Lotto Thüringen Ladies Tour 2024: Individual time trial returns, top teams at the start again
The stage race, which is part of the UCI Women's Pro Series, will take place for the 36th time from 25 to 30 June. Over the course of six days, the female athletes will take on six circuits: Around Jena, Gera, Erfurt, Mühlhausen, Altenburg and, on the final day, around Schmalkalden. A total of around 520 kilometres will be covered over the six days, 31 of them in the individual time trial on the penultimate day in Altenburg.
The individual battle against the clock was last seen in 2019, in previous years it was standard. In some cases, there were even two time trials during the race. Last year, a team time trial celebrated its premiere at the start of the race.
The route of the 36th Lotto Thüringen Ladies Tour 2024 at a glance
- 25 June 2023 - 1st stage | Around Jena | 118.5 kilometres
- 26 June 2024 - 2nd stage | Around Gera | 119.2 kilometres
- 27 June 2024 - 3rd stage, Around Erfurt | 144.6 kilometres
- 28 June 2024 - 4th stage | Around Mühlhausen | 111.4 kilometres
- 29 June 2024 - Stage 5, Around Altenburg | Individual time trial | 31.5 kilometres
- 30 June 2024 - 6th stage, Around Schmalkalden | 105.4 kilometres
Elite teams from the Women's World Tour at the start
The organisers are constantly receiving praise for their work from the peloton. The fact that the biggest and best teams from the World Tour have repeatedly registered in Thuringia shows just how good everything is. A total of 19 teams will be competing, nine of them from the premier league of women's cycling. First and foremost the top team SD Worx - Protime.
The team led by serial winners Demi Vollering, Lorena Wiebes and world champion Lotte Kopecky won all the stages in 2023 - with five different riders as well as the team time trial. At least Wiebes, who also won a stage, is expected to be back again this year.
With Lidl-Trek, Canyon//SRAM, FDJ-Suez and UAE Team ADQ, the other absolute top teams from the World Tour are also taking part. AG Insurance - Soudal, Fenix-Deceuninck, Roland, Human Powered Health, Uno-X Mobility and the second German team alongside Canyon, Ceratizit-WNT, complete the line-up of World Teams.
Prize money increased, but no World Tour status
Another attraction is the renewed increase in prize money for the Thuringia Ladies Tour. A total of just under 45,800 euros will be paid out this year. That is around ten per cent more than last year, after the sum had already risen by a whopping 25 per cent compared to the previous year.
The overall victory is rewarded with 3500 euros, a stage victory brings 735 euros. The best team will receive 2000 euros. All special classifications and jerseys will also be honoured.
Financially, the tour is therefore at World Tour level. However, it does not have the de facto status of the UCI of belonging to the highest category. And it won't get it in the coming season either. The world federation recently published the 2025 World Tour calendar for men and women. Thuringia did not appear in it.
Lotto Thüringen Ladies Tour 2024: TV broadcast & live stream
The finals of the stages of the Lotto Thüringen Ladies Tour 2024 can be seen on television on Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (mdr). There is also a corresponding live stream for each stage (mdr.de/sport/livestreams). These will start at 14:00 every day - with the exception of Saturday (15:00).
The TV broadcast times on mdr at a glance
- 1st stage | Tuesday, 25 June | 15:15 - 16:00
- 2nd stage | Wednesday, 26 June | 15:15 - 16:00
- 3rd stage | Thursday, 27 June | 15:15 - 16:00
- Stage 4 | Friday, 28 June | 15:15 - 16:00
- Stage 5 | Saturday, 29 June | 16:15 - 17:00
- Stage 6 | Sunday, 30 June | 15:10 - 15:55
Sandra Schuberth
Editor
