CYCLING: 26. TMP Jugendtour und Kleine Friedensfahrt 2026 (GER)

Gotha / Weingarten, Germany 15.05.2026 – 17.05.2026

Source: https://www.gotha.de/

TMP Jugendtour

The 26th TMP Jugendtour and Kleine Friedensfahrt took place from May 15 to May 17, 2026, in the region of Gotha and Weingarten in Thuringia, Germany.

Organized by the RSC Waltershausen-Gotha e.V., this highly prestigious international stage race is a cornerstone of European youth cycling. It serves as a proving ground for the sport’s future stars—following in the tire tracks of previous participants like Marcel Kittel and Tony Martin.

📅 Event Overview & Schedule

The three-day event featured intense multi-stage racing across several youth categories, primarily focusing on U15 Boys, U17 Girls, and U17 Boys, alongside a popular Jedermannrennen (amateur/open race).

• Stage 1 (Friday, May 15): A fast-paced criterium/circuit race around the historic Schloßplatz near the Ducal Museum in Gotha.
• Stage 2 (Saturday morning, May 16): An individual time trial (7.6 km) starting and ending in Weingarten.
• Stage 3 (Saturday afternoon, May 16): A grueling road race on the “Rund um Weingarten” circuit, tackling a rolling 7.6 km loop multiple times (e.g., 60.8 km for U17m).
• Stage 4 (Sunday, May 17): The final decisive road race stage based out of Weingarten to secure the general classification jerseys.

🏆 2026 Key Highlights & Results

The 2026 edition saw highly competitive fields with top-tier development squads from across Germany and neighboring European countries. Notably, riders from the Cycling Association of North Rhine-Westphalia (RSV NRW) put on a stellar performance:

• U17 Dominance: High-profile victories in the general classifications included standout performances by Wendel and Ensenbach, who secured overall titles in their respective categories after strong showings in both the time trials and tactical road stages.
• The “Tour” Atmosphere: The event drew massive local support, particularly in towns like Ebenheim and Friedrichswerth, where residents lined the streets to give the junior peloton an authentic grand-tour-style reception.

The National Team of the Luxembourg Cycling Federation (FSCL) had a strong, highly competitive showing at the 2026 TMP Jugendtour, highlighted by a standout top-25 overall finish in the highly contested U17 Men’s category and prominent stage results across both the boys’ and girls’ divisions.

Here is how the top Luxembourgish riders performed:

🚴‍♂️ U17 Men’s Highlights (Lorenzo Astolfi)

Lorenzo Astolfi led the charge for the Luxembourgish boys’ squad, showing excellent consistency against a massive international field of 128 riders.

• General Classification: Astolfi finished an impressive 24th overall in the final standings, with a total time of 3:48:28, just over a minute back from the overall winner.
• Stage 1 (Gotha Criterium): He crossed the line safely in the main pack, placing 35th in the same time as the winner (43:30).
• Stage 2 (Time Trial): He flexed his time-trialing muscles on the 7.6 km course, securing a sharp 15th place finish with a time of 10:43.46.
• Stage 4 (Final Road Race): He finished a strong 31st on the final 55 km stage, finishing just 35 seconds back from the stage winner.

The rest of the Men’s national team—including Bjarne Bauer, Noé Garcia Pinnel, Yannis Elsen, Ben Schmitt, and Paul Moog—worked hard in support roles across the rugged rolling terrain around Weingarten.

🚴‍♀️ U17 Women’s Highlights (Sarah Koenig)

In the U17 Women’s field, Sarah Koenig delivered a remarkably resilient performance, particularly capping off her weekend with a brilliant final day.

• Stage 2 (Time Trial): Koenig put in a solid effort on the clock, placing 19th with a time of 12:58.50.
• Stage 4 (Final Road Race): She had her best performance of the tour on Sunday, sticking with the main chasing group on the 44 km course to finish 13th on the stage—only 36 seconds behind German Cycling’s stage winner, Josefine Wendel.

(Her teammate Enola Walch also gained crucial international racing experience fighting through the tough Thuringian loops).