Saxon Minister for Europe Katja Meier assumes patronage for the European Peace Ride 2022

• Marshal Cezary Przybylski and Lord Mayor Sven Schulze also patrons
• Minister Katja Meier to receive peace riders on arrival in Chemnitz on 4 September 2022
  
  Chemnitz, 06 July 2022 - The second edition of the European Peace Ride now has prominent support. The Saxon State Minister of Justice and for Democracy, Europe and Equality Katja Meier is taking over the patronage for this year's edition. Likewise, Marshal Cezary Przybylski, the President of the City of Wrocław Jacek Sutryk and the Mayor of Chemnitz Sven Schulze have declared that they will be patrons.
  It is planned that Minister for Europe Katja Meier will receive the Peace Riders on their arrival in Chemnitz on 4 September 2022 in Brückenstraße in front of the Karl Marx Monument and address a word of greeting to them."An international and cross-border cycling event in the middle of Europe is a strong signal for peaceful, cultural togetherness - especially in this time of the war of aggression on Ukraine, which is contrary to international law," says Minister of State Katja Meier.
  
  "With the initiative and organisation of the European Peace Ride, Chemnitz once again underlines that every kind of culture has a home in Chemnitz and, in 2025, will also have its capital next to Nova Gorica."
  
  In addition, she says, it is very welcome that equality and inclusion now also play an important role in the Peace Ride. " This further development is right and good and I am happy to support it by taking over the patronage," she said.
  
  
  

The start will be on 3 September 2022 in Wrocław, the capital of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. The route will then first lead over 240 kilometres and the ridge of the Krkonoše Mountains to Mlada Boleslav in the Czech Republic and on Sunday, 4 September 2022 over 175 kilometres and the Ore Mountains to Chemnitz.

Previously, Marshal Cezary Przybylski, the President of the City of Wrocław, Jacek Sutryk, and the Mayor of Chemnitz, Sven Schulze, had already pledged their support as patrons. In addition, the Mayor of Mladá Boleslav, Raduan Nwelati, has agreed to take on the patronage on the Czech side.

Sven Schulze:
"The European Peace Ride is one of our lighthouse projects on the way to the European Capital of Culture 2025 and shows with its second edition that the original idea of the Peace Ride, which brings people together and promotes peace, is more relevant than ever. Moreover, it is not only a challenge from a sporting point of view, but also demonstrates Chemnitz's qualities as a doer in an area that our city particularly carries in its DNA, namely sport. For me, supporting the EPR is therefore a matter of the heart."

In addition to the peacemaking vision of the European Peace Ride and the basic idea of peaceful coexistence, social integration is also the focus of this year's stage ride. While in cycling races are traditionally held separately according to gender or physical condition, athletes from para cycling will be given the opportunity to take part in this year's Peace Ride and set an example for diversity in cycling.
Upon arrival in Chemnitz, the participants will be welcomed by State Minister Katja Meier and Mayor Sven Schulze in Chemnitz' Brückenstraße. Both will also address the athletes at a welcome party.

European Peace Ride | Who we are

The INTERNATIONAL PEACE RACE, also called the Course de la Paix, was the most watched amateur cycling event behind the Iron Curtain. At its peak, it was even compared to the famous Tour de France. First held in 1952, it led annually across Eastern Europe and used Chemnitz, or Karl-Marx-Stadt at the time, as a stage stop several times. The aim was to set a peaceful example against the tensions of the Cold War by means of sport that would unite people. It was held for the last time in this form in 2006.

The first foundation stone for a "PEACE JOURNEY RELOADED" was already laid in the application phase for the European Capital of Culture. In September 2020, the submission of the bid book was staged as a major cultural event. 39 people from Chemnitz drove the so-called "bid book" IN 48 HOURS ACROSS GERMANY and handed it over to the jury in Berlin. One month later Chemnitz was awarded the title of "European Capital of Culture 2025".

On 11 and 12 September 2021, two stages took around 90 cycling enthusiasts over 413 kilometres and 5586 metres in altitude FROM CHEMNITZ TO PRAGUE AND BACK. Ten Czech participants were among the amateur athletes. This year, the European Peace Ride also has a Polish partner.

In the meantime, the European Peace Ride has become an important project of the European Capital of Culture 2025 and is firmly anchored in the Capital of Culture process.