German road cycling championship picks up speed

Chemnitz will host the German Road Cycling Championships from 23 to 25 June 2017. The city is thus building on its great cycling tradition. Many outstanding athletes from the city and the Chemnitz region have achieved success on the track and road for our country at the Olympic Games, World and European Championships.

The city of Chemnitz organises the German Championships with the support of the Chemnitzer Polizeisportverein e. V. and the Radsportverein Chemnitz e. V. as well as the Stadtsportbund Chemnitz e. V. (Chemnitz City Sports Association). More than 300 cyclists are expected in Chemnitz for the biggest cycling event of the national sporting year: Around 200 athletes are expected to take part in the men's event, with around 100 women at the start. The title fights comprise five disciplines: The elite road races (women and men) and the elite individual time trials (women, men and U23).

Website as an information portal

Starting today, the road cycling championship website at www.dm-rad2017.de will provide information for Chemnitz residents, athletes and travelling visitors and fans. In addition to the various race routes, you will also find all the start times of the respective races and the closure times of the roads concerned, as well as initial information about the supporting programme on the championship weekend. The programme will be continuously expanded over the coming weeks.

Routes and start times confirmed

During a visit in January, the German Cycling Federation (BDR) provided information on the state of preparations and finalised the race routes and times. The men's, women's and U23 individual time trials on Friday will take place in the Chemnitz Valley, while the women's, U23 and men's road races on Saturday and Sunday will be held on a 19-kilometre circuit in the city.

Bringing cycling back to the fans in the city centre - that was the declared aim of the bid by the city of Chemnitz and the two cycling clubs. Roland Kaiser from the Chemnitz Police Sports Club and Sports Director of the German Championships: "The German Championships should take place on a course close to the city centre. The start and finish are in the area of Richard-Hartmann-Platz and Hartmannstraße. We have the right infrastructure there that is needed for this."

The route is 19.4 kilometres long. From the start, the route runs along Reichsstraße, then out of town towards Reichenhain via Bernsdorferstraße, Wartburgstraße and Reichenhainer Straße. The route then climbs up to the B 174 via Reichenhain: "This is the most challenging section of the route. There will be three uphill classifications in the men's road race, which will certainly add to the excitement. Initially, the BDR had concerns that the city course would be too easy. But when we reached the Gornauer Berg on the B 174 on the first run last year, these doubts were quickly dispelled." The route then goes via Adelsberg to Augustusburger Straße and via Brückenstraße/Theaterstraße back to the city centre to the finish on Hartmannstraße. There is a difference in altitude of 238 metres to overcome per lap, which is a decent number of metres over the entire race. The men will ride 213.4 kilometres over eleven laps on Sunday, while the women will ride six laps on Saturday, covering just under 120 kilometres.

A flat, even course had to be found for the three individual time trials on Friday. The Chemnitz Valley was the best alternative. For the men, who have to cover 48 kilometres, the turnaround is in Altmittweida, while the women and the U23s cover 31.2 kilometres and turn around near the Markersdorf museum railway station.

The municipalities of Auerswalde, Markersdorf, Claußnitz and Altmittweida along the time trial route are working closely with the organisation office to make this sporting event an experience for their citizens.

"Sportstadtrunde" for amateur cyclists on the race track

An amateur bike ride is planned for Saturday, 24 June 2017 before the women's road race (start at 11:00 am). The official name will be "Sportstadtrunde" Chemnitz. The Chemnitz City Sports Association will organise and lead the event. Anyone who feels fit enough to complete a lap of the original route of the German Championships can take part.

The start, finish and route are identical to the road races. The course will be secured by the police. Due to the challenging nature of the course, participants will only be admitted from the age of 14. Further details will follow in the coming weeks.

Residents and neighbours will be informed

A bike race in the city is undoubtedly an experience for fans. However, it involves a great deal of organisational effort and makes restrictions unavoidable for residents, and not just along the routes.

Around 120 businesses are located along the time trial route on Friday, including large companies with several hundred employees, shift operations and corresponding logistics. The affected companies were informed in December and talks were held with some of them, including the Trompetter foundry, ASR and several transport companies.

Information is also already being provided to neighbours along the circular route close to the city. The route will not only be published on the website but also in the official gazette. Landlords along the route will be provided with route sketches with important information for posting if required. Schools and day care centres as well as care facilities and services will be informed separately and directly in order to determine the need for care or accommodation and, if necessary, to find alternative solutions for race days. The traffic concept will be implemented in the coming weeks and the measures will be further specified, including possible changes to the CVAG timetables.

Residents and neighbours can contact the DM organisation office at any time with questions and information - by telephone on 0371 / 488 5233 or by email at dm-rad2017(at)stadt-chemnitz.de.

Volunteers needed

A sporting event of this size is inconceivable without numerous volunteers. A total of around 750 helpers are needed to ensure that the races run smoothly over the three days. The Chemnitz City Sports Association and the City of Chemnitz are therefore still looking for sports enthusiasts who want to help secure the event and thus be close to the action. They can be deployed, for example, as course marshals, stewards or for setting up and dismantling the barriers. The helpers receive an expense allowance of
30 euros per assignment, catering and a T-shirt for the assignment and as a souvenir. The necessary registration form and further information can be found on the website.

Varied supporting programme planned

The Chemnitz Economic Promotion and Development Agency is working with partners to prepare a varied programme around the sporting highlight. In addition to the activities at the start and finish area on Hartmannplatz, there will also be other events. Among other things, an exhibition area is planned where regional bicycle dealers will present their products. Furthermore, two event areas are planned directly on the race route and near the start and finish. The Stadthallenpark will be integrated as a further event location. The activities already planned as part of the Park Summer are ideal and will be supplemented with additional cycling-related elements.

Further information: Up-to-date information at www.dm-rad2017.de.