Lidl Germany Tour: This year's stage race takes on the southwest of Germany, and the excitement is already building in Schwäbisch Hall. The historic town on the Kocher River is the finish line for the first stage and the starting point for the second – so it's clear that for two days, everything will revolve around cycling. (Photo: © Lidl Germany Tour)
The cycling summer follows a clear schedule: The first three weeks of July are dedicated to the "Grande Boucle," the absolute highlight of the racing calendar. After the Tour de France finishes in Paris, there's only a short break before the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift kicks off, its fifth edition since its relaunch comprising nine stages. Another ten days of respite follow, and then the third major summer event organized by the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) begins: the Lidl Deutschland Tour, which has been run by the Tour de France organizers since 2018 and has developed into an attractive cycling festival in recent years.
Prologue and four race days in southwest Germany
This year, the Lidl Germany Tour, with its four race days plus prologue, is taking place in the southwest – during the peak holiday season in Baden-Württemberg, where the majority of the race kilometers are covered. This fits well with the character of the tour. While professional cycling is the main focus of the Lidl Germany Tour, the supporting program for visitors of all ages is almost equally exciting.
Schwäbisch Hall is a prime example of what's on offer along the route. This picturesque town on the Kocher River – easily accessible by public transport or bicycle for cycling enthusiasts on race day – will be the first stage finish of the tour on August 20th, following the prologue in Bad Orb . And even as the peloton tackles the longest stage of the D-Tour, a 216-kilometer ride with around 3.000 meters of elevation gain, everything in Hall will revolve around cycling – and everyone is welcome to join in the fun.
Supporting program with inclusion races, bike parade and party
A first highlight of the day is the inclusion race, organized in cooperation with the Sonnenhof Schwäbisch Hall. The residents of this inclusive facility will showcase an astonishing variety of mobility options and simultaneously kick off the series of cycling events in the finish area on Ellwanger Straße, on the edge of the historic city center.
Without supporting young talent, nothing works in cycling, and at the Lidl Germany Tour, this is called the " kinder Joy of Moving mini tour ." At this free, participatory event, six- to twelve-year-olds can try out the official racecourse, accompanied in Hall by, among others, former D-Tour winner Jens Voigt. Alongside this "bike parade," a balance bike race is held for the youngest participants. Two- to five-year-olds will roll along the asphalt, which a few hours later will be the scene of the final sprint.
As tension mounts in the finish area, the peloton approaches at breakneck speed on the challenging course, which certainly allows for scenarios other than a mass sprint. What's happening in the peloton will surely be noticeable in the squares and alleyways of the half-timbered town, and even more so at the Expo Tour grounds, where cycling and road bike enthusiasts will find a diverse program from 12 pm to 17 pm, featuring numerous exhibitors, test rides, and stage events. It's a great place to pass the time until the race finally reaches the finish line – and anyone needing to cool off can jump into the water, go down the slide, or take a dip in the nearby Schenkensee lido.
Circuit around the city before the final sprint
From the Expo grounds to the finish line, it's just a stone's throw, so you can quickly head to the barriers as the pros cross the line for the first time and begin the final lap around the city. The last few kilometers around Schwäbisch Hall are likely to be lined with spectators, and those cycling themselves might even catch the peloton twice. Then it's just a few more minutes until the stage winner is determined – but that doesn't mean the party's over.
The Kocher island known as "Unterwöhrd," which offers a fantastic panoramic view of the old town's half-timbered houses, transforms into a vibrant festival area in the evening after the stage, featuring live music and numerous culinary delights. A public viewing of the Lidl Tour race is also planned there in the Unterwöhrd beer garden. Those who want to stroll around beforehand might pass by one of the team hotels and can watch the mechanics at work, admire the high-tech racing machines, and with a bit of luck, even catch a glimpse of one or two of the riders.
Eventually, the race day comes to an end, but not the Lidl Deutschland Tour in Schwäbisch Hall: The peloton will gather again in the town center on Friday morning for the start of the second stage, and things should be a bit quieter than the day before after the finish. Anyone hoping to get an autograph or a selfie with their favorite rider shouldn't miss this opportunity.
The starting gun fires, and with it the curtain rises on the exciting cycling event in Schwäbisch Hall. But the D-Tour continues, and the historic city certainly isn't going to shut down just yet. It's definitely worth lingering a little longer, as the weekend is only just beginning. The city on the Kocher River is an ideal starting point for late-summer cycling and hiking tours , and the cycling action continues anyway: One day after the stage start in Schwäbisch Hall, the final major highlight of the ASO summer schedule begins – the Vuelta a España…