News | Eschborn-Frankfurt 'Rund um den Finanzplatz' | Team • April 29, 2026
Eschborn-Frankfurt promises a hilly test for UAE Team Emirates-XRG on Friday
WorldTour one-day race delivers its toughest time yet in Germany, with Nils Politt all set to race on home roads for UAE Team Emirates-XRG
For the 63rd edition of Eschborn-Frankfurt, the race organisers have devised what they call the hardest route in the race’s history. One glance at the parcours, with its 3,409m of elevation gain, confirms the race’s billing and promises an enthralling edition on Friday, 1 May.
Winners of the race in 2018, UAE Team Emirates-XRG will be among the startlist for the UCI WorldTour one-day race, with the German Nils Politt no doubt one of most highly-anticipated starters. The rouleur will make the most of one of only two opportunities to start a WorldTour race in his home country.
Joining Politt for UAE Team Emirates-XRG will be Filippo Baroncini, Luca Giaimi, Rune Herregodts, Rui Oliveira, Adrià Pericas, and Tim Wellens.
From the team car, meanwhile, Sports Director Marco Marcato will take command.
Previously a race designed for the pure sprinters of the bunch, Eschborn-Frankfurt was won by Alexander Kristoff for UAE Team Emirates in 2018. The big Norwegian then went on to take podium places in the next two editions, with Fernando Gaviria following suit in 2022.
This time out, the Emirati squad will be tasked with a much tougher route that offers up a whole host of opportunities. Raced across 211.2km from Eschborn to Frankfurt, the 2026 edition will feature 3,409m of climbing, before a flat final 30km stretch to the finish line.
Much of that climbing will come in the Taunus Hills that sit between the two cities, and this year the race will climb the Feldberg on two occasions via its southwest approach. This is the toughest way up the climb.
The most explosive part of the race will be on the Mammolshainer Stich, which will be tackled twice. Standing at 2.4km for 6.6%, the second and final ascent of this climb will top out with 33km to ride. From here to the finish, all the climbing is done, and it may well be a battle for the peloton’s fast finishers to regain contact with the front of the race.
As the race winds its way into Frankfurt, the finish will fall near to the Alte Oper, the concert hall which has defined this area of the city since 1880. Here, the successor to last year’s winner, Michael Matthews, will be crowned.
