Schwäbisch Hall makes its debut as a stage host of the 2026 Lidl Deutschland Tour
September 9th, 2026
A first for Schwäbisch Hall: the city will host a stage of the Lidl Deutschland Tour for the very first time. With the finish of stage 1 and the start of stage 2, the historic old town will provide a spectacular setting for Germany’s biggest cycling event on two consecutive days.
While Schwäbisch Hall celebrates its debut, the Lidl Deutschland Tour already knows the northeast of Baden-Württemberg well. In 2024, the race passed through the region, where the hilly Heilbronn-Franken landscape set the scene for a thrilling, classic-style battle. Steep climbs will once again shape the racing in 2026, promising an exciting opening. The start of stage 2 will be an extra highlight for fans, who can enjoy seeing the pros up close and with plenty of time.
“The Lidl Deutschland Tour stands for top-level sport and truly special experiences. We are delighted that Schwäbisch Hall will be our host for two days right at its debut. This year we already witnessed an overwhelming atmosphere with many enthusiastic fans. We want to build on that and celebrate an unforgettable cycling festival together with the city in 2026,” says Maren Hopf, Head of Lidl Deutschland Tour.
Wærenskjold crowned champion as Brennan takes finale at Lidl Deutschland Tour 2025
August 24th, 2025
Matthew Brennan (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) claimed victory in the final stage of the Lidl Deutschland Tour in Magdeburg. The Briton crossed the line first on the 163.7-kilometer route ahead of Søren Wærenskjold (Uno-X Mobility), who secured the overall title. Jonathan Milan (Lidl – Trek) finished third. In addition to the blue jersey of overall winner, Wærenskjold also took home the green points jersey and the white jersey for best young rider. The mountains classification was decided on the final day in favor of Enzo Leijnse (Team Picnic PostNL).
“It means a lot to me to win this race,” said Wærenskjold after sealing overall victory. “So much can go wrong – you always have to stay alert, and of course you need to have the form. That makes it all the more special when everything comes together and you can win.” His victories in the prologue and on stage 3 paved the way for the overall success.
Brennan also won two stages. After taking the opening stage, the 20-year-old doubled up with the finale in Magdeburg. “It was a fantastic day for us. The finale was quite technical and anything can happen in such a situation,” said Brennan. “The guys kept me in front and set a strong pace – they did a great job. We came here with a plan and were highly motivated. To win two stages is amazing. Overall, it’s been a sensational year for me.” It was his 13th win of the season, making him one of the most successful riders of the year – and all as a neo-pro.