With the start in Osnabrück, the Sparkassen Münsterland Giro enters Lower Saxony for the first time. This year, the race connects Osnabrück and Münster - the cities that signed the Peace of Westphalia 375 years ago and ended the Thirty Years' War. Many parts of the route therefore run along the Peace Route, which is located between the two towns.
Sparkassen Münsterland Giro 2023: The route
Almost 200 kilometres, more than 2000 metres in altitude: The route profile of this year's Münsterland Giro is probably more demanding than ever before. After the start in Osnabrück, the first climbs follow, which are up to eight per cent steep. The first highlight is the climb to Holperdorp, which is over three kilometres long and the highest point of the Giro with its serpentine flair. The hill is repeated on a second loop, which takes the riders past Bad Iburg, Glandorf and Lienen. A next loop then follows between Leeden, Lengerich and Tecklenburg, where the most metres in altitude are covered in the race. This will be ridden three and a half times and, due to its hilly terrain, could lead to a preliminary decision by the classics riders.
The riders can then expect another 60 flat kilometres to the finish in Münster, where the teams can get their sprinters into position. Münster is approached from the north before the finish line is crossed at the castle for the first time. The final lap past the town hall and over the cobblestones of Prinzipalmarkt will be completed three times.
Sparkassen Münsterland Giro 2023: The favourites
The question is whether the classics specialists can make up enough time in the hilly section to maintain the gap to the peloton over the 60 flat kilometres. Some of the top sprinters have already announced their participation in the race. Alongside Bora-Hansgrohes Danny von Poppel, the sprinter who won four stages of the 2023 Tour de France, will also be at the start: Jasper Philipsen from the team Alpecin-Deceuninck. If there is a bunch sprint, he is the one to beat.
Sparkassen Münsterland Giro 2023: TV broadcast & live stream
The Sparkassen Münsterland Giro will be shown on free TV on WDR Münster on 3 October from 13:45. Eurosport 2 will also be broadcasting (from 16:30). A free live stream will be available on sportschau.de from 12:45 p.m. Discovery+ and GCN+ (both via paid subscription) will also be streaming the Sparkassen Münsterland Giro.
Sparkassen Münsterland Giro: The Everyman Races
Every year at the Münsterland Giro, in addition to the professional race, there are also competitions for everyone. These also take place on Tuesday 3 October alongside the professional race. This year there are several different routes: In addition to two races for children - the LeezenKids races - amateur cyclists can choose between three race distances: One distance is 60 kilometres, another is 95 kilometres and the third and longest is 125 kilometres. All three races start and finish in Münster. We have summarised further information about the Jedermannrennen here.
Sparkassen Münsterland Giro: The schedule at a glance
- 08:00 a.m.Start LeezenCup "Cup der Sparkasse Münsterland Ost" over 60 kilometres, Prinzipalmarkt
- 08:45 a.m.Start LeezenCup "Cup der Provinzial Versicherung" over 95 kilometres, Prinzipalmarkt
- 09:50: Start LeezenCup "Cup of the LBS" over 125 kilometres, Prinzipalmarkt
- 09:23-10:26: Finishing line of the "Sparkasse Münsterland Ost Cup" over 60 kilometres
- 10:30 am: Award ceremony "Cup of Sparkasse Münsterland Ost", Schlossplatz
- 11:04-12:29: Finish of the "Provinzial Versicherung Cup" over 95 kilometres
- 12:30 pm: Provinzial Insurance Cup award ceremony, Schlossplatz
- 12:50 pm: Start Sparkassen-Profi-Cup, Osnabrück
- 12:36-14:08: Finish of the "LBS Cup" over 125 kilometres
- 14:15: Award ceremony "Cup of the LBS", Schlossplatz
- 14:30: Start of Stadtwerke-Kids-Cup 1
- 14:55: Start of Stadtwerke-Kids-Cup 2
- 15:20: Start of Stadtwerke-Kids-Cup 3
- 15:45: Start Stadtwerke-Girolino
- 16:00: Award ceremony Stadtwerke-Girolino, Sparkassen Arena Schlossplatz
- 16:15: Award ceremony Stadtwerke-Kids-Cup, Sparkassen Arena Schlossplatz
- 17:02 -17:37: Finish of the Sparkassen-Profi-Cup, home straight Schlossplatz
- 17:45: Award ceremony Sparkassen-Profi-Cup, finishing straight Schlossplatz
All winners of the pro race
- 2006 Paul Martens (Germany)
- 2007 Jos van Emden (Netherlands)
- 2008 Andre Greipel (Germany)
- 2009 Aleksej Saramotins (Latvia)
- 2010 Joost Van Leijen (Netherlands)
- 2011 Macel Kittel (Germany)
- 2012 Marcel Kittel (Germany)
- 2013 Jos van Emden (Netherlands)
- 2014 Andre Greipel (Germany)
- 2015 Tom Boonen (Belgium)
- 2016 John Degenkolb (Germany)
- 2017 Sam Bennet (Ireland)
- 2018 Maximilian Walscheid (Germany)
- 2019 Alvaro Hodeg (Colombia)
- 2021 Mark Cavendish (Great Britain)
- 2022 Olav Kooij (Netherlands)
