Germany is getting a new tour on the international cycling calendar. The Sauerland-Rundfahrt will be a second multi-stage race on the UCI calendar alongside the Deutschland Tour from 2026. The world governing body has classified the race as category 2.1 and scheduled it for the period from 3 to 6 September. The specific stage locations are not yet known. The inclusion in the official UCI calendar was made as part of the publication of the race programme for the 2026 season, which the world governing body presented on Tuesday.
The new tour significantly expands the range of international cycling races in Germany. Previously, the calendar included five UCI events: the two WorldTour one-day races Eschborn-Frankfurt and Hamburg Cyclassics, the multi-day Deutschland Tour category 2.Pro and the one-day races Rund um Köln (1.Pro) and Münsterland Giro (1.Pro). With the Sauerland-Rundfahrt, a sixth UCI race will now be added, which also closes a gap in the German cycling calendar as a multi-day event. Category 2.1 means that ProTeams and Continental teams are also eligible to take part alongside WorldTour teams.
Strengthening the German racing calendar
The establishment of the Sauerland-Rundfahrt represents an important step for German cycling. While races have repeatedly disappeared from the calendar in recent years, the new inclusion indicates a positive development. The Sauerland region with its hilly landscapes offers ideal conditions for challenging stages that could suit both classic specialists and cyclists.
The September date places the race in a phase of the season in which many riders want to collect race kilometres after the Tour de France and before the autumn classics. In terms of timing, the Sauerland-Rundfahrt comes shortly before the Münsterland Giro, which traditionally takes place at the beginning of October, which could create synergy effects for teams travelling to Germany for both events.
Prospects for German cycling
The Sauerland Tour gives German cycling another platform to generate international attention and offer development opportunities to local talent. In recent years, it has been shown that tours such as the Deutschland Tour can not only be attractive from a sporting point of view, but also meet with great interest from the general public. The combination of professional races and events for everyone has proven to be a successful concept.
The establishment of a second stage race in Germany could also be an important building block in further promoting cycling enthusiasm in the country and attracting more sponsors to the sport in the long term. After years of a decline in international races in Germany, the inclusion of the Sauerland-Rundfahrt in the UCI calendar points to a positive trend reversal that could give new impetus to German cycling.
Leon Weidner
Working student
