Dear cycling friends, mark your calendars for the upcoming Tuesday, July 28, 2026! Because it's that time again: The spectacular Altstadt-Kriterium Graz is back and will transform our beautiful Graz old town, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site, into a fast-paced racetrack. And this year we have a very special reason to celebrate: Our local hero Franz-Josef Lässer will be at the start!
Franz-Josef Lässer will not only be racing through the cobblestones of the old town, but he has big plans: Just a week after the criterium, he aims to set a world record. Now that's a statement, isn't it? After the Tour de France, things will really get exciting in Graz!
The Altstadt-Kriterium is known for its mix of tradition and future. Following the spectacular restart last year, it continues this year as an official event of Cycling Austria. It is part of the Road Cycling League Austria, which advocates for lived equality: equal races and equal prize money for women and men. We think that's great and it's a fantastic platform for local cycling and our youth!
The race will again take place on the original, now reactivated course with start and finish in Stadtpark, right in front of Café Promenade – exactly where the action took place between 1984 and 1999. That really brings back the true cycling feeling!
Speaking of tradition: Did you know that our "founding father" Heinz Bauer, who established the criterium with his WisoSport club, recently celebrated his 80th birthday? Happy Birthday, Heinz! And since 2025, the LRV Steiermark has been the organizer, with Richard Stering as the event manager.
The history of the criterium is rich with great names. Do you remember Acácio da Silva from Portugal, who became the record winner in the early 90s and even wore leader jerseys at the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia? Or Lance Armstrong, who won in Graz just 48 hours after his Tour de France victory in 2003, with the race even being broadcast live on ORF? Geraint Thomas was here in 2022 as well. Last year, during the comeback in 2025, Loic Bettendorff from Luxembourg and Lydia Ventker from Germany celebrated their victories.
Come by and be part of it when the Graz old town becomes a stage for thrilling cycling again! Let's cheer for Franz-Josef Lässer and all the other athletes and enjoy the unique atmosphere. See you on Tuesday!
Don't forget to share your best snapshots with us! #bikegraz on Instagram and Bluesky!
