Germany Trail Gravel Edition: Sandra's gravel tour in the live blog
I started bikepacking to get from one place to another. Be it to music festivals, visits to friends or family reunions - even the journey to the actual destination was my goal.
This habit also gave rise to the route for the Germany Trail bikepacking campaign. From a business trip to the Tour de France Femmes, I cycle back to Munich in eight days, covering around 900 kilometres and 10,000 metres in altitude. I'm always happy to have company on this tour - after all, cycling is always best done in company.
In our live blog you will receive continuous updates, including my current position, so that you too can ride along for a while.
Further information on the Germany Trail Gravel Edition
You want to be there? Then register here!
If you would like to join me on this journey, you should register using this form. Here you will receive further information, as well as a link to a WhatsApp community in which current adjustments are communicated.
An overview of the individual stages with start times
Friday, 16 August - Stage 1: Dreiländereck - Saarbrücken
The first stage is already a tough one. The day's programme includes approx. 130 kilometres with a crisp 1800 metres of altitude until Saarbrücken is reached.
>> Departure: 9 am at the Europadenkmal (Schengen).
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Saturday, 17 August - Stage 2: Saarbrücken - Zweibrücken
Day 2 of the Deutschland-Trail is a little more relaxed. What awaits me (or us ;-)) 95 kilometres and 800 metres in altitude on the way from Saarbrücken to Zweibrücken. The joint descent begins in front of the hotel.
>> Departure: 9 a.m. at the Hotel Madeleine (Cecilienstr. 5, 66111 Saarbrücken)
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Sunday, 18 August - Stage 3: Zweibrücken - Neustadt an der Weinstraße
The final route planning for the third day has yet to be finalised. What is certain is that it will be a little more challenging than the previous day, with 100 to 125 kilometres and over 1000 metres of ascent. Our exact destination is a wild camping site where we pitch our tents. By the way, by "we" I mean Pia Nowak, the photographer and videographer, and myself, Sandra Schuberth.
>> Departure: 9 am at the submarine "Brandtaucher" (Geschwister-Scholl-Allee 13, 66482 Zweibrücken)
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Monday, 19 August - Stage 4: Neustadt an der Weinstraße -Neckargerach
From the campsite, we drive to Neustadt an der Weinstraße, where we want to have breakfast before we start our stage properly. We will share the exact breakfast spot in our WhatsApp community (Invitation link follows after registration). After about 120 kilometres and 1500 metres of ascent, we reach our destination, a campsite in Neckargerach.
>> Departure: time and place to follow
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Tuesday, 20 August - Stage 5: Neckargerach - Stuttgart
On the fifth day, we can expect slightly fewer metres in altitude. On the approximately 100-kilometre route, there are now 1000 metres in altitude. The rough route looks like this:
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Wednesday, 21 August - Stage 6: Stuttgart - Ulm
We have changed the route, the sixth stage was actually supposed to go to Schwäbisch Gmünd and from there the next day in a curve to Augsburg. Now Ulm is the new destination for stage 6, so the route can cross the Swabian Alb and on the next day it is no longer 150 kilometres to Augsburg, but a little less. Around 100 kilometres with 1500 metres of elevation gain are scheduled for 21 August.
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Thursday, 22 August - Stage 7: Ulm - Augsburg
Now it's getting flatter. Due to the new route on stages 6 and 7, the final tracks have not yet been finalised. It will roughly be 90 to 100 kilometres and 500 metres in altitude.
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Friday, 23 August - Stage 8: Behind Augsburg - Munich
The last day of our journey starts early in order to reach our destination, Munich, by 1 pm. We meet up at Maxxis (bikemarketing BMG GmbH) at Provinostraße 52 in Augsburg at 6.45 a.m. to set off together. We set off at 7 a.m. and the last 90 kilometres or so lie ahead of us.
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Sandra Schuberth
Editor
