MMore meters in altitude (over 3,000) and more total distance (over 200 kilometers) – on Labor Day, the professional cyclists have to work harder from now on to win at Eschborn-Frankfurt. The course of the cycling classic on May 1st this year had given the organizers food for thought. Hardly any attacks, hardly any dynamics, instead a peloton that seemed to have concluded a truce and rolled quite relaxed towards the sprint final in front of the Alte Oper.
A mass arrival in Frankfurt has become standard – in the past ten years there has not been a winner as a soloist or from a small group. That should change. And for this, the organizer has made some changes to the profile of the route, as he announced at a press event on Wednesday. “It’s a historic race, but we still want to give it a new story and offer the racers a different platform,” said organization chief Matthias Pietsch half a year before the next edition.
It gets harder for sprinters
At the professional race on May 1, 2023, the drivers will cross the Feldberg a second time, which is the biggest innovation. Around the middle of the race (from km 90 to 116) there is a grueling climb that includes the Mammolshainer Stich, the Billtalhöhe and the second Feldberg crossing (from the steeper Königsteiner side) and is intended to encourage aggressive, offensive professionals. Even the teams should not just send their sprinters and fast helpers to Eschborn-Frankfurt, as they did recently, but rather more classic-tested driver types who ensure a more selective race.
The new course, to which Oberursel’s local hero John Degenkolb also contributed ideas, now includes only three instead of four passages over the Mammolshainer Stich. In addition, there are now only two instead of three final laps in downtown Frankfurt. The aim of this measure is to reduce the distance from the last Taunus climb to the finish line at Opernplatz. Jens Zemke, sporting director of the German top team Bora-hansgrohe, believes in the effectiveness of the changes. “From the Königsteiner Kreisel, the field cannot catch up much on the descent towards Kronberg. And not even on the winding course in Frankfurt. That increases the chances of breakaways,” said the former professional from Wiesbaden.
It remains to be seen whether the measures will offer a major boost in the direction of more racing action and thus better entertainment for television viewers. Because the new difficulties are placed quite early in the race, the field can converge again long before Frankfurt. But it’s worth a try in the eyes of the organizers. “We want to animate the race, bring something new,” said Sport Director Fabian Wegmann.
In the new year, Eschborn-Frankfurt should again include all youth competitions and also the U-23 race, which is important in the scene, after the previously streamlined editions due to the pandemic. The organizers are aiming for a new record of over 6,300 participants in the Velo Tour competitions for everyone. Currently there are already 2500 registrations.
