CANYON THROWS DOWN THE GAUNTLET: OUTSPRINT ZOE BÄCKSTEDT, MAURICE BALLERSTEDT, AND ALEC BRIGGS AT THE RAD RACE SPRINT BATTLE

Koblenz, Germany - August 29, 2026 | After a seven-year hiatus, the Pure Cycling Festival is celebrating a massive comeback. This weekend, Canyon is throwing open the doors of its newly expanded Koblenz campus to riders from all over the world. For two full days, it’s all about the shared passion for cycling. Visitors can expect exclusive behind-the-scenes access to production, extensive test rides on the latest bike models, community rides, and much more. A major highlight of the weekend: the RAD RACE Sprint Battle on Saturday evening.

In cooperation with the Hamburg-based collective and Canyon Experience Partner RAD RACE, Canyon is bringing the spectacle right to its own front door. Karl-Tesche-Straße, the street that runs past the Canyon HQ front door, will be transformed into a closed 100-meter sprint track and the stage for a top-class cycling duel. Anyone who has always wanted to race against World Tour pros now has the chance to do so.

The rules of the sprint duel are unforgiving yet straight to the point: On the 100-meter straight, our Canyon pros set a benchmark time to beat. Step up to the challenge and you’ll get three attempts to deliver your peak performance. Riders can compete on their own setup or unleash the speed of the WorldTour-proven Canyon Aeroad, available to loan directly at the event.

The contenders:

• Zoe Bäckstedt (CANYON//SRAM): As the reigning U23 Cyclocross World Champion and British National Champion, the 21-year-old Brit collects titles in series and is infamous for her relentless, explosive watt-power.

• Maurice Ballerstedt (Alpecin-Premier Tech): As a pro rider and teammate of Mathieu van der Poel, the former German U23 Time Trial Champion brings serious WorldTour credentials and raw top-end speed to the grid.

• Alec Briggs (Tekkers CC): The London criterium specialist is a true icon of the global underground bike culture, notorious for his explosive, ruthless power on the first few meters.

The three fastest men and women overall will claim high-value Canyon vouchers towards their next dream bike or gear setup. But missing the podium doesn't mean leaving empty-handed - extra prizes will be up for grabs in a raffle for all competitors. Plus, the fastest to register will receive an exclusive RAD RACE x CANYON event shirt, strictly limited to the first 200 starters. Being fast pays off on every level.

• Event: RAD RACE Sprint Battle (hosted at the Canyon Pure Cycling Festival)

• Date & Time: Saturday, August 29, 2026 | Starts possible between 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM.

• Location: Canyon Campus, Karl-Tesche-Straße 12–14, 56073 Koblenz, Germany

• Admission & Entry: Admission to the Pure Cycling Festival and the RAD RACE Sprint Battle is free of charge – both for spectators lining the course and for all riders taking to the track.

• Sprint Registration: Pre-registration via the RAD RACE event website or drop-in registration on-site.