Germany 21 Jun 2026 Class 1.Pro – 1 day – UCI ProSeries
Website www.lotto-thueringen-women-cycling-challenge.de
One Day Race Thüringen Women Cycling Challenge
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The LOTTO Thüringen Women Cycling Challenge is a prominent event in professional women’s road cycling, though its format underwent a massive transformation recently. Its roots trace back to one of the most historic and prestigious stage races on the women’s calendar.
Here is the breakdown of how the event evolved from a historic East German stage race into the modern classic it is today.
1. The Heritage: Thüringen Ladies Tour (1986–2024)
Before it became a one-day challenge, the event existed for nearly four decades as a premier multi-day stage race known as the Internationale LOTTO Thüringen Ladies Tour (originally the Thüringen Rundfahrt der Frauen).
- The Early Years (1986): The race was first held in 1986 in what was then East Germany (GDR). It quickly became a vital proving ground for top talent in Eastern Europe and eventually the global stage.
- Going Global: After the reunification of Germany, the race grew consistently from 1992 onward. It established itself as Germany’s only internationally recognized women’s multi-day stage race and became a staple of the UCI Women’s ProSeries calendar.
- Cycling Legends: The historic stage race was won by some of the greatest icons in cycling history, including Judith Arndt, Emma Johansson, Hanka Kupfernagel, and Lotte Kopecky.
2. The 2025 Cancellation & Pivot
The race hit a massive roadblock in early 2025. Following a sudden withdrawal of €200,000 in funding from the Thuringian state government, the organizers were forced to cancel the 2025 edition.
Citing an irreparable breakdown of trust with local state authorities and a subsequent loss of sponsorship, the organizers announced that the traditional 36-edition stage race would permanently come to an end.
3. The Rebirth: The Women Cycling Challenge (2026)
Determined not to let elite women’s cycling disappear from the region, organizers and the city of Gera stepped in to reimagine the event.
On June 21, 2026, the event officially returned under its new identity: the LOTTO Thüringen Women Cycling Challenge.
- The New Format: Transitioning from a multi-day stage race to a high-octane, elite one-day classic.
- The Route: Based out of the city of Gera, the challenging 123.8-kilometer route features over 2,000 meters of elevation gain, pushing the peloton through tough climbs like the Ferberturm and Dörtendorf.
- UCI Status: The race maintained its prestige by securing a UCI 1.Pro ProSeries classification, ensuring a world-class field of international and continental teams.
- A New Mission: While the old tour focused heavily on established WorldTour powerhouses, the new Challenge explicitly emphasizes talent promotion, giving younger riders from continental teams a major international platform to shine.
