THE EUROPEAN PEACE RIDE 2023
On the way to the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025, the European Peace Ride (EPR) 2023 started on the Old Town Bridge, which connects the European City of Görlitz/Zgorzelec in a spirit of friendship. Divided after the Second World War and separated until the political change in 1989, the two cities are now celebrating 25 years of the idea of developing into a European city through ever closer cooperation.
The Federal Government Commissioner for East Germany, Minister of State Carsten Schneider, took over the patronage of this year's edition of the Peace Ride.
Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer and Lord Mayor Sven Schulze jointly gave the starting signal for the European Peace Ride on September 8, 2023 at 11:00 am. Over the next few days, the route ran via Mladá Boleslav (Jungbunzlau) and Plzeň (Pilsen), making it a true peace ride classic. The peloton consisted of 200 participants, with the proportion of women among the starters increasing significantly.
Polish, Czech riders and several para-athletes (riders with assistance needs) completed this year's Peace Ride together with numerous German participants.
Tour de France stage winners André Greipel and Marcus Burghardt were also part of the peloton on the 500-kilometre route with around 6,000 meters of climbing.
Acknowledgements for the EPR 2023
THANK YOU!!!
Cooperation and arrival with the Erzgebirgsbahn
A cooperation was agreed with the Erzgebirgsbahn, and on 8 September 2023, around 150 German participants rode from Chemnitz to the start in Görlitz in two VTR 642 multiple-unit trains. This cooperation made the European Peace Ride even more sustainable and it also shows how culture actually works in the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025: together!
It was also agreed in this cooperation that three Erzgebirgsbahn trains will be branded in this spirit and will thus be on the rails of Europe for an indefinite period of time.
Females4PeaceRide - The women's initiative to increase the number of women at PeaceRide 2023
There were 32 women among the 200 participants this year. This means that the proportion of female cyclists has risen from 7 percent last year to around 16 percent at this year's European Peace Ride. The increased number of athletes overall is due to a request from Chemnitz Mayor Sven Schulze at the end of last year's European Peace Ride.
Of the 32 female participants, 13 prepared for the ride with the specially developed Females4PeaceRide training program. The aim is to get more women interested in cycling and to create training opportunities.
As part of a structured training plan, the female cyclists prepared themselves holistically for the European Peace Ride 2023 - and with great success!
The majority of participants from all over Germany managed to reconcile their training with their private and professional commitments.
Our goal for 2025 is to achieve a female quota of 50%. We are therefore calling on all cycling enthusiasts to get in touch with us at info@fit4bike.de.
TAPE 1
Görlitz/Zgorzelec - Mlada Boleslav
START
On 08.09.2023
at 11:00 a.m.
in
Old Town Bridge in Görlitz/Zgorzelec
Germany /Poland - Border
AIM
On 08.09.2023
approx. 17:00 o'clock
in
tř. Václava Klementa 294, 293 60 Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic
THE ROUTE
TAPE 2
Mlada Boleslav-Plzen
START
On 09.09.2023
at 08:00 a.m.
in
tř. Václava Klementa 294, 293 60 Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic
AIM
On 09.09.2023
approx. 17:00 o'clock
in
Republic Square
(Náměstí Republiky, Plzeň)
THE ROUTE
Stage 3
Plzen - Chemnitz
AIM
On 10.09.2023
approx. 17:00 o'clock
in
finish entry street of nations and afterwards on the theater square in Chemnitz.
THE ROUTE
THE DETAILED VIDEO 2023
Several camera teams accompanied the EPR 2023. This resulted in unforgettable, emotional footage.
In numerous interviews with the riders, the organizers and the enthusiastic population along the route, the basic idea and the social significance were captured.
THE FINISH LINE
On Sunday, 10.09.2023, several hundred cyclists from various initiatives rode from the Einsiedler Brewery together with the European Peace Ride to the finish line on Theaterplatz in Chemnitz.
As part of Sports United, the peloton, consisting of over 500 cyclists, was welcomed by various clubs with choreographies and applause.
Lord Mayor Sven Schulze and State Minister of Justice and for Democracy, Europe and Equality Katja Meier welcomed the cyclists after their three-day ride of 500 km and 5000 m elevation gain.
Tina trains for the European Peace Ride
Tina has been preparing intensively for the European Peace Ride for months. Reinhard wants to know why she is committed to it and is accompanying the EPR 2023 for a contribution to the "C wie Karl-Marx-Stadt" project
THE EPR 2023 IN PICTURES
We would like to thank our film and photo crews from the bottom of our hearts for the incredible impressions that were captured.
Click here for the pictures
