In line with the city course on which the world championships were held in Glasgow, a gran fondo was held in Dresden on a similar course. Although the number of turns was significantly less, the city course remained a challenge.
Photo: the twisty but flat city course. The longest distance was 103 km.
The Velorace Dresden is a Jedermann race. Literally translated a (cycling) race that anyone can participate in. And that's exactly right. And there is a 'race' for every level. Whether you want to ride a lap (of 20 kilometers) through the city on a city bike, or like a semi-professional cyclist at top speed doing five of those laps: it's all possible.
To promote disabled sports, Saturday saw an omnium (a race consisting of several parts) for G-sport athletes. A decent field of participants -under the watchful eye of Germany's Kristina Vogel, who won several world titles on the track before her accident- were allowed to have fun on the start and finish line. And although the fun was paramount, even with them the performance mattered. Just like the fat tire races for the school youth of Dresden and its surroundings. With fanatical faces and red heads they scurried along the course like true racers.
Photo: with Kristina Vogel.
That a city course is difficult to make traffic-free was once again evident. Because cars were still parked in a number of places, the starting times of Sunday's races were delayed by 15 minutes. In itself not a punishment, because on the Neumarkt you stood nicely in the sun. Several sponsor teams had signed on, so quite a bit of plowing could be expected. Complete with soigneurs with water bottles and mechanics with spare parts. Well, then, as a well-intentioned loner, you are already 1-0 behind.
Photo: It went hard right from the start.
The start of the race. Very little came of the neutralized start. The peloton took off at breakneck speed. And it immediately became clear that there is quite a difference between the participants. There are guys who can smoothly anticipate the streets and the movements of their competitors, but there are also hustlers who quickly reach their limit and square the turns. After yet another predicament, I decide to put away my ambitions for the day and drop down to a safer group by dropping.
That group rides a lot better. And at least the slower pace allows you to look around for a change. Although you ride on the larger roads through downtown Dresden, you can take in quite a few sights of the beautiful city. The constantly turning course even allows you to see some buildings from two sides. And if you didn't get a good look at something, then 20 kilometers later you have another opportunity to see that attraction again.
The race? It was decided in a bunch sprint, I saw on the photos and in the results. The leader in the German Cycling Cup (ranking of several German gran fondos) was allowed to make the victory sign.
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