The Route 2023

A prologue at the start, three classic days and a sprint royal at the end - that's the menu for the Deutschland Tour 2023. This year's tour runs from August 23 to 27 from Saarland to Bremen. Above all, attack-minded and classics-experienced riders can hope for the overall victory.

The 724-kilometer Deutschland Tour in August leads from the south to the north through five German states. In the middle section, three undulating race days characterize the route, they will be decisive in the seconds game for the red jersey.

"Five race days and everything in it. The short time trial to the start will again be a seconds thriller. Whoever wins here can't rest on the next few days. I expect in the Saarland, Sauerland and on the way to Essen a real hunt for the red jersey. For the riders it will be exhausting - for the fans exciting. The finale with the Sprint Royal in Bremen will be the crowning glory. Here, sprinters who didn't get a chance before can have their big day," says Fabian Wegmann, sporting director of the Deutschland Tour.

The 1st stage also starts from St. Wendel. The race day, which takes place entirely in the Saarland, leads to Merzig over 178 kilometers. The first kilometers initially run south, until before Neunkirchen a change of direction is due and the professionals ride along the state border in the north of the Saarland. Early in the stage, the day's high point is climbed near Freisen. A constant up and down, partly with very steep ramps, characterizes the middle part of the stage. Past the Bostalsee it goes via Wadern, Weiskirchen on the way to the Saar loop near Mettlach. For the finale in Merzig, a difficult finish lap awaits with the climb to the Kreuzberg Chapel, which some professionals already know from 2018, and which must be conquered twice. At that time, the later overall winner Matej Mohoric was able to prevail over Nils Politt. A look at the profile reveals that it will be a day for the classic specialists.

For the 2nd stage, the professionals will compete in Hesse. The longest stage of this year's tour begins in downtown Kassel and ends after 190 kilometers in Winterberg. The sharp start takes place in front of the Marstall building of Schloss Wilhelmshöhe. Before the state border is passed, Hesse says goodbye with a short steep climb behind Bad Arolsen on the way to the Hochsauerland district. The terrain remains typical of Sauerland and the undulating route leads via Marsberg, Brilon and Meschede to Lake Hennesee and on to Eslohe. Climbing legs must be in top form by the last hour of the day's racing at the latest. In Altastenberg, the highest point of this year's Deutschland Tour is reached. Winterberg is in sight, but there are still 20 more kilometers to go before the finish line. The finish lap leads out of Winterberg again and after a short, steep descent into the Orketal valley, past the Wintersport Arena Sauerland, the decisive counter-climb begins. 2.5 kilometers of climbing on the Hochsauerland Höhenstraße to the Teufelslappen.

At the start of the Deutschland Tour weekend, the pros stay in the Sauerland region. A race day full of challenges begins in Arnsberg-Neheim. The neutral start takes place at Neheim market and the peloton crosses the Ruhr for the first time. The river is a constant companion on this day. 174 kilometers with 1520 meters of altitude - the bare numbers of this pure NRW stage are deceiving. Hidden in the profile are short steep climbs that demand everything from some riders. After only 12 kilometers, the "Eule" (owl), which is also notorious among amateur cyclists, awaits in Fröndenberg with gradients of up to 13%. The next hour of the race remains undulating with many changes of direction along the Ruhr, before the serpentine climb to Hohensyburg follows at Hengsteysee. The prelude to the difficult middle section of the stage, which offers a constant up and down over 75 kilometers. Sandberg, Sender Langenberg, Nordtrather Tal - all with double-digit gradients. Anyone who wants to win the Tour of Germany will set accents here at the latest. For the finale, Essen is approached from the south and the profile calms down. After a first finish in front of the Stadtgarten, a 20-kilometer loop through the Ruhr metropolis is on the agenda.

After the exertions of the previous day, the flat terrain of Lower Saxony awaits on the final day of the Tour of Germany 2023. The start will be in front of Hannover's New Town Hall and the riders will leave the state capital along the Maschsee lake in a southerly direction. In the first third of the stage, the Rehburg mountains near the Steinhuder Meer provide the only elevations in the profile. In Stolzenau, the Weser is passed for the first time and the mid-Weser region is reached. The route from Hoya to the Free Hanseatic City is flat and almost at sea level. Only in the direction of Syke does the Friedeholz forest area with its small elevations interrupt the lowlands, but this should not cause any difficulties for the sprinter teams. The pros ride over the Karl Carstens Bridge into the Hanseatic city and pass the Weser Stadium on the way to Bremen's old town. They pass the market square with Bremen's town hall and a short cobblestone segment. With the historic backdrop behind them and the Überseestadt in view, the finale is ushered in. The finish area is crossed for the first time - three more laps of 5 kilometers each through the district follow before the end-fast riders take the day's victory with a sprint royal on the long finishing straight.