The start of the European Peace Ride falls through

Constant rain and temperatures close to freezing put a damper on the 4th European Peace Ride. The organizers had to cancel the start on the eve of the first stage.

Tour spokesman Kai Winkler told MDR SACHSEN: “The decision is that we will not start the first stage. This is because the weather forecast has not changed for the better. In fact, it has gotten worse. We have heard that a crisis situation has now arisen in the entire region and that authorities and emergency services are also joining forces to form crisis teams.”

In such a situation, it would of course be irresponsible to go ahead with the cycling race at all costs. The health of the cyclists is the most important thing. “We simply cannot answer the question of letting them ride for eight hours in two degrees and constant rain.”

The first stage was to lead from Bad Ischl, today’s European Capital of Culture, to Lipno in the Czech Republic. The participants will now travel the more than 170 kilometers by bus. The organizers will then decide in the evening how the tour will continue.