After ten years, the German Championships are returning to Thuringia. The Thuringian Cycling Association will host the championships from 26 to 28 June 2026. The races will take place at three different venues: Streufdorf will host the individual time trials, whilst Bad Liebenstein and Brotterode-Trusetal will host the road races.
Kick-off to the German Championship
The time trial events will get underway on Friday 26 June 2026 in Streufdorf. The German time trial champions were crowned there back in 2016. The route winds through the Heldburg region with its rolling hills and offers a varied terrain.
Start times for the individual time trial:
- 08:30 – Men’s Under-23s
- 09:40 – Men’s Elite
- 11.30 am – Women’s U23
- 12.20 pm – Women’s Elite
Rider registration will take place on Thursday 25 June, from 5.00 pm to 6.00 pm at the Straufhain-Center. The team managers’ meeting will begin at 6.15 pm at the same venue. Each rider may be accompanied by a support vehicle, the driver of which must hold a valid UCI or GC licence. The use of team radio is permitted during the individual time trial.
The prize-giving ceremonies will take place in the start and finish area after each race. At 12:00, the U23 and Elite men’s champions will be honoured, followed by the U23 and Elite women at 14:20. The winners will receive a champion’s jersey and a gold medal, whilst the runners-up and third-placed riders will receive silver and bronze medals respectively.
Road race on Saturday
On Saturday, 27 June 2026, the junior races and the women’s elite race are on the programme. The circuit passes through Steinbach, Brotterode-Trusetal and along the Rennsteig. The route is characterised by a long climb followed by a descent.
Start times for Saturday’s road race:
- 09:00 – U15 boys (41 kilometres)
- 09:05 – U15 girls (41 kilometres)
- 10.45 am – U17 boys (81 kilometres)
- 10.50 am – U17 girls (54 kilometres)
- 1.15 pm – Women’s Elite (135 kilometres)
- 1.20 pm – U19 women (81 kilometres)
The races in the U15 categories start in Brotterode on the L1127 Bernsbachstraße, at the junction with Willy-Betz-Straße, which corresponds to kilometre 12.8 of the circuit. All other races start in Bad Liebenstein. Rider registration for the Saturday races will take place on Friday from 5.00 pm to 7.00 pm at the Rennsportgemeinschaft Altensteiner Oberland.
Elite Men on Sunday
The elite men’s road race will bring the championships to a close on Sunday, 28 June 2026. The 189-kilometre route is the longest challenge of the three days of competition.
Start times for Sunday’s road race:
- 09:00 – U19 boys (135 kilometres)
- 12.30 pm – Men’s Elite (189 kilometres)
Rider registration for Sunday’s races will take place on Saturday from 5.00 pm to 7.00 pm. The team managers’ meeting begins at 7.15 pm. A maximum of 200 riders are permitted in the Elite Men’s category. The top seven teams in the Rad-Bundesliga may field six riders each, whilst the remaining teams may field four riders each.
Terms and Conditions and Prize Money
Special entry conditions apply to the elite races. In the men’s elite category, all German riders who belong to a UCI sports group in 2026 or are listed in the UCI World Ranking for Elite Road are eligible to enter. Teams in the Rad-Bundesliga must have taken part in at least three of the five Bundesliga races prior to the championship.
In the Elite Women’s category, all German riders who belong to a UCI sports group or are listed in the UCI rankings are eligible to compete. The maximum number of participants is 200. For the junior categories, the eligibility requirements set out in the sporting regulations apply.
A much sought-after shirt
Aside from the modest prize money – which is hardly the reason most riders enter the championships – for the majority, it’s all about the coveted champion’s jersey. Until the next edition of the championships, the winner is entitled to wear the German champion’s jersey in their respective discipline during races. Although the exact start list won’t be published until shortly before the races, some top stars are likely already having their sights set on the coveted jersey. Who do you think will be donning the champion’s jersey in the individual disciplines? Feel free to share your predictions in the comments!
Leon Weidner
Working student
