The Bergisches Land rollers soften the legs before the Schloss Bensberg cobbles demand one more committed effort
Starts and finishes at Rheinauhafen in central Cologne, running out through eastern and northern Cologne into the Bergisches Land before returning. The Velodom 120 pushes further — through the airport area, Lohmar, Overath/Ferrenberg, Kürten and Wipperfeld — while the Velodom 60 takes a shorter loop through Bergisch Gladbach. The cobbled climb to Schloss Bensberg, arriving on both routes after the Bergisches Land rollers have already worn riders down — the defining non-smooth section on an otherwise fully paved course.
For the rider with eight weeks and four to six hours a week, this plan uses compact race-specific sessions and a focused longer ride to prepare for the repeated Bergisches Land rollers, Schloss Bensberg cobbles, and the mandatory 25 km/h average.
INSIDE THE TIME-CRUNCHED PLAN — 4–6 HR/WK
Includes zone-tailored structured rides for your devices, built-in strength with video walkthroughs, heat protocols for when your race calls for them, peloton skills workouts, and nutrition and hydration guidance.
The Complete Rund um Köln Velodom 120 Guide — the training, the tactics, the gear and race day, explained simply and clearly: what to do, when to do it, and why it works.
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Hey, I'm Matti. I spent 11 years at TrainingPeaks, where they trusted me to teach coaches how to coach at TrainingPeaks University. I raced Amateur Elite with Rio Grande Cycling Team and podiumed my age group at Unbound 200 in 2026. I have a degree in biology and exercise physiology from St. Olaf. I'm also a middle-aged dad of three, so I know training doesn't happen in a vacuum. I help gravel riders get stupidly fast without becoming the person who brings a food scale to a party