Sandy Armenat and Rajko Debeljevic, who are organising the new group, stress that there are only two requirements for members: “It’s for anyone who loves cycling and spending time with other people”. As the cycling group existed for quite a while before it became an official company sports group, it already has around 30 members in its ranks. That was after the coronavirus pandemic in spring three years ago, Rajko recalls. To begin with, they had seven colleagues taking part in their cycling tours.
These days, the group sets off together every other Thursday between 3:00 and 3:30 pm, always starting at the exhibition grounds. The bike rides only go ahead if the weather is good, so they’ve also set up a group chat to coordinate things more easily. The group chat is also used to decide which routes to take, with every member able to have their say. Two tours that have established itself as regular favourites are the airport route and trips to the Taunus region, both of which are around 50 kilometres. Once or twice a year, the group also plans a weekend day trip, where they cycle around 100 kilometres.
But as Sandy assures us, anyone who is interested in joining the group doesn’t necessarily need a gravel bike. These routes are also suitable for e-bikes or mountain bikes, just not for racing bikes. Although they don’t cover mountain biking trails, they often take the cyclists along gravel, dirt and forest paths that would be difficult to navigate with thinner tires. The group hasn’t made any plans to participate in competitions yet. Rajko says that its members all share a love of exercise and good company. Towards the end of each tour, they always stop off for some refreshments. Even though everyone can go at their own pace during the rides, the group still manages to stay together as they wait for each other along the way.
In the future, Sandy Armenat and Rajko Debeljevic will offer their gravel bikers cycling training. Based on driver safety training for motorists, the focus here will be on learning the basics of safe cycling or improving their cycling technique.
The company sports group is just one of the projects that Messe Frankfurt is using to promote cycling among its workforce – and is one of the reasons why it has been singled out twice by Germany’s largest bicycle club, the Allgemeiner Deutscher Fahrrad-Club (ADFC), as a bicycle-friendly employer. On our exhibition grounds, for example, cyclists will find repair stations with tools, air pumps and safe bike parking spaces, as well as shower and changing facilities.
Eurobike 2026: Gravel bikes and more
A gravel bike is ideal for routes that combine both on-road and off-road cycling. Since 2015 or so, bike manufacturers have specifically brought out models that are ideal for both. Gravel biking was only officially recognised as a separate cycling discipline by the International Cycling Union (UCI) in 2022.
Gravel bikes and other bike types and trends will be showcased at the Eurobike trade fair on our exhibition grounds between 24 and 27 June 2026. The trade fair will also be open to the general public on Saturday, 27 June.