Bremen, Germany 09 Jan – 12 Jan 2026 Class CL2 – Class 2
Website www.sixdays.de
Email info@sixdays.de
The 59th edition of the Bremen Sixdays is scheduled to take place from Friday, January 9, to Monday, January 12, 2026, at the ÖVB-Arena. While traditionally a six-day event, it now runs over four high-intensity days featuring a mix of professional track cycling and a festival-like atmosphere.
Below is the structured program based on the latest schedule for the 2026 event.
Event Schedule & Themes
| Date | Time (Doors Open) | Highlights & Theme |
| Friday, Jan 9 | 18:00 | Opening Night: Presentation of all riders and the official “Startschuss” (starting shot) ceremony at 20:00. |
| Saturday, Jan 10 | 11:00 | Kidsday: Afternoon (11:00–16:00) dedicated to families with music and shows. |
| Saturday, Jan 10 | 18:00 | Party Night: The main evening session featuring the “Big Hunt” (Madison) and late-night entertainment. |
| Sunday, Jan 11 | 10:00 | Kult-Sonntag: A morning “Frühschoppen” pint session and the start of the Women’s Elite competitions. |
| Monday, Jan 12 | 18:00 | The Grand Finale: Final championship races for Men, Women, and Sprinters, followed by the victory ceremonies. |
Cycling Disciplines
The program features several categories of riders (Elite Men, Elite Women, Sprinters, and U19 Juniors) competing in the following formats:
- Madison (The Hunt): The core of the event, where teams of two race for laps and points.
- Elimination Race: Riders are eliminated every second lap until only the winner remains.
- Derny Racing: Cyclists race behind motorized pacers (Dernys) at high speeds.
- Keirin: A motor-paced sprint battle primarily for the specialized sprint riders.
- 500m Time Trial & Lap Records: Pure speed tests to see who can set the fastest time on the 166.66-meter track.
- Scratch & Points Races: Specialized races specifically for the Elite Women’s and Junior categories.
Entertainment & Show
True to the “Sixdays” tradition, the event includes a significant party program in the adjoining halls:
- Live Music: Performances by artists like Peter Wackel, Klaus & Klaus, and various show bands.
- Velo Dance Club: DJs (including DJ Toddy) and dance floors that stay active long after the night’s final race.
- Culinary: Traditional Bremen fare, most notably the classic “Grünkohl mit Pinkel” (kale and sausage).
While the general history of Six-Day racing began in late 19th-century London, the Bremen Sixdays has a unique legacy that transformed the sport from a purely athletic endurance test into a massive social festival.
The event’s history is divided into three distinct eras:
1. The 1910 “Noodle Pot” Debut
The very first Bremen Sixdays took place in November 1910. It was held in the festival hall of a restaurant called the Schützenhof.
- The Track: It was nicknamed the “Nudeltopf” (Noodle Pot) because it was tiny—only 95.6 meters long—and extremely cramped.
- The Drama: The race was a financial disaster. The treasurer reportedly embezzled the entrance fees, leaving the 16 professional riders without their full pay.
- The Winner: German world champion Willy Arend and his partner Eugen Stabe won this inaugural, one-off event. After this chaotic start, the race vanished for 55 years.
2. The Modern Revival (1965)
In 1965, promoter Willi Röper brought the race back to celebrate the opening of the new Stadthalle Bremen (now the ÖVB-Arena). This era defined what we know as the “Bremen Atmosphere.”
- The Steel Track: A new 166.6-meter track was built. With a 58-degree banking, it remains one of the steepest and fastest indoor tracks in the world.
- The “Sixdays Feeling”: Under the leadership of Frank Minder (who took over in 1982), the event became a “Volksfest” (folk festival). It wasn’t just about cycling; it was about live music, beer, and fine dining. At its peak, the event attracted over 130,000 spectators annually.
- The Legends: This era saw dominance by legends like René Pijnen (the record holder with 7 wins) and local hero Andreas Kappes.
3. The New Era (2012–Present)
As cycling interests shifted and the financial demands of a 24-hour race grew, the event evolved to survive:
- Shift to 4 Days: To keep the intensity high and the costs manageable, the race was shortened from six days to four, though it kept the iconic “Sixdays” name.
- Resilience: After being cancelled for three years due to the pandemic (2021–2023), the event successfully returned in 2024, proving that the Bremen audience’s appetite for the “Hexenkessel” (witches’ cauldron) atmosphere remains strong.
Bremen Sixdays: Hall of Fame
| Category | Record |
| Most Victories | René Pijnen (Netherlands) – 7 wins |
| Local Legends | Andreas Kappes (Bremen) – 6 wins |
| Modern Stars | Bruno Risi (Switzerland) – 6 wins |
| Steepest Banking | 58 Degrees (one of the world’s steepest) |
The Iconic “Kohl und Pinkel” Tradition
A unique part of Bremen’s history is the culinary tradition. Since the 1960s, it has been a ritual for corporate groups and social clubs to host “Kale Tours” (Kohlfahrten) ending at the Sixdays, where they eat Grünkohl (kale) and sausage while watching the riders fly past at 60 km/h.
In the context of sports, the “Six Days” refers to Six-Day Racing, a grueling track cycling event that originated in the late 19th century as a test of extreme human endurance. It became one of the most popular spectator sports in the world during the early 20th century, particularly in the United States and Europe.
1. Origins in Britain (1870s)
Six-day racing began in London, evolving from “pedestrianism” (six-day walking races).
- The First Race (1878): The first official cycling event took place at the Agricultural Hall in Islington, London. A professional cyclist named David Stanton bet he could ride 1,000 miles in six successive days (18 hours a day). He won the bet on a penny-farthing (high-wheel bicycle).
- Mass Competitions: Following Stanton’s feat, mass-start races were organized. These early events were individual contests where riders pedaled for as long as they could stay awake, often for 24 hours a day, circling small indoor tracks.
2. The American “Golden Age” (1890s–1930s)
The sport migrated to the U.S., where it became a cultural phenomenon centered at Madison Square Garden (MSG) in New York City.
- Brutality and Hallucinations: In the 1890s, individual riders like Charles Miller pushed themselves to the point of collapse. Spectators were drawn to the drama of sleep-deprived athletes who frequently hallucinated, fell off their bikes, or had to be physically held up by their “seconds.”
- The Invention of “The Madison” (1899): Due to the perceived cruelty of the sport, the New York State Legislature passed a law in 1898 forbidding any cyclist from racing for more than 12 hours a day. To keep the 24-hour action going, promoters introduced two-man teams. While one rider rested or ate, the other raced. This format became known as “The Madison” after MSG and remains an Olympic discipline today.
- Cultural Icon: At its peak, six-day racers were among the highest-paid athletes in the world. Icons like Major Taylor (the first African American world champion) debuted in these races. The events drew massive crowds, including celebrities like Charlie Chaplin and Al Capone.
3. Decline and Evolution
- Post-War Shift: After World War II, interest in the U.S. waned as motor racing and television became dominant. The last major MSG race was held in 1950.
- The European Circuit: While it faded in America, the sport remained a winter staple in Europe. Cities like Ghent, Berlin, and Zurich continued the tradition, though the format eventually shifted from 24-hour-a-day marathons to evening-only sessions.
- Modern Format: Today, Six-Day events are more about “sporting entertainment.” They feature a mix of disciplines—such as the Madison, sprints, and “Derny” races (where cyclists are paced by motorbikes)—set against a party atmosphere with music and bars.
Why “Six Days”?
The races were traditionally six days long to avoid racing on Sundays, respecting local blue laws that prohibited public entertainment or sports on the Sabbath. The events typically started just after midnight on Monday and ended late Saturday night.
