wishing to take part for the first time basically has two options.
Amateur races Many cycling clubs offer these as part of the supporting programme for their licensed events. Only unlicensed riders are permitted to take part. The barrier to entry is incredibly low: simply register, turn up and race.
Licence races are organised on a voluntary basis by cycling clubs, and are run in accordance with clear rules laid down by the umbrella organisation German Cycling (formerly the German Cycling Federation, BDR). Only those who hold a racing licence are permitted to take part.
How do you get a licence?
A racing licence is a permit to take part in official cycling races. In Germany, it is issued by German Cycling; applications for the licence are made via rad-net.de. To obtain an annual licence, you must be a member of a cycling club affiliated to German Cycling. No qualification or aptitude test is required.
For those who’d like to give it a go first: as well as the annual licence, there are day licences, of which you may purchase up to five per calendar year. These can be applied for directly via rad-net.de – it’s straightforward and requires no club membership.
Which bike do I need?
A cyclocross bike would be ideal. For Licence races There are clear rules regarding equipment: the bike must be a cyclo-cross or gravel bike with curved handlebars and no suspension. The tyre width must not exceed 33 mm at its widest point.
For Amateur races It’s worth having a look at the relevant race notice: some organisers adhere strictly to the licence class rules, whilst others are more lenient and allow wider tyres; in such cases, a gravel bike is also permitted. If in doubt, simply check with the organiser.
Where is cyclo-cross ridden in Germany?
Cross-country races take place across the country from October to February – from Greifswald to Frankfurt, from Hanover to Berlin. Northern Germany and the central German federal states account for the lion’s share, but there is a programme in every part of Germany.
The flagship is the Cyclo-Cross Bundesliga, the top national racing series. Among other places, it stops off at Perl in the Saarland and in Munich. In addition, there are a number of regional cup series, which are contested over several rounds and provide a nice running thread throughout the winter. In the north, for example, the Stevens Cyclo-cross Cup with stops in Hanover, Bad Harzburg, Mölln, Norderstedt and Plate near Schwerin, or the Weser-Ems Cup around Osnabrück and Bad Essen. In central Germany, there is the GUNSHA Cross Challenge with races in Borna, Erfurt, Jena and elsewhere. In Lower Saxony, the CX Cup Lower Saxony.
On top of that, there are dozens of individual events across the country: the GaloppCross in Bremen, the RangerRace in Nuremberg, the cross-country race ‘Rund ums Waldstadion’ in Herxheim, and the ‘Cross am Park’ in Blankenfelde. Even in small towns such as Kloster Lehnin, Zossen or Wörth an der Donau, cross-country races are held. There’s always a race going on somewhere.
Find all dates
A complete and constantly updated overview of all German cyclo-cross races is available at rad-net.de. There you can also see when the deadline for registration is and find a link to the registration form.
Sandra Schuberth
Editor