Safety as Responsibility – Safer Cycling
Safety in cycling is not a side issue – it is a core responsibility. Guided by the principle of Safer Cycling, we continuously work to make the sport safer for everyone involved: from young riders to elite athletes, from a first race to professional competition.
Cycling takes place in public spaces. Roads, traffic infrastructure, and varying performance levels create challenges that require forward-looking planning, clear communication, and high organizational standards. That is why we implement safety on multiple levels – in route planning, race organization, the protection of critical areas, as well as in the education and awareness of riders.
Our approach is holistic: we invest in professional safety measures at elite races, strengthen guidance and support in grassroots sport, create safe conditions for beginners, and promote bike handling skills and safe riding behavior from an early age among children.
For us, Safer Cycling means recognizing risks, integrating safety into every aspect of the sport, and developing cycling responsibly for the future.
Guidance, Support, and Safety for All Participants
Safety does not end with professional racing. Especially in grassroots cycling, it is essential that participants are well prepared, properly informed, and supported with the assistance they need before entering a race. That is why we continuously develop and improve our safety standards.
For the first time in 2026, Safer Cycling Guides will be present at the start of the ADAC Cycling Tour. These guides will serve as direct points of contact throughout the race. They support participants, assist in challenging situations, and help create greater orientation and safety along the course.
In addition, we rely on proven measures such as:
- signage at key points
- acoustic and visual signals
- marshals at key sections of the course
- clear communication before and during the race
Safer Cycling Guides
The Safer Cycling Guides are not referees, but experienced riders who provide orientation and support to the peloton.
The guides ride visibly marked within the field and actively assist participants throughout the race.
🚴♂️ Support for a calm and safe start within the respective starting blocks
🗣️ Guidance on riding behavior in the peloton and communication among riders
⚠️ Alerts to potential hazard areas along the course
🤝 Promotion of a considerate and steady riding style
📣 Support in hectic race situations through calm and clear communication
In this way, the guides help ensure that the peloton develops in a steady and safe manner.
Become Safer Cycling Guides
For the premiere of the Safer Cycling Guides, we are looking for committed and experienced riders who would like to support us.
As a Safer Cycling Guide, you help other participants within the peloton, provide orientation, and contribute to ensuring a safe and respectful race for everyone.
Registration will open soon.
Information on Registration
Registration as a Safer Cycling Guide is free of charge, but does not guarantee participation.
After registration, guides will be selected and participation will be confirmed.
Selected Safer Cycling Guides will receive:
- an official Safer Cycling Guide jersey
- a start place outside the official classification
- the opportunity to actively contribute to race safety
Learning Through Play. Riding Safely.
Safe cycling starts early. Together with our partner kinder Joy of Moving, we have been introducing children to cycling and the sport of cycling in a playful way since 2018.
Our goal is to promote early bike handling skills, safety, and confidence on the bicycle. Because those who learn to move safely on a bike from an early age benefit in the long term – both in everyday life and in sport.
With various activities as part of the “kinder Joy of Moving mini tour”, we create age-appropriate opportunities for children to gain their first experiences on two wheels:
- school activities focused on safe cycling
- balance bike races for the youngest participants at each finish location of the Lidl Deutschland Tour
- bike parades at every stage of the Lidl Deutschland Tour
The focus is not on performance, but on joy, movement, and safety. Children learn how to move in groups, better assess situations, and gain confidence on the bicycle through fun and positive experiences.
For us, Safer Cycling begins where enthusiasm for cycling is first sparked – with the youngest riders.
Safety at the Highest Sporting Level
In elite cycling, speed, race dynamics, and tactical competition are integral parts of the sport – making professional and forward-looking safety planning all the more important. That is why, at elite races, we implement comprehensive safety measures that go far beyond the basic requirements.
Our safety concepts are based on the regulations of the Union Cycliste Internationale and are specifically adapted to each individual course. Particular attention is given to potential hazards within the public road environment: traffic islands, narrowed road sections, curbs, central reservations, and other structural elements that contribute to everyday road safety can become critical points during a race.
These areas are specifically secured through measures including:
- acoustic warning signals
- clear signage and visual guidance
- marshals positioned at key risk areas
- protective padding and barrier systems around obstacles
- course-specific safety measures depending on the level of risk
Already during the planning phase, we focus on prevention: since 2026, we have been working with EDGITAL to digitally identify potential hazard areas at an early stage. This allows risks to be detected during route planning and enables the necessary safety measures or mitigation processes to be initiated before the race even begins.
Professional Safety Standards for the Next Generation of Elite Sport
Safety is also a central component of race organization at the LichtBlick Newcomer Tour. Our aim is to provide young athletes with the best possible conditions and to secure the race with the same high standards that define our elite events.
For this reason, the LichtBlick Newcomer Tour is organized with the same level of professionalism that also characterizes our elite races. This includes, among others:
- comprehensive course safety measures
- signage and clear communication along the route
- marshals at relevant key sections
- targeted securing of potential hazard points
- high organizational standards in planning and execution
Our goal is to provide young talents with an environment in which they can further develop their performance under professional and safe conditions.
