If we thought yesterday was windy, what on earth was today? Today, we faced some serious wind – and on one of the longest stages, of all days. On top of that, there were intermittent light showers, and no matter what I did, it felt like the wrong choice. At least, that’s how it felt to me. It was too warm for a rain jacket, yet I didn’t feel like riding all day with shoe covers on. If I took them off, it would rain shortly after; if I put them on, it would stay dry for ages, and my feet would start sweating inside the shoes. Eventually, you just stop caring and ride as if it were the height of summer: without any rain protection. 😂

As always, the two groups are reshuffled daily, though certain roles are always represented in both: the six riders in the first three rows (aka “windshields”) plus a navigator (responsible for the route). Then there are the medics and two riders at the back of the group to keep an eye on everyone. Today, the split was alphabetical (by first name): A–K and L–Z. An interesting mix. We’ve done this before, but the group as a whole is different from last season.

An early highlight today was the former inner-German border at Hötensleben. Until recently, I wasn’t aware of this specific crossing point, though I was familiar with the nearby former crossings (such as Helmstedt). It’s a place where you can pause for a moment to learn about German history or simply reflect on what it was like when Germany was a divided country.

For my part, I have my own memories of that era from my time in East Germany. Since my schedule was a bit tight today, I’m including a few photos from some test rides I took here recently.

The test rides themselves really paid off. The route went off without a hitch -provided you stick to the planned path (shout-out to Group 1 😉).

A bit of local knowledge is always an advantage, and that certainly paid off today – especially at one or two tricky spots where you can easily manage the situation. 😎

The weather that followed was less of a highlight; it felt like classic April weather – rain, sun, rain, sun… and a strong headwind to boot. Again some impressions from an earlier ride vs. today:

But, of course, we braved the weather, and you can really feel the team growing closer. That happens throughout the year, naturally, but the bonding is most intense during the tour itself.

The second break is at Salzgittersee. If there were more time, we could go for a quick swim; it isn’t actually that cold – just a bit of drizzle and wind. That doesn’t put me off, at least. A big shout-out to our “service team” here; without their support, everything would be much harder. As always, snacks and drinks are ready and waiting.

A nice highlight was the approach to the third break, with a view of Marienburg Castle, west of Hildesheim. It has a majestic quality – surely by design. 😉

Just like last year, every rider has their own box for quick access during the break. There’s a small improvement here compared to last year, too: both numbers and names. It makes finding them easier. The time flies by, and in the end, we’ve covered over 180 km – leaving us wondering, “How did we do that?” With great teamwork, of course.

And we are – of course – greeted enthusiastically at the rest stop, often by the family members of some team members. And the first group arriving is cheering to the other group.

So, now for a few quiet hours before we set off again tomorrow morning. You’ll read where we’re headed tomorrow. Spoiler: it’s going to be a long haul again. With – hopefully – better weather. 😉

And as always, I never tire of highlighting the good cause involved. Simply put, we are raising funds for the German Childhood Cancer Foundation (Deutsche Kinderkrebsstiftung), which in turn supports local projects, affected families, and cancer research.

I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank everyone who has supported my personal campaign, “Cash for Kilometer,” and – by extension the German Childhood Cancer Foundation. I encourage everyone else to do some good as well. I am riding not only for myself and the families affected, but also on behalf of everyone who is backing my efforts to help others. You can find the details on how and where to get involved right here.

Thank you so much for reading, sharing and supporting!

Last but not least:

Map of the day, stage two: Magdeburg to Hameln

Statistic of the day: