“How cool is it to compete in a cycling race surrounded by Prada and Gucci boutiques!”

The Rund um die Kö cycling race is one of the highlights of the Düsseldorf sporting calendar, even attracting cyclists from Germany’s neighbouring countries. One of them is Maya Mokasay, who lives in Amsterdam and works in a bike shop called Ride Out. She has been riding road bikes for nine years. She loved her first Rund um die Kö cycling race so much that she made the trip to Düsseldorf for the second time this year so that she could take part again, even though it meant missing the start of the Tour de France Femmes in the Netherlands. We talked to Maya about Rund um die Kö’s remarkable atmosphere, which sees Königsallee take on a festival-like air, and asked what attracts her to Düsseldorf as a cyclist.

Maya, how come someone from the Netherlands – which many would regard as an ideal cycling destination – is willing to travel to Düsseldorf for a cycling race?
It all stems from when I met Carsten Wien and Kerstin Kortekamp, the two co-founders of bike shop Schicke Mütze. At Ride Out in Amsterdam, we organised the Bicycle Film Festival and put on a number of bike rides as part of the event. Both Carsten and Kerstin were there. We got talking between the races and the film showings. They were full of enthusiasm about Rund um die Kö and invited me to come along. I didn’t really give it any more thought until I started following them on Instagram and saw the posts about the race. It immediately struck me as really cool, and I knew I wanted to take part!

So you particiapted for the first time in 2023. What did you make of the cycling race in Düsseldorf?
I really liked the city as there was so much to see and the weather was fantastic. I went along on some group rides, and then the race took place on the Sunday. Amsterdam has four or five cycling races a week, plus various events every weekend. But they’re smaller, with fewer spectators and not much of a supporting programme. This year, I wanted some of my cycling friends from Amsterdam to come along to Rund um die Kö with me, but unfortunately the Tour de France Femmes was starting the same weekend – in the Netherlands of all places! Everyone I know who participates in cycling races was going to be in Rotterdam to watch the race. I headed there a few days later once I’d competed in Rund um die Kö.

Why do you like the cycling race on Königsallee so much?
Well, the location speaks for itself. How cool is it to compete in a cycling race on this iconic street in the heart of the city, surrounded by Prada and Gucci boutiques! Rund um die Kö is an amazing race, and there’s so much going on. It’s really well organised and offers a broad supporting programme. The music and all the stalls make it seem like a festival. You can get great coffee and wander around looking at what’s on sale. What also surprised me was the passers-by who just happened to come across the race and responded with such energy. I didn’t expect such an atmosphere. My enthusiasm grew from minute to minute, and I knew straight away that I’d be back as it was so much fun!

What makes the cycling community so special? What is so appealing?
I like how it combines sportiness with a relaxed and exploratory spirit. The vibe is: get on your bike and go! Ride fast, ride slow, ride far, ride short - do whatever you want. That's what I really like about cycling: You can bring it to life in your own unique way. I myself am a member of the women's racing bike group "No Ordinary Women". The great thing about women in cycling is that we battle it out in the race, but afterwards we give each other a high five and encourage each individual to get the best out of themselves. You get to know great people in the community. At "Rund um die Kö", I hung out with other female cyclists and basically became friends for a day. Since then, we've been following each other on Strava (social network for sporting activities. // Editor's note) and Instagram and sharing our adventures on the bike. Some of them are coming back to Düsseldorf this year, so I'm really looking forward to it.

How do you rate the quality of cycling in Düsseldorf?
A few years ago, I went on a bike-packing trip and Düsseldorf was one of the places we stopped. I like the cycling infrastructure. It’s very easy to ride into the city, especially if you follow a route along the Rhine, and there’s no difficulty in finding your way around. I wasn’t scared about cycling in traffic, which isn’t always the case in other cities. In the Netherlands, in particular, the roads can be very busy with other cyclists. In Germany, drivers seem to be more respectful and more patient. The roads are wider and more open, with plenty of space.

You work in a bike shop yourself. What do you think makes Düsseldorf’s Schicke Mütze so special?
The team at Schicke Mütze are very passionate about cycling. When we got to know each other, I asked Kerstin and Carsten which bikes they rode. They said: “Have you got an hour or even two to spare? We’ve got around 40!”
You simply want to be around them and find out more about what they do. And it’s the same with their customers. You start by buying parts or getting something repaired. Then you buy a coffee and take part in one of their organised rides. A lot of the people who take part in races end their ride with a coffee back at the shop. This community vibe is what Schicke Mütze is all about. The team invest a huge amount of time, energy and passion into the business, and that’s why customers keep coming back.

What do you like about Düsseldorf?
It’s very quick and easy to take the train from Amsterdam to Düsseldorf, which has everything you’d expect from a city. There are great places to shop or even just chill out. It has loads to see within a relatively small area and is ideal for exploring on foot. Hofgarten Park is lovely, and the coffee culture is fantastic. Düsseldorf is the perfect destination for a weekend away.

Further information on No Ordinary Women.

Text: Karolina Landowski
Photos of Rund um die Kö in 2023: Kerstin Kortekamp