In most races, the mountain stages take place on routes with a 10- to 15-percent gradient; in the Tour de France, there are mountain stages with gradients of 15 to 20 percent. The “Hirschberg Wand,” however, boasts a steep 33 percent gradient—and is notoriously challenging as a result! In 2017, a Bundesliga cycling race took place through the Sauerland region for the first time in many years; due to its great success, it immediately became an annual tradition. The only location on the route in the Soest district is Warstein-Hirschberg—and that’s mainly due to the Hirschberger Wand, a narrow alley with the telling name “Berghang” (mountain slope).
Right next to the Hirschberger Wand lies the picturesque tourist village of Hirschberg, featuring well-maintained half-timbered houses and no fewer than five excellent restaurants. Because one thing is clear: cycling makes you hungry.
