It’s the end of an era for gravel events being run in Worms, Germany. After eight years of operation the organisers have decided to step back. Based on Timo Rokitta’s latest ride report though, it sounds like they went out on a high. The Siegfriedgravel ODW offered participants the chance to take on either a 150km or a 200km route, both of which offered amazing riding through spectacular scenery. Read on to find out more. 

Through myths and muscle burn on a gravel bike

An early morning in August. The sun slowly rises above the rooftops of Worms, while the ground still holds the coolness of the night. More than 50 gravel bikers stand at the start line, eyes gleaming and hearts pounding - ready for an adventure that blends history, nature, and athletic grit: the SiegfriedgravelODW. An epic tour through the depths of the Odenwald, along ancient paths where legends were born and heroes became myths.

Rolling into the Realm of Plains

The first section feels like a gentle lullaby before the storm. The route stretches flat and wide through the Rhine plain. The bikes hum over the gravel, conversations blend with the clicking of gears. One senses: this is no ordinary peloton - this is a group of adventurers seeking more than just distance. It's not just about riding. It's about experiencing.

The first challenge doesn't wait long. To pass beneath a railway line, riders must duck under an old steel bridge. Heads down - no one wants to get hurt at the very start of this long journey.

The Bergstraße: The Odenwald reveals its true face

But with the first climb, the gentle warm-up ends. At the legendary Bergstraße, the Odenwald rises like a stone wall - 15% gradient right out of the gate. No mercy. Heart rates spike, sweat drips, legs burn. After 34 kilometers, the first refreshment stop appears at a forest parking lot. But the real reward lies above: a panoramic view from the 517-meter-high Melibokus, reaching as far as the Taunus mountains. And a feeling that money can’t buy: pride.

Into the Realm of Giants – The Felsenmeer calls

The next descent is not for the faint of heart. The washed-out trail winds technically through the forest, roots and rocks demanding full concentration - rewarding with adrenaline. Then: the Felsenmeer near Lautertal. A place where reality and legend blur. Among ancient boulders, the old tale of the two fighting giants comes alive again. Those who listen closely might just hear a low rumbling - is it the wind? Or is it the giant Felshocker from the legend, growling beneath the stones?

Between climbs and breathers

After a short breather at the picturesque town hall in Elmshausen, things quickly get serious again: a short 20% ramp puts everything to the test - gears, heart rate, willpower. On a ridge, the track abruptly turns left and continues on a technically demanding singletrack along a barbed-wire fence. Those who lose focus here will quickly veer off course.

Reichelsheim - medieval, dreamy, almost otherworldly. The narrow alleys, the old timber-framed houses - it feels like a journey through time.

Full-speed gravel descent

The Tromm plateau is reached via a rapid gravel track, passing artworks, sculptures, symbols - culture pulses at the roadside, but no one has time to linger. The 100-kilometer mark approaches and the time limit is unforgiving. At the aid station on the Kreidacher Höhe, many participants are clearly worn down. They've already pumped a brutal 2,000 meters of elevation into their legs over the first 100 kilometers - it's taken a toll.

Gravel bikers on the 150-kilometer route turn right here; the 200-kilometer heroes of the long haul continue into a large loop that almost reaches Heidelberg on the Neckar. A brief stop at the enchanted Lichtenklingen Monastery, then it’s full speed ahead toward Heiligkreuzsteinach, where the longest climb awaits: seven kilometers of steady ascent - sometimes gentle, sometimes cruel.

The Weißer Stein: High point and vantage point

At the top, those with remaining strength and courage continue to the “Weißer Stein”. For many, this is the spiritual climax of the tour. A worthy summit on a journey through myth and muscle.

The final energy, the final kilometers

Now comes the southernmost point of the route - with a descent that makes hearts race. But the road back is grueling: short, steep climbs line up like stumbling blocks. After 130 kilometers, even small hills feel like Alpine passes. Every pedal stroke demands determination. But that, too, is part of the myth: a true Nibelung hero never gives up.

Finale by the Rhine

Finally, at kilometer 170, the endless up and down comes to an end. A last long descent - a rushing plunge into the valley - leads back to the Bergstraße. Another 30 kilometers of the finest gravel fun, through dense forests, heading toward the mighty Rhine. But the wind has other plans - it blows hard from the front, as if trying to push the riders back. The Rhine bridge comes into view - the finish line is near.

A plate of pasta, a medal – and the feeling of having lived something great

At the finish area, exhaustion blends with euphoria. Legs trembling, hands sticky with sweat and mud - but faces glowing. A plate of pasta, the hard-earned finisher medal etched with the shape of the gravel adventure - and above all: the feeling of having been part of something greater.

A modern Nibelung saga. On two wheels, through an Odenwald full of wonders.

The SiegfriedgravelODW was more than just a casual ride with friends. It was a powerful journey. A journey through stories, through fairy tales, through gravel and sweat - always demanding. And those who’ve ridden it will never forget it - the last battle of the Nibelungs.

If you would like to follow in Timo's tyre prints, you can find his route here: