Cyclists build a bridge between two cultural capitals

Cyclists want to build a bridge between two cultural capitals in September with a tour of around 550 kilometers. The European Peace Ride (EPR) starts on September 13 in Bad Ischl in Austria, the European Capital of Culture 2024, and leads in three stages to Chemnitz - Capital of Culture 2025. The route runs via Linz to the Lipno reservoir in the Czech Republic and from there via Pilsen and the Ore Mountains ridge. The finish line is planned at the ice sports center in Chemnitz. Former cyclists Hanka Kupfernagel and Jens Vogt will be taking part, as organizer Kai Winkler said on Thursday.

According to him, the event is intended to symbolically hand over the baton between the two cultural capitals. The EPR commemorates the International Peace Ride, once an important cycling race and spectator magnet in the eastern countries of Europe. It was launched in 1948 to contribute to European understanding during the Cold War; the race was held for the last time in 2006. The EPR itself is not a cycling race, but aims to celebrate sporting culture. The Tour will once again be accompanied by various cultural events in September, said Winkler. In addition, less trained cyclists will once again be able to join the peloton on the final kilometers to the finish.

The EPR is entering its fourth edition this year. It was first launched in 2021 with a tour from Chemnitz to Prague and back. Last year, it started on the Old Town Bridge between Görlitz on the German side and Zgorzelec on the Polish side and then led via Mladá Boleslav (Jungbunzlau) and Plzen (Pilsen) to Chemnitz in three days.