German Cycling Championships
The German Road Cycling Championships take place once a year, with the winner receiving the German champion's jersey. The profile of the route varies every year so that different types of riders have a chance of winning. The road races usually take place on a circuit that has to be cycled several times.
2023 World Cycling Championships in Donaueschingen and Bad Dürrheim
In 2023, the German Cycling Championships in the women's, men's and U23 competitions will take place in Baden-Württemberg from 23 to 25 June. The start of each race will be in Donaueschingen and the finish in Bad Dürrheim. While the elite women and elite men will compete in both the road race and individual time trial competitions, the U23 women and U23 men will only complete the individual time trial course, which is the same for all riders. A total of six races will therefore be held on the last weekend in June.
Cycling-DM 2023: time schedule
Friday, 23 June 2023 - Individual time trial
- 2 p.m.Start of the women U23 at the Rathausplatz in Donaueschingen, followed by elite women, men U23 and finally elite men
- Between 2.40 pm and 7.20 pm: Finishes in the Salinenstraße in Bad Dürrheim
- Between 3.15 pm and 7.30 pm: Award ceremonies near the finish in Bad Dürrheim
Saturday, 24 June 2023 - Elite women's road race
- 1 p.m.: Driver introduction
- 2 p.m.: Neutral start of the race
- approx. 17.33 - 17:55: Finish
- Winners honoured afterwards
- 6 pm: Honouring cyclist of the year: Simon Geschke
Sunday, 25 June - Elite men's road race
- 10.30 a.m.: Driver presentation
- 11.30 a.m.: Neutral start of the race
- approx. 16.23 - 17.07 hrs: Finish
- Approx. 5.10 pm: Award ceremony
Cycling-DM 2023: The routes
The time trial course
The time trial course of the 2023 German Cycling Championships stretches over 32.2 kilometres and includes 250 metres of elevation gain. It starts in Donaueschingen and leads over a technically demanding section to Pfohren. This is followed by a difficult climb with an average gradient of 5.7 per cent. The route then leads via Immenhöfe and Oberbaldingen to Unterbaldingen, where a sharp hairpin bend takes riders in the direction of Biesingen and Sunthausen. After the village, there is a climb to Hirschhalde. From there, the route heads downhill at 70 to 80 km/h back to Biesingen. The route then climbs again on the way to Heidenhofen - the wind could also play a role here. The route then leads technically demanding downhill to Aasen, where the last climb of the day awaits: With a gradient of 5 per cent, the route heads uphill before arriving at the finish in Bad Dürrheim after a descent.
"Especially at the beginning, it's not easy technically, and the wind also plays a role. It's a demanding, technical course and you have to make an effort to compete for the title". Jonas Koch (Bora-Hansgrohe)
The circuit
The 2023 German Cycling Championships circuit stretches over 26.7 kilometres and also includes 370 metres of elevation gain. The women will ride through the finish area in Bad Dürrheim a total of five times on Saturday and have to cover a total of 135 kilometres and 1810 metres in altitude. The men will cross the finish line a total of nine times on the following day, covering 215 kilometres and 2890 metres in altitude.
After the neutralised start in Donaueschingen, the route leads towards Aasen, where the "sharp start" takes place. The route then heads to Biesingen, where the field turns onto the actual circuit. It first heads towards Öfingen to a difficult climb with an average gradient of 9 per cent. The route then leads downhill to Oberbalfingen, from where the riders are led back to Biesingen and then over a wave in the direction of Aasen. The spectacular ride through Aasen then begins: After a descent, a climb leads up to the village. The course then takes a technically demanding descent before the next steep climb with an average gradient of 10 per cent awaits. This is followed by a fast, technically unproblematic descent towards Bad Dürrheim, where the first finish takes place. After the end of the town, there is then a climb up to Hirschhalde, from where the route leads to Biesingen, where the riders enter the circuit for the first time.
"It's a classic championship course with a few key sections, great for one-day specialists, but also suitable for classic riders. And a DM always follows its own rules" - Jonas Koch
Fanzones
There will be a total of four fan zones along the route: at the start of the race in Donaueschingen, at the finish in Bad Dürrheim and in the two villages of Öfingen and Aasen.
Last year's winners and favourites for the 2023 German Cycling Championships
Lisa Brennauer, who has now ended her career, won the elite women's time trial at the 2022 German Cycling Championships. In the U23 class, Ricarda Bauernfeind (Canyon-SRAM) won the race against the clock. The U23 men's race was won by Maurice Ballerstedt (Alpecin-Deceuninck), while the elite men Lennard Kämna (Bora-Hansgrohe) was the fastest rider on the time trial course.
Liane Lippert won the elite women's road race at the 2022 German Cycling Championships. In the elite men's race Nils Politt (Bora-Hansgrohe) will wear the jersey of the German champion.
Cycling-DM 2023: TV broadcast & live stream
SWR will be showing the women's race on Saturday (16:15 - 18:00) and the men's race on Sunday (15:15 - 16:45). There will also be a live stream in the ARD media centre.
