Awards ceremony for the winning teams of the 2026 Jena City Cycling Challenge

Jena has once again successfully taken part in City Cycling this year. The winning teams were presented with their awards today at the JEDI (Jena Digital Innovation Hub) by the Lord Mayor, Dr Thomas Nitzsche.

A total of 3,400 active cyclists in 153 teams took part in City Cycling 2026 in Jena. During the three-week campaign period from 28 August to 17 September, they covered more than 671,800 kilometres by bike across a total of 71,894 journeys. This helped to avoid a total of around 110 tonnes of CO₂. In a Thuringia-wide comparison, Jena once again came second behind the state capital, Erfurt.

“Every kilometre counts – for climate protection, our own health and a city worth living in. The fact that more than 3,400 people have collectively covered over 671,800 kilometres is a fantastic collective achievement. It shows just how much we can achieve when we all get on our bikes together,”

emphasises Lord Mayor Dr Thomas Nitzsche.

Alexander W. Zschäbitz, Managing Director of asphericon GmbH, adds:

“The results of this year’s STADTRADELN campaign show just how many people in Jena are actively committed to sustainable mobility. Every kilometre covered represents a decision to use a bike in everyday life. As a long-standing partner of the campaign, we are delighted to support this commitment and to honour the most successful teams.”

The winners

asphericon GmbH is awarding the top three non-profit organisations with a donation to their club funds of 300, 200 and 100 euros respectively.

Most active cycling clubs

1st place: 1. Radclub Jena e.V. (353 km per person)
2nd place: #SucheSicherenFahrradweg#ADFC (338 km per person)
3rd place: DLRG OG Jena e.V. (271 km per person)

Once again this year, trophies were awarded to the most active cycling clubs (km per cyclist) and the largest teams, as well as to the teams with the highest total number of kilometres cycled (1st–3rd place in each category).

Most active cycling teams (overall)

1st place: EL LAKTATO Jena (1,204 km per person)
2nd place: Idafix (539 km per person)
3rd place: In wade veritas (447 km per person)

Largest teams (overall)

1st place: Angergymnasium Jena (381 cyclists)
2nd place: Otto-Schott-Gymnasium Jena (341 cyclists)
3rd place: Jena University Hospital (185 cyclists)

Most kilometres (overall)

1st place: Otto-Schott-Gymnasium, Jena (54,147 km)
2nd place: Angergymnasium Jena (51,897 km)
3rd place: Jena University Hospital (44,935 km)

Most active cycling teams / departments & administration

1st place: Jena City Forestry Office (313 km per person)
2nd place: Thuringian State Office for the Environment, Mining & Nature Conservation (257 km per person)
3rd place: Jena Justice Centre (250 km per person)

Most active cycling teams / Community engagement & neighbourhoods

1st place: In wade veritas (447 km per person)

Most active cycling teams / Families

1st place: Idafix (539 km per person)
2nd place: Paradies (435 km per person)
3rd place: That counts, doesn’t it? (123 km per person)

Most active cycling teams / Healthcare sector

1st place: Team Satteltherapie (384 km per person)
2nd place: Kösenpendler (338 km per person)
3rd place: Die Nerven (323 km per person)

Most active cycling teams / Nurseries & Childcare Centres

1st place: KKJ (211 km per person)
2nd place: TSA Bildung und Soziales gGmbH (156 km per person)

Most active cycling teams / political parties

1st place: SPD Jena (383 km per person)
2nd place: RADsam Grün_BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN (201 km per person)
3rd place: Unionsradler (179 km per person)

Most active cycling teams / Cycling

1st place: EL LAKTATO Jena (1,204 km per person)
2nd place: The Gravel Club Jena (359 km per person)

Most active cycling teams / Universities & colleges

1st place: Leibniz-HKI – Cycling Microbes (271 km per person)
2nd place: Ernst Abbe University of Applied Sciences, Jena (237 km per person)
3rd place: University of Jena (203 km per person)

Most active cycling teams / companies

1st place: JLP – Circuit Cyclists (420 km per person)
2nd place: Intershop Communications AG (384 km per person)
3rd place: Cyber Cycles (363 km per person)

Most active cycling teams / schools

1st place: ‘Galileo’ Comprehensive School, Winzerla, Jena (234 km per person)
2nd place: Nordschule Primary School, Jena (229 km per person)
3rd place: Carl Zeiss Gymnasium, Jena (218 km per person)