The Tour of Honor 2026 is a multi-day cycling event organized by the Battlefield Cyclists. It runs in several stages from Hamburg through Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Poland to Berlin.
Photographer and filmmaker Martin Bühler documented this emotional and athletically demanding event with his camera. His footage impressively captures the camaraderie, athletic achievement, and inclusive spirit of the tour.
The project sees itself as a "cycling project with heart and conviction." It brings together active-duty soldiers, veterans, supporters, and those injured, wounded, or ill in the line of duty. The focus is on the shared remembrance of fallen comrades, camaraderie, resilience, and social appreciation.
The Battlefield Cyclists' Tour of Honor 2026 took place from June 6 to June 13, 2026. The riders covered a total distance of approximately 740 kilometers. The route led from Hamburg to Wismar, from Wismar to Rostock, and then through Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania towards Poland. Stopovers and overnight stays included the Polish cities of Międzyzdroje (Misdroy) and Szczecin (Stettin).
The journey then returned to Germany to begin the final leg towards the capital region. From Potsdam, the group traveled to Berlin, where a joint memorial service and tree planting took place at 12:30 pm at the Forest of Remembrance (Schwielowsee/Potsdam). At 2:30 pm, the group set off on the very last leg of the ride. The official finish was at 4:30 pm at the German Armed Forces Memorial in Berlin-Mitte, where a wreath-laying ceremony was held.
Battlefield Cyclists e.V. was founded as an initiative of active-duty soldiers and veterans of the German Armed Forces. Its founding is closely linked to the growing veterans' movement in Germany and the desire for active support. On their tours, the riders symbolically carry the names of fallen comrades on their backs. In doing so, they demonstrate that no one is forgotten or left behind.
Following the official founding of the association, the first major project—the "Tour of Valor"—was launched in 2025. This tour took the group across Germany and was met with an overwhelmingly positive response from both the public and the German Armed Forces.
With the establishment of the first official National Veterans Day in Germany in 2026, the initiative gained historical significance. Their "Tour of Honor" from Hamburg to Berlin was timed so that the ceremonial arrival at the German Armed Forces Memorial was precisely aligned with the politically and socially important commemorative days.
Martin Bühler is represented by the renowned agency HAUSER FOTOGRAFEN.
GoSee : battlefield-cyclists.de
