Hamburg & Berlin attract thousands already

The registrations for the annual Vatenfall Cyclassics in Hamburg and the new Velothlon in Berlin are coming in by the hundreds. The race organisers in Berlin have already increased the maximum limit to 10, 000 riders. The event takes place on 25 May. Hamburg takes place later than usual, on 7 September, due to the Beijing Olympics in August. The key to enter Hamburg is once again: decide quickly!

Both races do not feature on the provisional calendar of the 2008 German Cycling Cup.

Meanwhile, a new cyclo event in Lohmar has been announced for Whit Sunday, 11 May. A course of 105km and 55km will be offered with 1600 hm scheduled on the longest distance. More information can be found on the website.

German Cycling Cup 2008

T-Mobile has left cycling with a bang at the end of last year and this also meant the end of the T-Mobile Cycling Tour for jedermann or cycloriders. However, the Series is NOT dead! It will continue under the name "German Cycling Cup" and will be organised by the Verband Deutscher Radrennveranstalter (VDR). That is already great news by itself.

The race calendar will contain fewer events than the 19 in 2007, which was also desired by all leading parties involved. Significant is that the race in Hambug and the new race in Berlin will not be part of the Cup. It is also unclear whether the cyclo events of the Tour of Germany in September will be included or not. Triberg and RiderMan are neither mentioned so far in the calendar.

The 11 (provisional) events of the 2008 German Cycling Cup:

24. März: „Rund-um-Köln-Challenge
27. April: „Tour d‘Energie von den Terassen“ in Göttingen
01. Mai: „Rund um den Henninger Turm“ in Frankfurt
12. Mai: Rund um die Braunkohle in Leipzig
1. Jun: Bayern-Rundfahrt in Erlangen
28. Jun: Jedermannrennen im Rahmen der Deutschen Meisterschaft in Bochum (unbestätigt)
27. Jul: Sachsen-Tour (unbestätigt)
3. Aug: Sparkassen-Giro in Bochum
23. Aug: „Rad am Ring“ auf dem Nürburgring
14. Sep: „Rund um die Nürnberger Altstadt“
3. Okt: Sparkassen Münsterland Giro.2008 in Münster

Prestigio: Nove Colli already in the thousands...

The biggest Italian granfondo of the season, Le Nove Colli in Cesenatico, already has several thousands of registrations. The so-called "griglia blu" which runs till #5500 is full according to the website! The great event will be held on Sunday, 18 May this year.

Check the website for more.

CHIBA Alpencup: four big alternatives

The CHIBA Alpencup, a tough four-event criterium in the German-speaking part of the Alps has been officially announced recently and will include the following granfondos:

• 18.05.08 Amadé Radmarathon - Radstadt (A)
  
• 15.06.08 Berchtesgadener Land Radmarathon - Bad Reichenhall (D)
  
• 06.07.08 Engadin Radmarathon - Zernez (CH)
  
• 03.08.08 TirolWest Radmarathon - Landeck (A)

These events may provide a nice alternative for those wanting to skip top events like the Maratona and Marmotte for a year.

More information can be found on the website of the Alpencup.

Prestigio: Carnia Classic-Zoncolan opens the books

The registrations for the GF Carnia Classic-Zoncolan, one of the highlights of the 2008 granfondo season held in Tolmezzo (Udine), have opened. Online payment will be possible also in due course. Check the website for more details.