We celebrate the Strade Bianche race with an informal gravel ride featuring the ´Weißen Straßen´of Göttingen plus concrete, dirt, tarmac cycle paths and public roads.
The suggested route (you can also follow your own path) begins at the Göttingen velodrome where we hit the first of 37 gravel sectors (some are long and sub-sectioned) and we head out along the Leine Valley/ train line. A series of gravel sections takes us under the A38 Autobahn twice. Included on this tour is a west-side loop and seven hills.
Just before Friedland we turn to head back via Groß Schneen. At Ballenhausen a series of hills begin, and these echo the Strade Bianche topography a little better. Our final climbs take us up to the Drachenberg where we then drop down to Geismar. Here 5 final gravel sections await before we arrive back at the velodrome.
The Route
The route features a mix of gravel, dirt, concrete (farm/forest) plus tarmac public cycle paths and roads.
Concrete farm roads
The white roads aren´t the whole story though – a number of concrete farm roads are also included in this route. In regard to Roubaix, for example, people tend to fixate their minds on the cobbles, but that is only part of the battle to finish, there are also the tarmac roads where the wind seems to drive straight into your face. On the ´Gö Strade Bianche Homage Ride´ there are concrete farm roads which are anything but smooth, they can be very muddy and a challenge in themselves.
GPS
Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/6399227514
Garmin Connect: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/7977842399
Komoot: https://www.komoot.com/tour/606777623
The Ride: Gö Strade Bianche 56.50km – December 18 2021 Gravel/Road Ride
Sign
The route is not signed, we offer a GPS, but you can choose to follow your own direction.
Want to ride it?
This is an informal ride and a suggested route only. If you would like to ride it with us do make contact. Or of course you may ride it at your own time and if you do, it would be great to hear from you – https://veloklubhaus.com/contact/.
Achtung/Take Note
The Gö Strade Bianche is a suggested cycle tour route and not a race or a contest, should you choose to follow our description or a GPS of the outlined route you do so at your own risk.
It is your responsibility to ride in a safe and in a comfortable manner suited to your own estimated skill or fitness level.
Die Gö Strade Bianche ist ein Routenvorschlag für eine Fahradtour und kein Rennen oder Wettkampf. Solltest Du Dich dafür entscheiden, unserer Tourbeschreibung oder einem GPS der beschriebenen Route zu folgen, tust Du dies auf eigene Gefahr.
Du bist selbst dafür verantwortlich, entsprechend Deinem Können und Fitness-Niveau, so zu radeln, wie Du es Dir zutraust.
Gravel categories (this is purely subjective & made up by us)
We have graded the gravel 1 to 5 with 5 being the roughest (there is also an Hors Cat for very extreme).
Cat 1 – mostly hard packed and rideable on almost all bikes.
Cat 2 – often hard packed, a little rougher, potholes and challenging.
Cat 3 – loose surface, more ruts & potholes, gradient changes, bigger stones with greater caution required. (may include downhill or a turn)
Cat 4 – very rough, loose with larger stones and deep ruts/potholes.
Cat 5 – as 4 but may also be downhill, maybe tight turns or with single track and ruts.
HC – Mind bogglingly hard.
Gö Strade Bianche
Gravel: 28.9km (approx.)
Farm roads/cycle paths: 21.1 km
Public roads: 6.5 km (The longest section is 2.3km)
7 Climbs*
Total 56.50 km
Under the Autobahn
The Route
Sector/Category/@/Sector Length
Göttingen Velodrome @ 0km, 0km
Note: Watch out for walkers, be nice!
Sector 1a – Cat 1 @ 1.6, 0.9km (a + b)
Sector 1b – Cat 1
Sector 2 – Cat 2 @ 2.9, 0.6km
Sector 3 – Cat 3 @ 3.5, 0.1km
Farm Yard, cobbles and loose large stones.
Sector 4 – Cat 2 @ 3.6, 0.3km
Brilliant white in the summer.
Sector 5 – Cat 2 @ 3.9, 0.7km
Summer
Winter
Rosdorf – Gö West-Side Loop (10km) @ 5-1 km
Note: Watch out for walkers, be nice!
This section is dedicated to the Dengie Tour.
Sector 6 – Cat 1 @ 8.5 – 0.6km
Sector 7a – Cat 2 @ 9-1 – 1.6km (a+b)
Sector 7b – Cat 2
Sieboldhausen @ 11.5km
Sector 8 – Cat 1 @ 11.5 – 0.3km
Sector 9 – Cat 3 @ 12.3 – 1.2km
Niedernjesa Rail Line @ 15.0km
Sector 10 – Cat 1 @ 15.0, 1.2km
Obernjesa @ 16.3km.
There is a nice bakers in Oberjesa. (Bäckerei Könnecke, Dramfelder Str. 8)
Asphalt or cobbles at Obernjesa?
Sector 11a – Cat 2 @ 17.3 – 0.6km (a+b)
Sector 11b – Cat 2 – 7.9% Climb Steigen – 0.3km long
Sector 12a – Cat 1 @ 19.0, 0.5km (a+b)
Sector 12b – Cat 3. Descent!
Sector 13 – Cat 2 @ 19.5, 0.4km
The bridge becomes slippery when wet.
Sector 14 – Cat 3 @ 19.9, 0.7km
Rough (especially in summer) and it´s a gradual climb.
Sector 15a – Cat 2 @ 21.5, 0.7km (a+b+c)
Sector 15b – Cat 3
Sector 15c – Cat 1
Sector 16 – Cat 2 @ 22.9, 0.5km
Autobahn A38 @ 23.6km
Sector 17 – Cat 2 @ 24.1, 0.6km
Sector 18a – Cat 2 @ 24.8, 1.7km. (a+b)
This fast sector crosses other farm roads so be watchful.
Sector 18b – Cat 1
Elkerhausen @ 26.8km
A second time under the A38.
Sector 19 – Cat 2 @ 27-2, 2.3km
Klein Schneen @ 29.6km
Sector 20 – Cat 2 @ 30.4, 0.8km
Sector 21 – Cat 4 @ 31.7, 0.4km. Climb Max 19.6%
I would like to do some guerilla gardening here and plant Tuscan trees.
OR miss out this nasty hill by turning left along the Betonweg (0.4km), then turn right onto the gravel (0.5km) followed by going right on more Betonweg (0.4km). This will lead you back on route.
Groß Schneen @ 32.4km
There is a nice bakers in Groß Schneen. (Bäckerei Könnecke, Landstraße 22)
Cross the B27 with care!!!!
Sector 22a – Cat 1 @ 32.5, 0.5km (a+b)
Sector 22b – Cat 2.
Red Strade.
Sector 23 – Cat 1 @ 35-3, 0.2km
Ballenhausen @ 35.7km
Sector 24a – Cat 2 @ 35.7, 1.2km (a+b)
Sector 24b – Cat 2. Descent
Ballenhausen @ 38.7km
2nd time in Ballenhausen. We leave the 40km version and include a series of hills.
Sector 25 – Cat 3 @ 38.7, 0.2km. Climb
Sector 26a – Cat 2 @ 39.5, 0.7km
Sector 26b – Cat 2
Sector 27 – Cat 3 @ 40.4, 0.3km. Climb
Climb after a sharp left turn.
Sector 28 – Cat 3 @ 41.5 – 36.5, 0.3km
Reinhausen @ 42.4km
Sector 29 – Cat 2 @ 42.8, 0.7km. Climb
Sector 30 – Cat 1 @ 43.6, 0.3km
Diemarden @ 45.3km
Sector 31a – Cat 1 @ 45.9, 1.5km (a+b)
Sector 31b – Cat 2. Climb
Sector 32a – Cat 2 @ 47.3, 1.5km (a+b+c)
Sector 32b – Cat 2. Climb/Anstieg
Atop the hill is the Diemarden Warte @48.3km which features also on the All Along the Watchtower tour.
Sector 32c – Cat 3
Fast descent with rough sections after the watchtower.
Sector 33 – Cat 1 @ 49.3 – 0.5km
Sector 34a – Cat 2 @ 50.5, 0.3km (a+b)
Sector 34b – Cat 2
Sector 35 – Cat 2 @ 51.7, 1.0km
Sector 36 – Cat 2 @ 53.1, 0.1km
Cross the B27 with care!!!!
Sector 37a– Cat 1 @ 53.7, 0.9km (a+b)
Sector 1b reversed.
Sector 37b – Cat 1
Sector 1a reversed.
Note: Watch out for walkers, be nice!
End at Velodrome @ 56.50km
or
Gravel Sectors (list form)
Sector/Category/@/SectorLength
Göttingen Velodrome @ 0km, 0km
Sector 1a – Cat 1 @ 1.6, 0.9km (a + b)
Sector 1b – Cat 1
Sector 2 – Cat 2 @ 2.9, 0.6km
Sector 3 – Cat 3 @ 3.5, 0.1km
Sector 4 – Cat 2 @ 3.6, 0.3km
Sector 5 – Cat 2 @ 3.9, 0.7km
Rosdorf – Gö West-Side Loop (10km) @ 5-1 km
Sector 6 – Cat 1 @ 8.5 – 0.6km
Sector 7a – Cat 2 @ 9-1 – 1.6km (a+b)
Sector 7b – Cat 2
Sieboldhausen @ 11.5km
Sector 8 – Cat 1 @ 11.5 – 0.3km
Sector 9 – Cat 2 @ 12.3 – 1.2km
Niedernjesa Rail Line @ 15.0km
Sector 10 – Cat 1 @ 15.0, 1.2km
Obernjesa @ 16.3km.
Sector 11a – Cat 2 @ 17.3 – 0.6km (a+b)
Sector 11b* – Cat 2 – 7.9%
Sector 12a – Cat 1 @ 19.0, 0.5km (a+b)
Sector 12b – Cat 3
Sector 13 – Cat 2 @ 19.5, 0.4km
Sector 14 – Cat 3 @ 19.9, 0.7km
Sector 15a – Cat 2 @ 21.5, 0.7km (a+b+c)
Sector 15b – Cat 3
Sector 15c – Cat 1
Sector 16 – Cat 2 @ 22.9, 0.5km
Autobahn A38 @ 23.6km
Sector 17 – Cat 2 @ 24.1, 0.6km
Sector 18a – Cat 2 @ 24.8, 1.7km. (a+b)
Sector 18b – Cat 1
Elkerhausen @ 26.8km
Autobahn @ 27.0km
Sector 19 – Cat 2 @ 27-2, 2.3km
Klein Schneen @ 29.6km
Sector 20 – Cat 2 @ 30.4, 0.8km
Sector 21* – Cat 4 @ 31.7, 0.4km
Groß Schneen @ 32.4km
Sector 22a – Cat 1 @ 32.5, 0.5km (a+b)
Sector 22b – Cat 2.
Sector 23 – Cat 1 @ 35-3, 0.2km
Ballenhausen @ 35.7km
Sector 24a – Cat 2 @ 35.7, 1.2km (a+b)
Sector 24b – Cat 2
Ballenhausen @ 38.7km
Sector 25* – Cat 3 @ 38.7, 0.2km
Sector 26a – Cat 2 @ 39.5, 0.7km
Sector 26b – Cat 2
Sector 27* – Cat 3 @ 40.4, 0.3km
Sector 28* – Cat 3 @ 41.5 – 36.5, 0.3km
Reinhausen @ 42.4km
Sector 29 – Cat 2 @ 42.8, 0.7km
Sector 30 – Cat 1 @ 43.6, 0.3km
Diemarden @ 45.3km
Sector 31a – Cat 1 @ 45.9, 1.5km (a+b)
Sector 31b* – Cat 2
Sector 32a – Cat 2 @ 47.3, 1.5km (a+b+c)
Sector 32b* – Cat 2
Diemarden Warte @48.3km
Sector 32c – Cat 3
Sector 33 – Cat 1 @ 49.3 – 0.5km
Sector 34a – Cat 2 @ 50.5, 0.3km (a+b)
Sector 34b – Cat 2
Sector 35 – Cat 2 @ 51.7, 1.0km
Sector 36 – Cat 2 @ 53.1, 0.1km
Sector 37a– Cat 1 @ 53.7, 0.9km (a+b)
Sector 37b – Cat 1
End at Velodrome @ 56.50km
Want to ride it?
This is an informal ride and a suggested route only. If you would like to ride it with us do make contact. Or of course you may ride it at your own time and if you do, it would be great to hear from you – https://veloklubhaus.com/contact/.
Translation
Translated from the English by Andrea Höfling – Danke !!!!!!
Velo Klubhaus 