Temporary Road Closures in Cologne on 18 May 2025: Affecting City Areas
On May 18th, 2025, the 107th Rund um Köln will rock the streets with the Velodom races! If you're hangin' out in Bergisch Gladbach on race day, get ready for some road closures 'cause the cyclists are taking over.
Listen up, 'cause there's a last-minute change in the route for the Velodom 60: Instead of Paffrather Straße onto Handstraße, you'll be goin' in via Penningsfelder Weg, Gierather Straße, Schlodderdicher Weg, and Duckterather Weg onto Handstraße. Got it?
Here's the lowdown on the timings (subject to race pace fluctuations):
- Hand: Velodom 60: 9:30 - 10:00
- Hebborn: Velodom 60: 9:40 - 10:15
- Sand: Velodom 60: 10:00 - 11:00, Velodom 120: 11:00 - 13:30, Profis: 15:00 - 15:45
- Bensberg-Schloss: Velodom 30: 12:30 - 13:00, Velodom 60: 10:15 - 11:20, Velodom 120: 11:15 - 13:55, Profis: 15:10 - 16:00
- Bärbroich/Herkenrath: Velodom 120: 10:10 - 11:45, Profis: 12:40 - 13:15
To plan your day, check out these routes n' maps: https://www.rundumkoeln.de/strecken/?streckeninformationen=0
On race day, the Velodom races will attract swarms of spectators cheerin' on the participants, and it's gonna be lit! A special program featuring the band "Triple Sec" and delicious local grub, including potato pancakes, will be waitin' for ya at Bensberg's castle hill. And hey, keep your eyes peeled for Sebastian Hempfling, an old-timer in Rund um Köln, who'll be walkin' ya through the day with juicy insider tips.
In case ya needed more info, here's the scoop:
- The Velodom races are part of the Rund um Köln 2025 event, stretchin' across several distances:
- Velodom 30: About 26 km with an elevation gain of approximately 140 m
- Velodom 60: Approximately 67 km (or 70 km, depending on the source)
- Velodom 120: Approximately 121 km with an elevation gain of about 1,180 m
The courses start in the Bergisch Gladbach area and traverse the beautiful Bergisches Land region, featuring scenic rolling hills and the challenge of the cobblestone climb to Bensberg Castle. The races wrap up in Cologne's picturesque Rheinauhafen district. Another incentive to catch these races is the steep climb towards Bensberg Castle, which adds an extra level of excitement and challenge.
On the route for the Velodom 60 race, spectators might hear the rhythm of Triple Sec's music as they make their way from Duckterather Weg to Handstraße. Meanwhile, fans of sports can watch the Velodom races and cheer for their favorite cyclists, followed by a delicious meal of local dishes like potato pancakes on Bensberg's castle hill.
