The world's best as guests in Jena

The world's best as guests in Jena. This is the motto of the 36th LOTTO Thüringen Ladies Tour, which starts in Jena on June 25. The starting signal for the women's professional cycling race will be given at 12.30 pm in Weigelstraße. The finish is expected at around 3.45 pm.

Great honor for the sports city of Jena

Jena was last on the stage plan of the Tour of Thuringia in 2011: "It is a great honor that this year's LOTTO Ladies Thuringia Tour is starting from Jena. As an enthusiastic cyclist, I look forward to welcoming numerous athletes and spectating fans to Jena," said Lord Mayor Dr. Thomas Nitzsche, who brought the cycling race back to the city on the Saale.

"I am very pleased that we are back in Jena after a long break. Jena has a very good reputation as a sports city - beyond the borders of Thuringia. We will continue to strengthen this with the LOTTO Thüringen Ladies Tour," says race director Marian Koppe. The tour will once again take place over six stages. After the opening stage on June 25 in Jena, the race continues to Gera.

Top-class field on a challenging stage

120 riders from 20 teams - including two national teams - will be at the start. "We are expecting a top-class field because the race is an important dress rehearsal for the Olympic Games in Paris, which begin just under four weeks later," says Koppe. The route, which leads from Jena via Dornburg, Bürgel, Schöngleina, Schlöben and Kahla, among other places, is peppered with several meters of elevation gain and challenges for the riders. A special highlight will be the sprint classification at the end of the stage. The peloton is expected to start the sprint at Fürstengraben shortly after 3 pm. After a lap via Münchenroda and Isserstedt, the riders will cross the finish line in Weigelstraße.

Live stream and supporting program on the market

After the start, the race can be followed live on the market square - if you like, in a deckchair provided by JenaKultur. Between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., visitors can also look forward to a colorful supporting program all about cycling. The Jena Cycling Club will be offering a bike course and the Kreisverkehrswacht will be on site. Anyone interested can test various bicycles and take part in hands-on activities offered by various clubs. There are also some activities planned for children.

Saale-Unstrut-Tourismus GmbH and the Jena tourist information office will also be present. The background to this is that the bike race will also attract international fans and sports journalists, most of whom have probably never been to the region before. "We hope that many will come to watch and cheer - both from out of town and from Jena," says Jena's sports representative Vanessa Baum. "We don't have a sporting event like this in the city every day.

Team presentation on the eve of the race on the market square

On Monday, June 24, all teams will present themselves on the market square from 6.30 pm. Fans will have the opportunity to see the riders up close and get in the mood for the race. Anyone interested is cordially invited.

Marshals wanted along the stage

Another opportunity to experience the bike race up close is offered to all marshals. Volunteers are still being sought for this task, who will be on duty at their post from 12.00 to 16.30, depending on their location.

All marshals will receive a briefing from the police on the morning of the event. Volunteers should be at least 18 years old and ideally bring high-visibility vests and whistles. Anyone interested is asked to get in touch as soon as possible with their address and telephone number at: sportverwaltung@jena.de.(link sends email) Everyone will receive vouchers for a meal and drink.

Restrictions for traffic on race day

Road closures:
The field of female riders will be framed by one police car at the front and one at the back. As soon as the first police vehicle passes a post, the section of the route is closed to all road users until the second vehicle has reached the post. The roads in Jena city center are expected to be closed for around ten minutes at the start.

There will be a longer closure, probably lasting an hour, towards the end of the race at Fürstengraben, as the field will pass here twice. Drivers should therefore avoid the Fürstengraben area from around 3 p.m. if possible.

Closure of the parking lot:
The parking spaces on Eichplatz will not be available to the public on June 25. The area is needed for the vehicles with the equipment for the 20 teams. Spectators are requested to arrive by bicycle or public transport.

Public transportation:
Jena's public transportation system is prepared for the sporting event. As the field of riders crosses all streetcar and bus lines, there may be temporary restrictions everywhere. Bus and streetcar drivers must react to the situation and wait until the field has passed if necessary. Changed timetables cannot be prepared in advance. Guests using public transport are asked to understand any delays.

The 36th LOTTO Thüringen Ladies Tour 2024 at a glance:

June 25, 2024 - Stage 1, Around Jena (24.06. Team presentation)
June 26, 2024 - 2nd stage, Around Gera
June 27, 2024 - 3rd stage, Around Erfurt
June 28, 2024 - Stage 4, Around Mühlhausen
June 29, 2024 - Stage 5, Around Altenburg, individual time trial
June 30, 2024 - Stage 6, Around Schmalkalden