ONE PROFESSIONAL CYCLING RACE - 100 MORE ACTIVITIES

July 15^th, 2024

The Lidl Deutschland Tour 2024 starts in six weeks' time, with five days of cycling between Bavaria and Saarland beginning with an opening time trial in Schweinfurt on August 21. 748 kilometers await the pros. Compared to the original plans, the route has therefore become slightly longer. This does not change the classic character of the tour. The many opportunities to join in alongside the sport also remain unaffected.

The changes to the overall length of the route are mainly due to rescheduling on the last section in Saarland. Storms here had caused that some roads were no longer passable. As it is not foreseeable whether this will change by the 4th stage on August 25, the route will take a small detour there as a precaution. The highlights of the route remain unaffected. Early in the stage, the route climbs up to the Kalmit in the Palatinate Forest. The longest climb of this year's Deutschland Tour will therefore be withheld from the queen stage.

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July 8^th, 2024

The Lidl Deutschland Tour 2025 starts in Essen. The next edition of the country's most important cycling event will begin with a prologue on the grounds of the Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex. Once again, five days of racing are planned, which will kick off with a very special highlight.

Because the backdrop for the kick-off is unique. The former coal mine Zeche Zollverein has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001, and the characteristic winding tower at the main entrance to the site is known far beyond the city limits. Coal was mined here for the last time in 1986. Today it is an architectural and industrial monument and home to numerous cultural institutions.

And August 20, 2025 it is expected to be the venue for a cycling race. Some of the roads on the 100-hectare site will be turned into a three-kilometre-long race course, which will be used for the prologue of the Lidl Deutschland Tour. For the fourth time in a row, the tour will then begin with a short individual time trial. The teams will also park their buses directly on the site of the colliery and make all the preparations for the race, while all the side events such as the Expo or the children's Joy of Moving Mini Tour will attract thousands of visitors between the old halls, shafts and administration buildings.

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July 2^nd, 2024

On August 21, 120 professionals will be at the starting line of the Lidl Deutschland Tour in Schweinfurt. On the way to Saarbrücken, they will cover a distance of 748 kilometers over five days. In addition to winning the tour and the stage, there are also prestigious special classifications and coveted jerseys to be won.

Eco-friendly jerseys from Santini

Santini Cycling Wear, official supplier of the Lidl Deutschland Tour, has designed four jerseys. In addition to a modern, aerodynamic cut, Santini uses fibers recycled from disposable yarns and PET plastics for the jerseys.

Blue jersey for the overall leader

With Lidl joining as name sponsor, the colors of the Deutschland Tour are changing, and with them the jerseys. While Ilan van Wilder still wore all red last year, the future overall leader will be wearing bright blue with yellow and red accents. The overall look of the Lidl Deutschland Tour also changes from red to blue.

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June 27^th, 2024

The teams for the Lidl Deutschland Tour 2024 have been announced. In addition to the 17 international teams from the WorldTour and the second division, two German UCI Continental teams have also received an invitation. In addition, the national team will start with Simon Geschke. The Lidl Deutschland Tour begins on August 21 with a prologue in Schweinfurt and leads over five days of racing to Saarbrücken.

This year, the coveted invitation to Germany's most important cycling event was extended to the Bike Aid and Lotto Kern-Haus PSD Bank teams. The Lidl Deutschland Tour is the only German stage race in which the talents of the local UCI Continental teams can compete with the Tour de France teams.

Bike Aid already took part in the Lidl Deutschland Tour last year. The team from Saarbrücken will therefore once again be enjoying a home race. This will be the fourth participation for the team, which has already achieved top placings this season through Leo Bouvier and Dawit Yemane in races of the UCI ProSeries, which also includes the Lidl Deutschland Tour.

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The "kinder Joy of Moving mini tour" gets children and young people excited about cycling. As an official partner of the Lidl Deutschland Tour, the initiative offers exciting activities for young cyclists from August 21 to 25, 2024 at the prologue and in all finish cities. Registration is now open!

The children's Joy of Moving wheel races:

Children between the ages of two and five can prove themselves in the balance bike race on the last 100 m of the professional course. It's not about speed or who crosses the finish line first, but about having fun. A surprise awaits all kids at the finish line.

The children's Joy of Moving Bike Parade:

The absolute highlight of the "kinder Joy of Moving mini tour" offers all kids between the ages of six and twelve the chance to ride a circuit together with other kids on the route that their idols will be riding a little later. All participating children also receive a cycling jersey as a gift.

All children can now register for the bike parade and the running bike race. The number of participants is limited - so be quick and join in.

Info & Registration

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June 6^th, 2024

Twelve teams from the WorldTour - two more than last year - will line up at the start of the Lidl Deutschland Tour 2024 on August 21. In addition to the only German elite team, Bora - hansgrohe, the top international teams Ineos Grenadiers and Visma | Lease a Bike will also be taking part. The field of 20 teams in total, 14 of which will also compete in the Tour de France, will be supplemented by five second-division teams and three German continental teams, which will be selected after the national championships.

Between Schweinfurt and Saarbrücken, race director Fabian Wegmann and the route planners of the Lidl Deutschland Tour have set up a real classics course, which has not gone unnoticed by the teams. Six teams from the top 10 of the current UCI world rankings have entered, with Lidl-Trek and Alpecin-Deceuninck two representatives who dominated the spring classics.

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The Deutschland Tour is getting closer and closer. And with it the Cycling Tour for the grand finale in Saarbrücken. On August 25, amateur athletes are in demand before the professionals reach the finish line. Two routes are on the program that Sunday. And they will be explored - with prominent support on June 7 at the route test with Fabian Wegmann and Marcel Kittel. Registration is free via this link.

The two ex-professionals are among the eight local guides from clubs or bike cafés in the region. They are divided into a total of four groups. Two of them take on the 110-kilometre “Bliesgau loop” and two the 60-kilometre “Tälerrunde”. The “Bliesgau loop”, which stretches via Elversberg and Neunkirchen/Saar to the border with Rhineland-Palatinate and then leads back to Saarbrücken via Homburg, Lautzkirchen and Oberwürzbach, has an elevation gain of around 1,300 meters, which the more ambitious group will cover at a speed of between 28 and 30 km/h. The second group takes a more leisurely approach and aims for 23 to 25 km/h.

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Germany's most important cycling race remains true to its concept and once again presents a classics tour for 2024. A prologue and four stages with the typical character of demanding classics will characterize the Lidl Deutschland Tour 2024. 737 kilometers, which are rarely flat, will lead through four federal states from 21 to 25 August.

The Lidl Deutschland Tour 2024 already promises pure excitement. After a short but intense start in Schweinfurt, only seconds will separate the best riders. The following four stages offer plenty of opportunity for further close decisions. The idea of offering fans exciting cycling every day and keeping the decision on the overall victory open until the finale is also reflected in this year's route.

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Germany's most important cycling race gets a new name: Lidl Deutschland Tour. The food retailer is further expanding its involvement in professional cycling and will become the main sponsor and "Official Fresh Food Partner" of the Deutschland Tour. Lidl also presents the red jersey of the overall leader.

The Deutschland Tour is the Germany's most important cycling race. Since its comeback in 2018, the event has been inspiring enthusiasm for cycling. The aim is to bring top international sport very close to the fans and combine it with many side events for participating and cycling actively.

"Cycling, whether as an ambitious sport or as part of everyday life, is an ideal building block for an active lifestyle. Lidl is also focusing on this idea, because in addition to exercise, a healthy and conscious diet promotes well-being. Promoting this and getting even more people excited about cycling is what connects Lidl and the Deutschland Tour. We want to make pro cycling accessible to the masses and inspire people to lead an active and healthy life as part of our social responsibility. To this end, we have planned numerous activities for fans along the course and spectators at home," says Maciej Magdziarz, Managing Director Marketing at Lidl Dienstleistung GmbH und Co KG.

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On August 25, the final of the Deutschland Tour starts in Annweiler am Trifels. The last section leads from the town in the Südliche Weinstraße district to Saarbrücken. This means that the Deutschland Tour will visit four federal states this year. From Bavaria via Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate, the cycling pros will make their way to Saarland.

The historic town center of Annweiler am Trifels and the Saarland state capital of Saarbrücken are only 70 kilometers apart as the crow flies. But the route organizers of the Deutschland Tour have come up with greater challenges for the pros. After leaving the second oldest city in the Palatinate, the route runs from the Palatinate Forest with many changes of direction and constant ups and downs to the Saarland metropolis. The wonderful landscapes provide the perfect stage to secure overall victory in the Deutschland Tour 2024.

As host of the Deutschland Tour on Sunday, Annweiler am Trifels and the cycling-loving district of Südliche Weinstraße are expecting many guests to visit Trifelsland for this sporting highlight. On August 25, fans can look forward to an exciting finale in the style of the great cycling classics.

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This year's Deutschland Tour will start in Schweinfurt. This means that the course of Germany's most important cycling race has been defined: the pros will travel from Lower Franconia to Saarbrücken, the capital of Saarland, over five days of racing.

The prologue to the start of the tour will take place in Schweinfurt on August 21. In the past two years, a short urban course has caused a buzz in the starting towns of Weimar and St. Wendel. And it will also be exciting in Schweinfurt when just a few seconds will decide who gets the leader's jersey of the Deutschland Tour 2024 for the first time. On August 22, the first stage of the Deutschland Tour 2024 will begin in the northern Bavarian city.

Sebastian Remelé, Lord Mayor of Schweinfurt, says: "I am delighted that we have been able to bring this sporting event to our beautiful city. Schweinfurt will attract national attention as the venue for the start of the Deutschland Tour 2024."

The bicycle has always played a special role in Schweinfurt. Important bicycle inventions such as the freewheel which still characterize bicycles today, originate from Schweinfurt. And in the history of the Deutschland Tour, the city on the Main also already played a role as host city - most recently in 2006 as the finish of stage 3.

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BKOOL is the new official partner of the Deutschland Tour. The route sections of the Deutschland Tour 2023 have already been digitized and are now available on the platform. Whether as preparation for the season on the roll or virtually achieving new best times - BKOOL makes it possible.

BKOOL's state-of-the-art technology offers a realistic cycling experience. The video integration in particular gives the virtual training an additional level of realism. This means that every cycling fan can relive the last Tour of Germany.

Since the beginning of February, a new stage has been activated in the BKOOL app every week. If you are not yet a BKOOL member, you can take advantage of the free 30-day trial period to take part in the virtual Tour of Germany.

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The state capital of Saarland will host the finale of the Deutschland Tour 2024. On August 25, the overall winner of Germany's most important cycling race will be decided in Saarbrücken. Thousands of amateur cyclists are expected to attend the Cycling Tour in the morning to experience the Deutschland Tour atmosphere for themselves. The perfect gift for all racing bike fans: entries are now available at www.deutschland-tour.com.

Saarbrücken is a popular host of the biggest cycling races. But it has already been more than 20 years since the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia and the Deutschland Tour stopped off in the state capital. On August 25, it's that time again: the Deutschland Tour meets Saarland's cycling enthusiasm. After the state hosted the Tour opener in St. Wendel and Merzig this year, the grand finale will bring the event full circle next summer.

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Schwäbisch Gmünd will host the upcoming Deutschland Tour. Both the finish of stage 2 and the start of stage 3 will take place in the Baden-Württemberg town. With Germany's most important cycling race, the Ostalbkreis and Schwäbisch Gmünd will be hosting a double dose of great sport.

On 23 August, the east of Baden-Württemberg will be all about cycling. Stage 2 will take the world's best professionals through the Ostalb region to Schwäbisch Gmünd. On the way to the finish in the oldest town of the Staufer dynasty, the riders will encounter the undulating terrain typical of the Swabian Alb. In Schwäbisch Gmünd, at the foot of the Swabian Alb and the Three Emperors Mountains, cycling fans can look forward to another exciting final lap before the race for the day's victory.

Richard Arnold, Lord Mayor of Schwäbisch Gmünd, said: "The Deutschland Tour is coming to Schwäbisch Gmünd! We are delighted to welcome a top sporting event with worldwide appeal. With the Deutschland Tour, we are combining the great sporting enthusiasm of our city with a festival that will attract the world's best cyclists and many guests to Schwäbisch Gmünd in the summer".

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The date of the Deutschland Tour 2024 has been set. The tour will be held from Wednesday, 21 August, to Sunday, 25 August, next year.

Germany's most important cycling race remains true to its concept and will continue to be held as a five-day stage race in the UCI ProSeries, the competition below the WorldTour. This ensures that, in addition to the Tour de France stars, the best German talents can also take part in their home tour.

Villingen-Schwenningen is the first host city of the Deutschland Tour 2024 to be announced. The city in the southwest of Baden-Württemberg will be the destination of the 3rd stage. The early decision follows a positive trend: interest in the Deutschland Tour is growing. In addition to the 750,000 fans along the route, 6 million viewers watched the live broadcasts on ARD and ZDF four weeks ago - an increase of 20% over last year.

"Cycling is experiencing a momentum in Germany. More participants in the amateur races, more interest in the TV broadcasts and the enormous fan enthusiasm on site show the great potential. As the flagship of German cycling, the Deutschland Tour is helping to shape this trend. And so, the 2024 Tour will once again be an event full of highlights," says Matthias Pietsch, Managing Director of the Gesellschaft zur Förderung des Radsports.

The Deutschland Tour 2023 is barely history, and planning for the next edition is already in full swing. Villingen-Schwenningen is the first host of the 2024 Tour. The city in the southwest of Baden-Württemberg will be the finish destination of the 3rd stage. With the finale on Saturday afternoon, the twin city has secured a highlight with many visitors.

The confirmation of the UCI race calendar for the coming season is still pending, but cycling fans from the Black Forest should make a note of August 24, 2024. That Saturday, the Deutschland Tour will make a stop in Villingen-Schwenningen. Located in the heart of Baden-Württemberg, the region will once again become a cycling epicenter and welcome the world's best professionals to the finish of the 3rd stage. According to the dual city, the finish lap will incorporate both districts, Villingen and Schwenningen. The German top stars will travel to VS, the gateway to the Black Forest, with good memories, because this year's German Championships took place in the immediate vicinity with a large attendance.

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He took over the red jersey on the 1st stage to Merzig and didn't let go until the end: Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal Quick-Step) won the Deutschland Tour 2023. On the final stage over 175.6 kilometers from Hanover to Bremen, the Belgian didn't take any risk and rolled safely with the peloton to the finish, which was lined with thousands of spectators. Arvid de Kleijn (Tudor Pro Cycling) won the stage in a bunch sprint ahead of Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious) and Marius Mayrhofer (Team dsm-firmenich).

The German continental teams with Silas Köch, Jan-Marc Temmen (both Saris Rouvy Sauerland), Tobias Nolde, Dominik Röber (both P&S Benotti) and Vinzent Dorn (Bike Aid) used the flat course of the last stage to present themselves once again. With 27 kilometers to go, all but Nolde were caught up. He held on a little longer but was swallowed at the arrival in Bremen. In the meantime, the peloton was split in two for a few kilometers by cross winds, but this had no effect on the finale outcome.

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