Route set for inaugural Trans Germany

One month before the start of the new Trans Germany event, promoters have announced the route. The first-ever German mountain bike stage race will take participants from west to east in eight stages spanning 800km and 18,000m of climbing.

Race director Uli Stanciu said of the course, "It demands not only muscular strength in the legs but also brain." Every stage is different, ranging from flat passages, which will encourage drafting, to lonely singletrack, gravel roads, and even some pavement.

One highlight of the race is the "Eselsweg," an old road was used for transports that won't pass a single village for more than 40 kilometres. Others include the "Rennsteig," an old carrier route, and the "Fichtelberg" mountain, at 1214 meters above sea level. The race finishes in Oberwiesenthal.

It took Stanciu twelve months to set the course, verify infrastructure, and get towns to buy in. With many details to be sorted out, the route actually grew longer with time. "Every detour has enlarged the original planned stage courses. We started the route setting with an average of 80 kilometres for each leg and ended with an average of 100 kilometres," said Stanciu.

Registration for the event is still open. Visit www.bike-transgermany.de for more info.