The stages of the Lidl Deutschland Tour 2025 are finally there!
Prologue: Essen (20.08.2025)
1st stage: Essen - Herford (21.08.2025)
2. Stage: Herford - Arnsberg (22.08.2025)
3. Stage: Arnsberg - Kassel (23.08.2025)
4. Stage: Halle (Saale) - Magdeburg (24.08.2025)
Prologue (Wednesday, August 20th): Essen - 3,1 km
1st Stage (Thursday, August 21st): Essen - Herford - 202,6 km
2nd Stage (Friday, August 22nd): Herford - Arnsberg - 190,3 km
3rd Stage (Saturday, August 23rd): Arnsberg - Kassel -175,7 km
3rd Stage (Sunday, August 24th): Halle (Saale) - Magdeburg - 163,7 km
Prologue (20 August): Spectacular Start in Essen (3.1 KM)
The race kicks off with a 3-kilometre prologue set against the stunning backdrop of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Zeche Zollverein (Coal Mine Industrial Complex). Riders will start in front of the iconic industrial monument at Shaft 1/2/8. The route is flat but technically demanding, promising a high-speed spectacle. Expect thrillingly tight time gaps – in recent years, the entire Tour's opening lead has been decided by just a single second.
Stage 1 (21 August): From Essen to Herford – Cycling Pure in North Rhine-Westphalia (202.6 KM)
The Zollverein site in Essen will also host the start of Stage 1. From there, the race heads towards Herford. Fans in Germany’s most populous state are in for a treat, as the Lidl Deutschland Tour stays within North Rhine-Westphalia. The route passes through Recklinghausen, Hamm, Gütersloh, and Bielefeld – covering almost 203 kilometers on the way to Herford. Just before reaching Bielefeld, the riders will have to tackle the Teutoburg Forest. A steep climb marks the beginning of the final hour of racing, and the Stuckenberg ascent in Herford offers a final chance for attacks before the stage finishes in the heart of the city.
Stage 2 (22 August): The Queen Stage into the Sauerland (190.3 KM)
On Friday, the race continues from Herford to Arnsberg – with over 190 demanding kilometers on the agenda, the Lidl Deutschland Tour spends another day in North Rhine-Westphalia. After leaving Herford in the direction of Bad Salzuflen, the Teutoburg Forest shapes the early part of the stage. The riders first climb to the famous Hermannsdenkmal near Detmold, and just 10 kilometers later, the Gauseköte climb awaits.
Passing through Paderborn and the historic Wewelsburg Castle, the terrain remains hilly as the peloton heads into the Sauerland. After crossing the Möhnesee reservoir, Arnsberg comes into view. A steep ascent in the "Seufzertal" (Valley of Sighs) signals the next challenge, shortly before the route passes the finish line in Neheim. A final 20-kilometre circuit must be completed before the stage winner is crowned.
Stage 3 (23 August): A Classic Challenge to Kassel (175.7 KM)
With 3,000 metres of elevation over just 175 kilometres, Saturday’s stage has all the hallmarks of a true classic. The day begins in Arnsberg and heads back toward the Möhnesee. From here on, not a single flat kilometre remains. The relentless ups and downs of the Sauerland, including double-digit gradient ramps, define the character of the stage.
Among the highlights is the infamous Hirschberger Wand – just 200 metres long, but with a punishing gradient of over 20%! At the halfway point, the peloton reaches the highest elevation of the 2025 Lidl Deutschland Tour: the Buttenberg climb. Shortly after, the race leaves North Rhine-Westphalia for the first time and enters the state of Hesse.
Skirting the shores of Lake Diemelsee, the route winds through Northern Hesse toward Kassel. A final circuit featuring two more climbs will likely set the stage for a decisive move in the battle for overall victory at the 2025 Lidl Deutschland Tour.
Stage 4 (24 August): Grand Finale in Saxony-Anhalt (163.7 KM)
The 163.7-kilometre final stage from Halle (Saale) to Magdeburg offers one last opportunity for the sprinters. Starting at the town hall in Halle, the showdown takes the peloton across a region where #moderndenken is more than just a slogan – it’s a defining spirit.
Only 20 kilometres into the stage, a road sign warns of an 18% gradient. This steep climb up the former Kaliwerk Johannashall potash mine is the day’s only major obstacle on the way to the state capital. Shortly before Aschersleben, the terrain flattens out again.
Passing north of Lake Königsauer and Concordiasee, the route heads into the Magdeburger Börde and through Oschersleben. With just 40 kilometres to go, the peloton reaches the finish line for the first time. After two fast laps along the Schleinufer in central Magdeburg, the overall winner of the 2025 Lidl Deutschland Tour will be crowned.
