With a tour of around 550 kilometres, cyclists want to build a bridge between two cultural capitals in September. The European Peace Ride (EPR) starts on 13 September 2024 in Bad Ischl in Austria, the European Capital of Culture 2024, and leads in three stages to Chemnitz - Capital of Culture 2025. Over 570 kilometres and 6000 metres in altitude will be conquered by the 200 participants. The route runs via Linz to the Lipno reservoir in the Czech Republic and from there via Pilsen and the ridge of the Ore Mountains. The finish is planned for 15 September 2024 at the ice sports centre in Chemnitz.
The EPR commemorates the International Peace Ride, once an important cycling race and spectator magnet in the eastern countries of Europe. It was launched in 1948 to contribute to European understanding during the Cold War; the race was last held in 2006. The EPR itself is not a cycling race, but aims to celebrate sporting culture with various events centred around the EPR.
The EPR is entering its fourth edition this year. It was first launched in 2021 with a tour from Chemnitz to Prague and back. Last year, it started on the Old Town Bridge between Görlitz on the German side and Zgorzelec on the Polish side and then took three days via Mladá Boleslav (Jungbunzlau) and Plzen (Pilsen) to Chemnitz.