The Nürburgring, since 1927 this has been the legendary Nordschleife, often also called the “Green Hell”. And the Grand Prix circuit, built in 1984 and expanded by the Mercedes-Arena in 2002. It can be driven and ridden on in two sections (sprint track and Müllenbachschleife) and it can additionally be connected to the Nordschleife.
At “Rad am Ring” we combine the existing routeings for the single disciplines in different ways and with the “24h-Rennen” we additionally lead the participants through the Grand Prix paddock.
Thus, the different track lenghts, elevation profiles and turn variations are created.
Who wants to pass the “Green Hell” will have a unique experience!
Regardless of the athletic level on which one will tackle the Nürburgringʼs legendary Nordschleife, the old track in the Eifel will demand a lot and give everything. It is the most beautiful stretch of tarmac between the North and South Pole, alluring with scenic charm and challenging with is 500 meters of difference in altitude and some 73 turn passages on 20,8 kilometers of length (These are the pure Nordscheife data. Exact data of your discipline see “information”) . Who wants to pass the “Green Hell” will have a unique experience!
At the Nürburgring cycling world champions have been crowned, individual riders have tested their personal limits for 24 hours, and amateur athletes have returned from the “Green Hell” exhausted but happy. The fascination that this unique track holds for both car drivers and motorbike riders is seamlessly transferred to the cyclists.
During countless hours the possible reason for this fascination has been philosophised upon at regulars’ tables and many reasons have been found. Itʼs quite possible, however, that each and every person had his or her very individual experience, thus resulting in a very individual love for the “Grande Dame” of race tracks. But regardless of the “why”: Who is once infected with the Nürburgring virus canʼt get rid of it that easily anymore. This also and very specifically applies to the participants of the 24-hour race.
It all starts in a harmless and at the same time impressive manner. After all, the start on a Formula One circuit is something that you donʼt experience every day. The track is 18 meters wide, there will be no huge crush, no ascent. The right turn into the Mercedes-Arena will not be a challenge yet either. The starting lap on the short configuration will challenge the participants a little bit when ascending to the “NGK Schikane”. After transitioning to the Nordschleife it will be downhill until reaching “Breidscheid”, except for a few interruptions. Those really avid cyclists will reach speeds of up to nearly 100 km/h in the section “Fuchsröhre”; wonderful outlooks onto the Eifel landscape will add alternative charms.
Starting in “Breidscheid”, it will get serious for some four kilometers. Via “Ex-Mühle” and “Bergwerk” the track section “Klostertal” will be entered– and this one is not to be underrated. The tarmac will rise very slowly, suggesting an easy job. But the ascent will grow bigger with every meter. Between the legendary “Karussell” and “Hohe Acht” the peak of nearly 17 % gradient will be hit. Here at the very latest it will dawn on everybody that the Nordschleife is also respectfully called “Green Hell” by cyclists, and rightly so.
“Wippermann”, “Eschbach”, “Brünnchen”, “Pflanzgarten”, all of these will be rather harmless again, despite the turning ups and downs. Then, passing “Schwalbenschwanz” and “Galgenkopf”, the track will lead towards the long straight called “Döttinger Höhe”. At its end, only the chicane “Hohenrain” will separate the cyclists from the start-finish straight of the Grand Prix circuit. Grandstands and pit complex will rise out of the ground. More than 5000 participants will have set up camp along the track, some of them luxuriously, thus creating a unique atmosphere. And behind all this the door of the “Green Hell” will open up for another lap.
