On May 1st, the cycling world turns its attention to Germany for the first World Tour level one-day race following the spring classics. The Eschborn-Frankfurt Classic attracts top sprinters and classics riders alike. Let's delve into its profile.
The race is 203 kilometers long and features a circuit with two main climbs. The Felberg features two ascents of around 11 kilometers at 5%, and the shorter but steeper Mammolshain is 2.3 kilometers at 8%. The climbs are not easy. It likely remains a classic for the sprinters, but the balance has definitely shifted more towards early attackers.
Eschborn-Frankfurt am Main, 203.8 kilometers
The opening 30 kilometers are flat, and lead to an 11 kilometer climb at 4.8%, however this early in the race it doesn’t usually play a role, except for fatigue build up. There will then be a combination of small climbs, however they won’t be easy. With 112 and 96 kilometers to go the riders go through Mammolshain, the toughest climb of the race, it's 2.3 kilometers at 8% but features ramps of up to 15% near it's end.
The riders go up Feldberg once again, another 8 kilometers at 5.9% where attacks can be dealt and consolidated, or if the pace is pushed sprinters can absolutely be dropped. From there on the same descent with several hilltops will follow that is perfect for attackers.
Mammolshain: 2.3Km; 7.9%; 112, 96 & 36.5Km to go
The sprinter teams will have some time to reorganize but they will face the decisive ascent one more time, finally summiting with 36.5 kilometers to go. After the short and fast descent the riders then find mostly pan-flat roads where a chase can thoroughly be organized and executed between those who remains.
Although the race can be somewhat selective, the dynamics usually tilt towards an organized chase between several teams who will not hesitate to work to bring in better chances for their leaders to fight for the win. If it comes down to the fast men they will have an urban sprint to tackle, with the finishing straight being 500 meters long.
Eschborn-Frankfurt finale
Map Eschborn-Frankfurt 2024
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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Front24208-11-2026 - On a positive note, you maybe notice turning this topic into a discussion has the benefit of eliminating certain participants who do not see how they can turn it back to their sole interest ;-)Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
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🚴♂️ Der Countdown läuft! Noch 55 Tage bis zum Radklassiker am 1. Mai. Die Team-Auswahl verspricht ein aufregendes Rennen. 🌟 Mit 13 UCI WorldTour Teams und fünf ProTeams ist Eschborn-Frankfurt 2024 so gut besetzt wie noch nie.
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