Lucas Becker

Christian Englert

Christophe Dijkmans

Nicolas Loustaunou

Daan Marsmans

Luca Tabari

Moritz Durchdewald

Andrea Becker-Pennrich

Nicolas Lindert

Thomas Ceyrowsky

Colin Smith

Joshua Gohl

Glenn Bloemen

Mathias Blockelet

Marius Nees

Fanny Bensussan

Fabian Wurm

Christine Kammerer

Valeika Ramunas

Tobias Vögtlin

Arne Große Hülsewiesche

Michael Felber

Stefan Moritz

Andreas Schaich

Markus Konheiser

Marvin Schwarz

Philipp Ketterer

Volker Drastik

Bernhard Kämmerer

Mirko Hackl

Gerald Minichshofer

Volker Groll

Simon Jetzinger

Jakob Kuntz

Maximilian Graf

Micha Mayer

Alexander Schmitz

Bastian Meyer

Kilian Hermes

Brian Lautenschlager

Jürgen Hammer

Oliver Weber

Patrick Doupe

Lüder Mohrmann

Stefan Kanne

Mirko Schmidt

Alexander Lenz

Jochen Glas

Mathias Mücke

Max Sikora

Jochen Czabaun

Joachim Vogel

Jan Jöhnk

Marek Garus

Frank Bühler

Andrea Wahl

Jens Becker

Marten Lifson

Andreas Heppner

Roman Baltes

Jochen Höschele

Matthias Polidar

William Soler

Martin Behrnd

Lisa Pfeiffer

Simon Gwiggner

Stefan Wittmer

Martin Langlotz

Bernhard Schwaab

Tomasz Szycher

Matthias Dusch

Stefan Blum

Jan-Hendrik Beckx

Pascal Bride

Frederick Aubry

Sarah Dunker

Lars Bopper

Urs Arnold Kutschera

Florian Boeller

Torsten Frank

Jana Kesenheimer

Henriette Lauridsen

Daniel Dreher

Fanny Hornickel

Stefan Bartsch

Alexander Kopp

Thomas Dietrich

Baris Polat-Göttmann

Frank Matthias

Rapha Breyer

Alexander Vorrath

Vincent Thibaut

Armin Härle

Evelyn Sachse

Ronny Martin

Maren Mohrmann

Jochen Friedrichs

Franca Hoyer

Luisa Keller

Harald Rauch

Marguerite Muhlhaus

Rémi Mejean

Ada Haas

Lars Konheiser

Philipp Meyer

Steffen Knipp

Annika Damm

Benedikt Heyl

Sjoerd van ‘t Hul

Caroline Pommerening

Stefan Haug

Aynur Vater

Hans-Joachim Klein

Michael Kneip

Ariane Richter

Franziska Berndt

Martin Berndt

Jürgen Leibig

Rudolf Kern

Mario Becker

Raphael Werthefrongel

Simon Wecht

Media Car

Christoph

Markus

Martin

Hey everyone, great to see you! We hope you will stick aroud these comming days as this Sunday will see the very first edition of the MittelgebirgeClassique, an ultra cycling event in the southwest of Germany and north-eastern France that will put it's riders through their paces but also in some most beautiful places...

![Drei Buchen](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4zNmirCpdr5CfjSjPNXlom/5bfa0e601d4c314e8983241651e56974/Drei_Buchen.jpg)

The main physical difficulty will be the  24000m of elevation to climb following the 1088km long route. All participants will be rewarded with beautiful sceneries in the world-famous low mountain ranges Palatinate Forest, Black Forest and the Vosges.

The first edition of MittelgebirgeClassique will start on Sunday May, 29th 2022 at 6am. The finisher party will be on Thursday June, 2nd at 6pm. The start and finish is in Neustadt an der Weinstrasse.

![Weingut Isler](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5vGB2pm7GX19cJEfYa49Kq/3eaf78f649cdcb7acc521d0e22c6522f/Hier_gehts_Sonntag_los..._An_der_Vinothek_vom_Weingut_Isler._Wir_freuen_uns_riesig_und_hoffen_ihr_fiebert_dem_Sonntag_ge.jpg)

MittelgebirgeClassique will attract many experienced ultra-distance-cyclists as well as a number of rookies who never have ridden such a long route in one go. We are just as happy about participants who complete the route in (eg.) 55 hours as we are about those who will be on the road twice as long or even longer.

The name of our event MittelgebirgeClassique is a composite of two words: "Mittelgebirge" is a German term for a lower mountain range which lies between "Hügelland" (hills) and "Hochgebirge" (high mountain range) in terms of height. The Black Forest as well as the Vosges are some of the highest “Mittelgebirge” in Europe and with their numerous pass roads great challenges for cyclists. The highest passes in the region lead to over 1400m. 

We are condent that the second part of our name – Classique – will be self-explanatory once you have participated in this event.

We very much hope you will enjoy the MittelgebirgeClassique as much as we do - dotwatching, riding or sharing :-)

MittelgebirgeClassique - Race Preview

Today saw the signing in and briefing of the participants of the new MittelgebirgeClassique ultra cycling event. 

The wheather was great and the spririts were high, so much so that even the first mechanicals couldn't dampen the moot.

![MittelgebirgeClassique_Mechanical](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2DfHOr8dQWrAlYaoIKCwGR/d90a90a0d6226d61da73780ff46c0748/IMG_3790.jpg)

![MittelgebirgeClassique_Spirits high](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1HgLf3Fn0pXGGVrUPvf444/dcee67cd9ed67ad2c36c839fc747a535/IMG_3752.jpg)

Of course, it is still a competition... :-)

![GeschisterWettberb](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5UKVR0tAeGBplk7nXczpKt/38aa4aca6aab7b265d72c76deb7f158c/GeschisterWettberb.jpeg)

![Geschwisterliebe](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2cdnobRHaZmivdBOwz6eCu/b658d44a28f3d883a32a669c1396417c/Geschwisterliebe.jpeg)

Tomorow morning at 06:00 am CET our riders will be off to their very own MittelgebirgeClasique. Have a good night rest everyone and let's see, what tomorrow brings...

![Let's see](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4kxlAYY4Rs4oi6UnPKokTx/bb9b8c650293eaf5725857001c4ca4d3/Lets_see.jpeg)

MittelgebirgeClassique - All signed in, briefed and happy (we hope!)

And they are off… This morning at 06:00 am CET the riders of the very first edition of the MittelgebirgeClassique set out on the 1088 km route to face some pretty special ups and downs. Quite literally, as the riders will have to climb approx. 24.000 m of elevation. 

![MC_They are off](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2Z2PjXOsnZUSpz5Bp2uf9T/7bef6f3eed32ce27eb1ce5201ff5afce/They_are_off.jpeg)

![MC-Christoph Fuhrbach_Start](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/22jujxbzAGDxJo2EqyX19Y/fc1032a7af1d5b13f50bb32f3429178d/MC_Christoph_Start.jpeg)

Supported by a lovely talewind, spirits were high as they can be this morning and we are all very excited to dotwatch how this pans out… 

![MC_towards Lolosruhe](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5HB7upxeOWgvMCt2Khuf2S/60084db2ad231e9fe071bec7c6d712f9/MC_towards_Lolosruhe.jpeg)

![MC_Patissier](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2FsVbz3KfkJXgm2Tmxn6Lk/2b1e8d6d6817be687f17caff75957fe5/MC_Patissier.jpeg)

Our plan is to give you two reports per day, one in the morning to keep you posted on what happened during the night, and one in the evening to recap the day. 

Best of luck to everyone out there, we hope you will have a blast (not referring to your tires…)!!!

MittelgebirgeClassique - Start

The sun sets on an adventerous first day of #MittelgebirgeClassique on which positions have moved, derailleurs came off and ice cream was found.

After a strong start of Daan Marsmans (Cap #36), leading the field at the Hundseck, he seems to have lost ground and is currently riding in 10th position. However, he is gaining ground, riding the fastest time in the Col de Pigeonnier section.

![Dann Masmans @ MC](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1yjKREUI3gP0LgZ8oUzLi4/f74236caaa22cf812b0eb43f8ad898c8/MC_Daan_Marsmans.jpeg)
Photo by Charlotte Gamus

Lucas Becker (Cap #78) took over leading the race after riding the fastest time in the second section. He is currently in 2nd place after Christian Englert (Cap #11) took the lead, showing strong and steady pacing.

![MC_Lucas Becker Cap #78](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2JXEvSyILsYCeNMcIKJyxm/fc40587d0312f8e2f8a314e1ca41ae68/Lucas_Becker_km_224_2nd.jpg)
Lucas at km 224, photo by Christoph Fuhrbach

![MC_Chrisitian Cap#11 close to the Geisberg](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2bTzxddBUJ2hmX7WwR3i5A/bfb8f8647b9a74a4ca61d8c121f7718c/Christian_bei_Geisberg.jpg)
Christian close to the Geisberg at approx. km 330, photo by Christoph Fuhrbach

![MC_Christian #11 second food stop](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/akLOq4VqK31f70b7ez4oL/5a700b971ff62668da47e77a33777518/Christian_2nd_stop_Oppenau.jpg)
Christian at his second food stop in Oppenau, photo by model

Jana Kesenheimer (Cap #43) is steadily leading the womens field and currently 12th overall. Second women is Andrea Becker-Pennrich (Cap #103), currently in 17th position.

![MC_Jana Kesenheimer #43](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6pI8AUTdQx7GAQhHGanAy1/fd419eb857a44d17be21213c5a96e9bd/MC_Jana_Cap43.jpeg)
Photo by Charlotte Gamus

Luca Tabari (Cap #05), currently in 9th position, had the misfortune of seeing his front derailleur coming off... However, Luca decided to take matters in his own hands, now stopping every time he needs to shift into to the small ring until he can see a mechanic tomorrow. We are all very impressed and hope you get back to conventional shifting soon, Luca!

![MC-Dereilleur Luca Tabari](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/EZvjuadE4ZAZ6DOdc7RF5/35086a06c84cc5b0e72c6f342f6a8d12/Derailleure_Luca_Tabari.jpeg)
Photo by Charlotte Gamus

Title photo also by Charlotte Gamus


Recap Day 1

Godd morning everyone! The first night has passed and seen a lottle shake-up of the field.

Christian Englert (#11) was the first to complete > 500 km after the first 24 h.He managed to be 50 Min faster then second placed Christophe Dijkmans (#53) in the secion between Kandel and Feldberg.

Currently, Christophe and Lucas Becker (#78) are fighting for second position.

![Fight for second position](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2zs1D0QeLMa4GMsNplk61f/bf455e9c879feff507331af292cb249c/Fight_for_second_position.jpeg)
Photo by Charlotte Gamus

Christian had a little incident durung the night, but fortunately is well, appart from a bruised hip, and still riding strong.

![MC_Christian Englert on his crash](//videos.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/61t6wzVAke1Yo9k4A2NFfk/ff83c7c9d5921caba9cf15959e92f650/Christian_on_his_crash.mp4)

Nicolas Loustaunou (#114) managed the best overall time (2h 50Min) for the forth section and is currently in 6th position.

Fanny Bensussan (#85) has made serious progress during the night and is currently leading the womens field (12th overall). Jana Kesenheimer (#43) is follwoing on her heels (15th position overall). The two are probably going to meet at the climb7descent of the Feldberg.

![Fanny Bensussan](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2es6ziUID9xktfqd4kDrk8/97ed26f296799337233c0da303992f9f/Fanny_Bensussan_-85.jpeg)
Photo by Charlotte Gamus

MC_First Night

Jana Kesenheimer (cap #43) is experiencing some knee issues which even force her to consider abandoning the race, while Fanny Bensussan (cap #85) is pushing on, leading the women‘s field.

Hope you soon feel better Jana! Good luck to all and stay safe!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CeL6ijYMeSO/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

All photos by Charlotte Gamus

Update on the women's filed

Hey everyone!

Day 2 saw some significant changes in the women's field. Jana Kesenheimer, who had been heading the women's list on day 1, was struggeling with pain in her knee. So much so, that at some point she couldn't paddle her bike any more and was forced to abandon the race. A decision not easily made, but Jana said some very true words: Cycling should always be fun in the first place! Chapeau Jana!

![Update from the womens field jananas.banjana (cap 43) is experiencing some knee issues which even force her to consider](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3NIIocrNiZmoQSuGGfHLYs/25a3ef57ed2d5cd9007020daf8b546bb/Update_from_the_womens_field_jananas.banjana__cap__43__is_experiencing_some_knee_issues_which_even_force_her_to_consider.jpg)
Photo by Charlotte Gamus

Fanny Bensussan (cap 85) is now leading the women's field, with Andrea Becker-Pennrich (cap 103) close on her heels...

![MC_Fanny at the checkpoint](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1X5HUI7TC9Q8CyD72VETp6/ca39cc0130ee3fbe591b0a37f463c156/Fanny_at_Checkpoint.jpeg)
Fanny at the checkpoint, photo by Charlotte Gamus

In the man's filed, not much has changed. Christian (cap 11) is still leading the pack, with Lucas (cap 78) in second and Christophe (cap 53) in third position.

Daan, however, is slowly making his way to the top of the race, riding the fastest time in the Lipple segment (4h 21min).

Let's see what the night will bring. But please, everyone, stay safe, listen to your bodies and enjoy the event!

![MC_Christophe at the checkpoint](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/7Lbw5IVahIIdpyg0YWg59r/4d103b074d18776edf5b7e1921ca0eb3/Christophe_at_the_checkpoint.jpeg)

Recap Day 2

By now, a number of riders were forced to abandon the MittelgebirgeClassique.

Such a decision is never easy to make and requires a lot of courrage. Possibly even more so than fighting through pain and ignoring hardships.

We applaude everyone who is wise enough to listen to their body, make the right decision to stay safe. 

Here is the current list of riders who abandoned the race:

- Franca Hoyer #22
- Alexander Vorrath #26
- Jochen Friedrichs #54
- Ronny Martin #52
- Maren Mohrmann #106
- Evelyn Sachse #93
- Vincent Thibaut #101
- Mario Becker #1026
- Alexander Kopp #56
- Stefan Bartsch #21
- Jana Kesenheimer #43
- Baris Polat-Göttmann #66

Everyone, please ride safely through the night, enjoy the race and have a good and safe time out there!


Scratch report

Good morning everyone!

Last night was very busy at the checkpoint at the Lipple. Many riders were happy to accept the hospitality of the Blank family who did a marvelous job making everyone feel welcome and appreciated!

Others found other means to sleep...
![MC_Sleep](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1A0bF5SUhbbXey2ImVg7gi/03129b17e7408b88799b3df94ba6bee5/Sleep_night_2.jpeg)
Fanny Hornickel (cap 08), photo by Charlotte Gamus

![MC_Video night 2](//videos.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/PlZ8iXI5x9QRXW4EMYgww/7c612ff89eaaee7545686950de2d0653/Video_second_night.mp4)

In the men's fild, Lucas (cap 78) was gaining ground on Christian (cap 11), who continued at the Champ de Feu without stopping. (By the time we get to put out this post, Lucas has overtaken Christian and is now leading the race.)

Christophe (cap 53) is still in 3rd place and Nicolas Loustaunou (cap 114) is building up momentum, riding strongly now in 4th place.

Andrea Becker-Pennrich (cap 103) is now leading the women's field, followed by Fanny (cap 85) and Christine (cap 29).

![Andrea Becker-Pennrich_Cap 103](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/XXnVPotgSWxm3YbOjb43V/c3fb695ef2bbb7c7571b56dcdd4eda88/Andrea_Cap_103.jpeg)
Photo by Charlotte Gamus

Let's see what today brings. We may well have the first finishers tonight!


The second night...

Lucas Becker (Cap 78) is the first to cross the finish line at the Hambacher Schloss after 59 hours 24 minutes. 100 % smashing it!! Congratulations Lucas, absolutely amazing performance!

![MC_Lucas Becker](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/li6d92XACxgiXDfpT5qeu/2bc3e0d869c5a5b1f836d3f74a7103ac/MC_Lucas_Becker.jpeg)
Photo by Charlotte Gamus

We hope you take many fond memories of this very first edition of the MittelgebirgeClassique with you. As well as a beautifull Dubbeschoppe glass :-D

![MC_Dubbeshoppe](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1koXirKFBzueu6DFYMXWj8/cdfcb95ab3564bf929a63211b55c703c/MC_Dubbeshoppe.jpg)

We have a winner!

The inaugural edition of this climber's race crossing between Germany and France which takes riders through the low mountain ranges of the Palatinate Forest, Black Forest and Vosges.

MittelgebirgeClassique

DotWatcher.cc

MittelgebirgeClassique

Distance — Elevation

Terrain

Winner

Website

Key Events

Leaderboard

Solo

Pair

Events Feed