3RIDES Gran Fondo
Date
Sunday 12.05.2024Distances
120 kmCity
Aachen
Country
Germany3RIDES Gran Fondo is a new race on the UCI Gran Fondo World Series calendar at the Aachener Chio complex, which hosts the World Equestrian Festival each year. The 3RIDES weekend features a big bike show, road bike rides, e-sports, music and plenty of side events. In 2023 there was for the first time a very successful UCI Gravel race with 1200 starters, also scheduled for 2024 on the same day.
COURSE
After starting from the Aachener Chio complex, the route heads towards the historic city center of Aachen to pass the main square before heading south towards the hilly region along the western border of Germany after 15 km. The first 6.7km are neutralized.
The route heads south for a first combined 41km before entering a turning loop in the Ruhr-area before getting back on the route back towards the finish after 79km for the final 41km that was used in the start.
120km
PROFILE
The route has a total elevation of 1812m, making it a challenging route with various climbs that are never very steep nor long, but the roads always go up and down.
The start in Aachen is at the lowest point of the route, 150 m above sea level, and the route reaches an altitude of 500 to 600 m between km 30 and 45 and on the same way back.
Remarkable climbs come after 28km (7.2km at 3.5%), 51km (5.9km at 4%) and 67km (3.9km at 4.8%). All climbs are situated on the loop at the back end of the course.
AACHEN REGION
The city of Aachen has outstanding significance for Europe’s history, with settlements pre-dating the Roman colony and thermae. Emperor Charlemagne made Aachen his residence and ordered the construction of its cathedral, a UNESCO world heritage site since 1978, It is the westernmost city of Germany and sits at the heart of the StädteRegion Aachen, an innovative organisation of communities near the borders of Belgium and the Netherlands.
The area is famous for its cultural heritage, its scientific achievements, but also for its options for hiking and biking. Other big cities in the German state of Nordrhein-Westfalen like Cologne, Bonn and Düsseldorf are within short reach, with lots of possibilities for shopping, wining and dining and arts just a short weekend trip away.
