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

[Red Rick]

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.

Wonder when teams will learn the same thing about Sanremo now.

 

[Netserk]

Any locals (out on the route)? Or do I have to summon @Skijumper Roglic fan

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Any locals (out on the route)? Or do I have to summon @Skijumper Roglic fan

I‘m local but sadly not out on the route.

 

[Heston]

Full race coverage is pretty cool

 

[Netserk]

Very hot today. I was already starting to melt last week when we hit 18 degrees.

 

[pablohidalgo7]

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.

Agree on Herzog but Adrià was recovering his shape on LBL, he was always between the top 20-25 riders on the final climbs, that seems enough to be a factor in this race.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Now that‘s a terrible break.

 

[hfgon1]

Why the hell is Pithie attacking? This should be a race he is able to finish top 10 from the main field. Very weird again how Bora uses him.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

The 6th monument is finally here. Big fan of frankfurht a lovely flawed ugly city

 

[QueenStagiaire]

The 6th monument is finally here. Big fan of frankfurht a lovely flawed ugly city

Last year Fausto got a nice 30th place here. Sadly he didn’t even get to race today after being exiled to Turkey.

 

[Netserk]

A pleasant ride with the mates on the holiday.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

A pleasant ride with the mates on the holiday.

Was gonna say the same. I know there are another 178kms to go, but the riders in the peloton are chatting and seem to be in no rush - any chance the break can make it?

 

[Netserk]

Was gonna say the same. I know there are another 178kms to go, but the riders in the peloton are chatting and seem to be in no rush - any chance the break can make it?

None at all. Alpecin started riding in the peloton once they had 4 minutes and two riders won't last long.

Maybe another team will put some pressure on the first ascent of Feldberg coming up.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

None at all. Alpecin started riding in the peloton once they had 4 minutes and two riders won't last long.

Maybe another team will put some pressure on the first ascent of Feldberg coming up.

I don‘t think the first ascent of Feldberg is really worth the effort, mostly shallow, consistent tempogrinder and over 150k left.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Isn‘t the km to go graphic off by like 3 kilometers?

 

[Netserk]

Isn‘t the km to go graphic off by like 3 kilometers?

I haven't seen the front duo in a while, so I don't know.

EDIT: Now that we see them, it seems about right?

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Good crowds on a sunny weekday, and lovely heli shots of a tree-covered Feldberg

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Now we get the not-so-nice reforestation campaign.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Now we get the not-so-nice reforestation campaign.

Wasn't very lovely to look at but at least they are trying to reforest, we have the same thing here in Oregon. (Long stretches of green forest and then some woeful looking bald spots where they are reforesting.)

Gap is now almost 6mins...

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Did they add some metallic film to Arkea's Bianchis? Sacrilege!

 

[E_F_]

Now we get the not-so-nice reforestation campaign.

What's wrong with the reforestation?

 

[QueenStagiaire]

What's wrong with the reforestation?

Not-so-nice looking I meant after Tricycle Rider talked about the lovely tree cover, the campaign is great of course.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Gap going down now and peloton no longer chatting with still 146km to go - let the racing begin!

On a side note why on earth did I think Frankfurt was in Bavaria all these years? D'oh!

 

[Potomac]

As much as I love trees, riding through green tunnels gets old fast. I like to observe cultural features when I'm on my bike. It seems to make the time go faster.

 

[Potomac]

Is everyone getting this little vignette?