The organisers of the Lidl Deutschland Tour have confirmed Bad Orb as the starting location for the 2026 edition. The five-day stage race begins on 19 August with a prologue in the Hessian spa town. The route runs through the town centre and surrounding areas. The organisers promise challenging and spectator-friendly sections.
Maren Hopf, Head of Lidl Deutschland Tour, describes the prologue as the first sporting calling card of the tour. Seconds and the first impression in the overall classification take centre stage. Bad Orb has an efficient infrastructure and short distances. The town is preparing intensively for the event.
Germany Tour Prologue
The prologue is a first exhibition race and offers the chance to wear the leader's jersey. The sporting direction for the following stages is set. Mayor Tobias Weisbecker emphasises the importance of the atmosphere at the start of a tour. The city wants to offer the professional cyclists and fans a sporting celebration. Commitment and enthusiasm should turn the prologue into an event for the entire region.
Stage plan of the tour
After the prologue in Bad Orb, the first stage leads to Schwäbisch Hall on 20 August. The Lidl Deutschland Tour 2026 will then make another stop in Rhineland-Palatinate: with Offenbach an der Queich as the finish of stage 2 on Friday, 21 August, and Bad Dürkheim as the finish of stage 3 on Saturday, 22 August, the Southern Palatinate will take centre stage in Germany's most important stage race.
Stages of the Lidl Deutschland Tour 2026
- Prologue (Wednesday, 19 August): Bad Orb
- Stage 1 (Thursday, 20 August): Bad Orb - Schwäbisch Hall
- Stage 2 (Friday, 21 August): Schwäbisch Hall - Offenbach an der Queich / Südliche Weinstraße
- Stage 3 (Saturday, 22 August): NN - Bad Dürkheim Stage 4 (Sunday, 23 August): NN - Heilbronn
Lidl Deutschland Tour Hobby Race
As part of the tour, the ADAC Cycling Tour hobby race will take place in Heilbronn. The exact routes have not yet been determined, but there is a classic route over approx. 100-120 kilometres and a sprint route over approx. 50-60 kilometres. The route partly follows the professional route and also ends at the finish of the Deutschland Tour. Registration is already open and currently costs between 115 and 119 euros.
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Kristian Bauer
Editor
