Rad am Ring: record participation and great atmosphere
Nürburgring, July 20, 2024 – 4 PM – We’re back! Since yesterday evening, the Nürburgring belongs once again to ambitious cyclists, touring cyclists, young riders, and everyone who enjoys fast or not-so-fast movement on two wheels. “Bright sunshine and bright smiles,” summarizes head of organization Hanns-Martin Fraas with regard to the event so far. After the course was properly run in during yesterday’s time trial, amateur cyclists today etched their initials into the Formula 1 asphalt, and the 24-hour riders took to the track. A speedy start with plenty of action and several participat records broken.
Time trial
If you prefer flat and straight roads, the Nürburgring time trial is not for you. But for everyone else, it’s a thrill. And when we say “everyone,” we mean more than 133 participants who went full throttle over 22 kilometers and 550 meters in altitude on Friday evening. Some went a bit too hard; the race was marred by a crash in the Kallenhardt section when a participant crashed in a tightening downhill right turn.
The rest of the field reached the finish line without further incidents. The fastest riders on the Nordschleife were Valentin Szalay of www.bnb.bike at 32:09 minutes in the men’s category and Merle Brunnée of Team FAST Neuroradiologie at 35:26 minutes in the women’s kategory.
Amateur races
A record 1,894 amateur cyclists registered for this year’s three courses over 25, 75, and 150 kilometers. It could have been even more: “We capped it because we’ve never had more than 1,800 in the amateur races and wanted to see how things would work out with more,” says head of organization Hanns-Martin Fraas with pride. The 75-km distance had the highest participation numbers with 1,101 riders, followed by the 150 kilometers with 594 participants and the 25-km race with 199 cyclists. Despite the hot weather conditions, the amateurs pushed hard, especially on the longest course. Hanns-Martin Fraas was amazed: “The leading group finished the first lap in 38 minutes.”
The fastest riders were:
Men 25 km
1. Christian Schmitt (AUT) at 0:40:53
2. Ruben Schmitt (GER) at 0:42:12
3. Jens Eichner (GER) at 0:44:14
Women 25 km
1. Katharina Bürkner (GER) at 0:49:35
2. Eline Wubben (NED) at 0:49:57
3. Julie Vandenbussche (GER) at 0:49:58
Men 75 km
1. Thomas Lehnen (BEL) at 1:55:21
2. Lion Trommer (GER) at 1:56:19
3. Patrick Dören (GER) at 1:58:43
Women 75 km
1. Vanessa Sossnowski (GER) at 2:14:23
2. Carmen Burmeister (GER) at 2:18:18
3. Daniela Zoll (GER) at 2:19:46
The 150-kilometer race was still ongoing at copy deadline. These results and those of all other races can be found here.
24-hour race
It is always a special moment when head of organization Hanns-Martin Fraas sends the 24-hour riders onto the track. Saturday noon it happened – with 5,876 road cyclists and 319 mountain bikers, a considerable pack set off. “It was a fantastic start with a fantastic field of participants in a fantastic setting. And the team works like clockwork,” enthuses Hanns-Martin Fraas. The 24-hour individual and team riders are expected to finish on Sunday from 12:15 PM onwards.
Kids race and touring rides
The touring riders, who took to the Nordschleife on Saturday morning, had no ticking clock behind them. While today belonged to the leisurely, relaxed riders and e-bikers, tomorrow the sporty touring riders will take their turn. “With 1,536 participants this Saturday, we set a new record,” rejoices head of organization Hanns-Martin Fraas.
The Kids Race, where young ring riders race around the Grand Prix circuit in two age groups, was fully booked weeks before the event. Winners in the 8-10 age group (1 lap) were Huib van Spreuwel at 6:35 minutes and Susie Vandenbussche at 7:08 minutes. In the 11-14 age group (2 laps), Guus van Spreuwel finished first in 11:59 minutes and Hanna Hoppe in 12:03 minutes. Of course, all participants received an official Rad am Ring finisher medal at the finish line.