The 75th edition of the Lidl Tour of Austria gets underway tomorrow at Mariahilferplatz in Graz. Safety is a top priority for this anniversary edition, with an ÖAMTC rescue helicopter being deployed for the first time in the race’s history.
“Ensuring the highest possible level of safety throughout the race is our absolute priority,” says Tour Director Thomas Pupp. In addition to the support of the police, volunteer fire brigades and numerous volunteers, he highlights the cooperation with the Norwegian company Safe Cycling, one of the world’s leading agencies specialising in cycling safety. For Stage 2 from Bad Kleinkirchheim to the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe on the Großglockner, the organisers will receive additional support, as Pupp explains: “Thanks to the initiative of Sophia Schertler from our insurance partner KNOX, a complete Christophorus air rescue crew will be stationed alongside the race route throughout the stage, ready to respond at any moment.”
Safety is of paramount importance at sporting events, both for athletes and spectators. Organisers of high-speed sporting events in Austria are well aware of their responsibility and comply with the highest safety standards. Increasingly, they rely on the expertise of the ÖAMTC Air Rescue service. Whether at cycling stage races, World Cup competitions, rallies, the Austrian Grand Prix or the Winter Olympic Games in Italy, a full Christophorus crew – consisting of a pilot, emergency physician and flight paramedic – will be positioned directly alongside the race route in permanent standby. In the event of an incident, they can take off immediately and provide the best possible emergency medical care directly at the scene.
Following the successful cinema premiere of the ORF documentary celebrating 75 years of the Tour of Austria at Graz’s Schubert Theatre yesterday evening, the Lidl Tour of Austria officially gets underway today with its first sporting activities. Between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m., the opening event of the Lidl Kids Cup will take place at Mariahilferplatz in Graz. All children and young people are warmly invited to take part in the free event. From 6:00 to 6:30 p.m., the Graz Big Band will entertain the crowd with a lively modern repertoire before all 22 participating teams are introduced during the official team presentation at 7:00 p.m. Tomorrow at 11:20 a.m., the starting gun will fire for Stage 1 of the Lidl Tour of Austria from Graz to Gamlitz.
Lidl Tour of Austria by the Numbers
As the riders travel from Styria through Carinthia, East Tyrol, Salzburg, Upper Austria and Lower Austria before finishing in Vienna on Sunday, around 1,800 course marshals – including police officers, volunteer firefighters and race stewards – will ensure the safety of the event. The Austrian police will deploy 12 motorcycles and four cars, supplemented by an additional two to six escort motorcycles provided by each federal state. The race marshal convoy consists of 20 motorcycles and five cars. Every day, approximately three kilometres of safety barriers will be installed along the course. The entire Tour caravan comprises around 550 people, including the teams, who will stay in 100 hotels throughout the race. A total of 1,500 lunch packages will be distributed to staff members, while the Tour’s automotive partner Škoda provides 35 official vehicles. Last year, the Lidl Tour of Austria generated a record media value of €6.5 million, underlining its growing international reach and significance.
