Spectrum: After last year's premiere of the Cannondale Road Riot gravel format at the Willingen Bike Festival, the concept for 2017 was completely redesigned. The race is replaced by a guided ride. The focus is now on discovering the landscape and a balanced mix of asphalt, gravel and meadow paths.
Johannes Niemann, the responsible project manager of the Bike Festival, summarizes the decisive points in a nutshell: “Last year the Cannondale Road Riot had more the character of a cross race and not that of a gravel race. The route had too many vertical meters and was simply too demanding”. Reason enough for those responsible to completely revise the concept. In the coming edition, the enjoyment character should therefore clearly be in the foreground. This year there will be neither an overall timekeeping nor a rating or a winner. It is still unclear whether there will be a kind of best time ranking on selected Strava sections. Compared to the previous year, the route is significantly longer at 56 kilometers, but calculated over the distance, fewer meters of altitude will be waiting for the drivers. The organizer promises a beautiful scenic route with great vantage points. A drive-through catering station will also be set up at the Graf Stollberg hut. The gravel ride will start on Friday, May 19, 2017 at 14.00 p.m., the entry fee is 19,00 euros.
Bike Festival Willingen Gravel-Ride: route details
- Distance: 56 km
- Altitude difference: 1.100 m
- Tarmac: 8km / 14%
- Cycle paths: 17 km / 30%
- Gravel roads: 27 km / 49%
- Forest paths: 4 km / 7%