German bicycle festival VELOBerlin is reportedly on record course. After its new edition at Tempelhof Airport in April 2018 saw an increase in both exhibitor and visitor numbers (500 brands and 18,000 visitors), the organisers – Velokonzept and Messe Friedrichshafen – ‘have had to add a significant amount of further extra exhibition space’. This comes two months before this year’s event, which takes place on 27-28 April 2019.
The festival has now been expanded to take place over a total exhibition space of 25,000 square metres. In addition to the almost fully sold-out indoor area, the already well booked covered outdoor exhibition area under a large roof is also growing to meet the demand from exhibitors.
Furthermore, the VELO ‘Testival & Side-Events’ area is expanding. This is to include more exhibitors with greater numbers of bikes to test ride, more diverse test routes and a new area for kids and young riders ‘VELO YoungStars’.
“Many potential exhibitors waited to see how the new VELOBerlin at Tempelhof Airport developed,” explained Stefan Reisinger, Head of Eurobike, and Katja Richarz, Project Leader VELOBerlin at Velokonzept.
“They carefully followed the changes introduced in 2018, attended the event as guests and have now decided that VELOBerlin is the ideal location to present their brands this season.
“This includes major players such as Cannondale, Cube, Giant, Stevens, Specialized and Winora & Haibike, as well as specialist wholesalers such as Traffic Distribution with Bombtrack, Cinelli and Genesis and Sports Nut with Rondo and Creme Cycles or Alberto Bike Pants with urban bike fashion, Coh&Co the Danish brand specialising in wood and carbon bikes and Latvian brand Bungi Bungi.”
An integral part of the bicycle festival are the 20 bike races held on the Tempelhof Airport tarmac. The approximately 1km long circuit around the world-famous Raisin Bomber plane used to transport supplies to West Berlin during the Soviet Berlin Blockade is home to the course where the best female and male riders will battle it out in the categories: road bike, fixed gear, cargo bike and school student duathlon.
Entry for spectators to the VELOBerlin Airfield Race is free of charge via the Tempelholfer Feld, while a ticket is required to enter the VELOBerlin bicycle festival.
The VELOWomen area of the show will showcase bikes, clothing and accessories all developed specifically for women, plus women-only rides and opportunities to ‘exchange ideas and expertise far from pink, pigeonholing clichés’.
Since 2011, VELOBerlin has taken place every year as the largest, urban public event in the bike sector. After seven years at Messe Berlin, VELOBerlin developed a new concept and moved to Tempelhof Airport in 2018. On over approximately 25,000 square metres of exhibition space and test areas in atmospheric hangars and a covered outdoor area, 285 exhibitors with 500 brands (2018) showcased their products.
There are numerous test circuits and courses, diverse stage shows and supporting events, bike races and bike tours to try out new products and enjoy the occasion. VELOBerlin is hosted by Messe Friedrichshafen, which also runs the international Eurobike trade show at Lake Constance, Germany. The bicycle festival is organised by Berlin-based agency Velokonzept, which also operates further VELO events in Hamburg and Frankfurt.
