2025 Eschborn–Frankfurt (May 1), 198.7 km (1.WT3)

[Netserk]

Roadbook: https://www.eschborn-frankfurt.de/f.../250415_REF-Roadbook_DinA4_FIN-DIGITAL_DS.pdf

Startlist (only 18 teams at the start): https://www.tissottiming.com/2025/frk/teams

 

[Heston]

Nys vs Philipsen vs Matthews vs Magnier

Nys is my favorite, but not impossible for Philipsen to survive the climbs.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Best startlist the race has had in recent times although I‘m not convinced that Philipsen and Welsford for example can get over the climbs or that Paul Double will fight for the win. Maybe some UAE riders can spice up the race by following an Alaphilippe suicide attack.

 

[Faserr]

Finally not a sprinter startlist anymore. There a lot of teams who want a hard race and at this new route we could have 5-10 riders at the end if more teams go on the attack. Last year the teams didn't really realize that the parcours changed.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Such a Schunkelpiefke race...

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Finally not a sprinter startlist anymore. There a lot of teams who want a hard race and at this new route we could have 5-10 riders at the end if more teams go on the attack. Last year the teams didn't really realize that the parcours changed.

There are actually more sprinters now than last year, because last year Van Gils won sort of a bunch sprint here. But if they ride it similar to the last two years, the long climb to Feldberg at mid-race should just kill the legs of riders like Philipsen.

 

[Cookster15]

Would be good to see Michael Matthews actually win a race like this rather than yet another top three finish.

 

[Netserk]

Official startlist on Tissot: https://www.tissottiming.com/2025/frk/teams

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Aranburu will launch an attack on the last climb which will snip the legs of lesser humans.
Parcours looks very good indeed.

 

[Red Rick]

Every year this race comes around and I think to myself "Oh yes. I remember, this is a thing."

 

[Netserk]

Every year this race comes around and I think to myself "Oh yes. I remember, this is a thing."

Past two editions with the new route have been quite good.

 

[Roku]

With a hard race no more than 20 riders should contest the win. Jayco, Lidl, Uno-X should try to drop pure sprinters.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Matthews finished 3rd here in 2011, 2nd in 2018. If the progression continues he has to win 2025.

 

[Filippo_3467]

There are actually more sprinters now than last year, because last year Van Gils won sort of a bunch sprint here. But if they ride it similar to the last two years, the long climb to Feldberg at mid-race should just kill the legs of riders like Philipsen.

In my eyes this is what makes this race so great now with the route change. Depending on how it is raced a whole lot of different rider types can win. You likely need a sprint because some sort of group will probably arrive on the finish line but even guys like Nys could be totally fried by the moment we come to this point.

That and the total absence of any alien or even b-list alien (Pedersen, Ganna, van Aert) makes this race one of the more interesting ones of the calendar who enjoy an uncertain outcome and a fight to the finish line.

I thin Emil Herzog could be very good here and is the best option for Red Bull if he can bring his TotA climbing legs. for pithie that should be too much climbing and Adria is not in shape. So Red Bull has to attack. Same goes for Tudor, UAE, EF and Intermarche who bring only inferior sprint options if the group is too large. Especially a team with the strnght in numbers like UAE is crucial too make it hard race because like in the last years you only have a chance to get a select group to the finish when you hard pace the second Feldberg. That isn't about dropping everyone rather then burning their legs so that you can split the group for good on the kicker in the decent or the last smaller climb.

My favourite is magnus Cort. But it will be also interesting what Lidl are going to do: Maybe they can't decide until late in the race for whom they are going to ride. The course should be also ok for (Withen) Philipsen and Nys isn't very good in a flat sprint in a bigger group...

I don't believe the Jasper Philipsen or another real sprinter can make it.

 

[Netserk]

Pluimers could plausibly be the fastest sprinter to survive the climbs.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Such a fantastic startlist in general, and I was going to cheer for Welsford and Philipsen specifically. But then I looked at the profile and my dreams were immediately crushed.

 

[Unterlenkerfahrend]

Race is actually quite underrated these days. Obviously the second Feldberg ideally could still be closer to the finish but last two editions were really good racing with the group(s) staying away.

The calendar slot is also quite ideal, you have multiple second tier/support guys coming with good form out of the Ardennes plus guys that don't need to be in altitude camps yet for the Tour. So you end up with quite a strong start list.

Now that I praised it, watch it be a slugfest with no real separation on Feldberg and a big mass sprint.

 

[Cycling111]

Every time Nys has been named favorite this year, he's disappointed. I think Magnier will win.

UAE doesn't have a sprinter, but they have fast riders like Covi and Morgado who passes the climbs.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

The view from the top of the Mammolshain ramp is always pretty amazing. The riders don‘t get to enjoy that one though.

 

[Sciatic]

I’m surprised Kristoff isn’t racing so he could “Strive for Five.”

 

[Potomac]

Bunch sprint for sure.

 

[hfgon1]

Great startlist. Philipsen, Magnier, Welsford, Pithie, Matthews, Andresen, Vernon, Garcia Cortina and the local guys Ackermann, Teutenberg and Kanter for a sprint. Cort, Adria, Aranburu, Nys, Morgado, Powless, Wellens, Hirschi, Alaphilippe, Teuns, Stephen Williams, Velasco or again a local with Schachmann, Politt or Zimmermann if it gets a bit harder.

So much different names and kind of riders I see winning here. And probably in the end someone wins who I havent even mentioned like Dion Smith or Teunissen. Very hard to predict what will happen.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Every time Nys has been named favorite this year, he's disappointed.

GP Indurain?

 

[Devil's Elbow]

I also feel obligated to point out that we have Jayco and not the route change to thank for this race being good again. In 2023, the first year after the change, the field was still mostly sprinters, but Jayco splitting the peloton on the second Feldberg and then killing both themselves and the sprint teams in the second peloton by trying and failing to keep the gap alive opened the door for what little C-list puncheurs there were to get away on the final Mammolshain. Seems like it took that f*ckup for teams to realise that actually, a race that already had 2650 metres of elevation gain pre-change and 2900 metres now doesn't have to end up in a big bunch sprint.

 

[search]

same as two years ago, Philipsen comes straight back from holiday, so I guess it's unlikely that he'll be much of a contender. Ludewig yesterday said that Verstrynge is their best hope for a good result.