Alongside the Cyclassics, the Eschborn-Frankfurt race is the most important event in the German professional calendar. And this is also the attraction for amateur cyclists: celebrating 1 May in the slipstream of the professional race. 10,000 cyclists set off on one of the three laps in 2024. Large parts of the route are familiar from TV broadcasts, so it's easy to get a professional feeling. The first highlight of the day is the ride through the closed city centre of the banking metropolis of Frankfurt am Main. Shortly after the start, the large fields are still sorting themselves out and the nervousness of the start dominates. Nevertheless, cheers from the sidelines can already be heard on the lap around the Alte Oper in Frankfurt. The anticipation for the Großer Feldberg is great among all participants - it is the highlight of the ADAC Velotour.
Eschborn-Frankfurt: Professional experience for amateur riders
With an average gradient of just under five per cent, the ascent from Oberursel is pleasant to ride. If you have the right rear wheel, you can easily push away the 580 metres in altitude in the slipstream. As your legs start to burn on the last kilometre to the top of the pass, the anticipation of the descent grows ever greater. An eight per cent gradient awaits before the redemptive downhill.
The cobblestones in Eppstein briefly loosen up the legs before reaching the climax of the day. Fans of professional cycling will not only have a high pulse at the Mammolshainer Stich due to the effort involved. The spectators are densely packed along the route, and street painting adds to the motivation. The climb symbolises the Hessian classic: a great atmosphere at the roadside and a high sporting standard at the same time. While John Degenkolb flew up here at 29 km/h last year, the amateur athletes gratefully choose the lower gears. The finale in Eschborn is not very spectacular.
The most important information about Eschborn-Frankfurt
- Date: 1 May
- Start location: Eschborn
- Route: 100 km/1500 metres altitude
- Costs: 110 Euro (Taunus Classic)
More cycling events in 2025
18 May: Around Cologne
The classic event on the Rhine has announced numerous changes for 2025: both the start times and the routes have been revised. Last year, there was a traffic jam of cyclists at Bensberg Castle - the changes will be interesting to see.
17 August: ADAC Cyclassics
The Cyclassics have a long tradition in amateur cycling. The date is just as important for the cycling scene in Hamburg as it is for ambitious amateur cyclists.
31 August: GFNY Bremen
The GFNY Bremen will take place for the first time on 31 August - offering the chance to get a taste of racing in a manageable starting field. The course runs along country roads and should therefore be much less stressful than most city races.
