Five days of racing, over 741 kilometres, challenging climbs and thrilling finishes: this year’s Lidl Deutschland Tour, taking place from 19 to 23 August, promises a spectacular battle for the Blue Jersey.
In 2026, the Lidl Deutschland Tour will once again thrill fans with exciting cycling action and regional diversity. From 19 to 23 August 2026, Germany’s most important stage race will take riders from World, Pro and Continental teams on a five-day journey from the Hessian spa town of Bad Orb to the grand finale in Heilbronn. The Lidl Deutschland Tour remains true to its philosophy: classic stages that offer different types of riders the chance to win. The route combines high-speed sprints with challenging low-mountain terrain and selective climbs.
Prologue in a Hessian spa town
The opening stage in Bad Orb is set to make a big impression right from the start. The tour kicks off in the Hessian spa town on Wednesday 19 August with a short, intense prologue through the town centre. The technically demanding course, featuring tight, fast corners and a short climb, is likely to create the first small gaps in the general classification.
Schwäbisch Hall celebrates its debut
The following day, 20 August, the first stage will be the tour’s first real test of endurance: on the 216-kilometre route from Bad Orb to Schwäbisch Hall, the riders will have to tackle a total of 3,000 metres of climbing – it is the longest stage of the 2026 Lidl Deutschland Tour. The route features constant ups and downs through the Spessart and offers the riders little opportunity to rest. The route passes Wertheim Castle, among other landmarks, and crosses not only the Main in Weißbach but also the he Kocher, before the final stretch of the stage begins around Waldenburg. The tough final lap, with its uphill finish, in particular, offers riders the chance to launch the decisive attack for the stage win. Schwäbisch Hall is taking part in the Lidl Deutschland Tour as a stage town for the first time. The historic old town, the imposing steps of St Michael’s Church and the town’s location in the Kochertal valley provide a special setting for the stage. At the same time, the tour underlines its commitment to bringing great moments in cycling to regions characterised by unique culture and history, as well as a strong sense of hospitality. *
200 kilometres through famous wine regions
On Friday, 21 August, the second stage from Schwäbisch Hall to Offenbach an der Queich is on the programme. The 196-kilometre route, with around 2,000 metres of climbing, takes the peloton westwards, past charming towns such as Wüstenrot, Kirchheim am Neckar, Eppingen, St. Leon-Rot and Germersheim – a region that has already demonstrated its enthusiasm for cycling in recent years. The route profile can be described in two parts: whilst the first half of the stage remains topographically challenging, the second half is significantly flatter and offers ideal conditions for a bunch sprint. At the finish line in the centre of Offenbach an der Queich, a lively and historic town in the Südliche Weinstraße district, the sprinters’ teams are expected to battle it out for the stage victory after a long day of racing.
Day 4 is set to be the queen stage
The queen stage of the 2026 Lidl Deutschland Tour will take place on Saturday 22 August. The 169-kilometre route runs from Herxheim to Bad Dürkheim. A gruelling 3,000 metres of climbing could see the first decisive moment in the battle for the Blue Jersey. The route takes riders deep into the Palatinate Forest and connects some of the region’s best-known cycling destinations. Climb follows climb via Lolosruhe, Kalmit and Johanniskreuz. The highlight here is the double ascent of the Kalmit, which was already a real crowd-pleaser at the 2024 Lidl Deutschland Tour. After a long day through the vineyards and the Palatinate Forest, the stage will come to an exciting conclusion in Bad Dürkheim on the grounds of the Wurstmarkt, a venue renowned far beyond the region, with a challenging final loop that takes the route over Annaberg twice.
Finale: a short stage with steep climbs
The grand finale takes place on Sunday 23 August in Heilbronn. For the first time in the history of the Lidl Deutschland Tour, a stage will start and finish in the same city. A compact but intense final day awaits the peloton around the city on the Neckar, covering 156 kilometres and 2,500 metres of climbing. The route takes the riders through Brackenheim, past Stocksberg Castle, and up and down through the Stromberg-Heuchelberg Nature Park, before continuing via Schwaigern and Leingarten back to the challenging final lap in Heilbronn. Although the final stage is the shortest of the tour, it remains a demanding challenge. The undulating terrain around Heilbronn offers plenty of opportunities for riders looking to make up time in the general classification. The short, steep climbs could keep the race open right up to the finish. Furthermore, the circuit offers fans lining the route several opportunities to experience the peloton up close, including the highlight at the Jägerhaus, which has become a familiar feature in recent years.
Lidl Deutschland Tour 2026: A challenging route through towns, low mountain ranges and wine-growing countryside
With its varied terrain, featuring low mountain range roads, open wine-growing countryside and central finish lines, the Lidl Deutschland Tour 2026 offers the ideal conditions for a physically demanding stage race. The route promises selective racing scenarios, attractive views of the regions and a cycling experience for riders and fans alike. Fabian Wegmann, sporting director of the Lidl Deutschland Tour, sees the route as the perfect classic stage race: “The 2026 Lidl Deutschland Tour challenges the riders in a variety of ways: from a short and intense prologue, to challenging low-mountain stages, demanding final laps and opportunities for sprinters, we are offering different types of riders the chance to win the race. I expect the race to remain wide open right up until the final day – and that’s exactly what the fans can look forward to.”
Stages of the 2026 Lidl Deutschland Tour:
- Prologue (Wednesday, 19 August): Bad Orb
- Stage 1 (Thursday, 20 August): Bad Orb – Schwäbisch Hall
- Stage 2 (Friday, 21 August): Schwäbisch Hall – Offenbach an der Queich
- Stage 3 (Saturday, 22 August): Herxheim – Bad Dürkheim
- Stage 4 (Sunday, 23 August): Heilbronn – Heilbronn
About the Lidl Deutschland Tour:
The Lidl Deutschland Tour is the biggest cycling event in Germany and will take place from 19 to 23 August 2026. The race will kick off in Bad Orb with a prologue. Over the following stages, the route will take riders through several regions of Germany before the overall winner is decided in Heilbronn. As a five-day stage race on the UCI ProSeries, the tour attracts the world’s best teams and also offers a range of activities for amateur cyclists, such as the 2026 ‘ADAC Cycling Tour’ in Heilbronn, which anyone can join, or the ‘kinder Joy of Moving mini tour’ for the youngest participants. The ‘LichtBlick Newcomer Tour’ on Saturday and Sunday also provides a platform for young female U17 talent.
Press contact Lidl Deutschland Tour | Press officer Karl Stender Mail: presse.deutschland-tour@aso-germany.de
