Seen from directly above, a dense group of cyclists streams down the right side of the poster, their bodies, bicycles, and helmets reduced to crisp geometric shapes. The riders’ jerseys incorporate the colors of numerous cycling nations, while a central jersey displays the rainbow bands of a world champion. Set against a rich blue background, the bright blocks of red, white, yellow, green and black create an immediate sense of movement and international competition. The open space on the left holds the event information and a large stylized “6,” cleverly constructed around the oval lines of a velodrome. The result is a clean, beautifully balanced design that captures the energy of a crowded track with remarkably few visual elements.

The German text describes the event as Das neue Sechstagerennen—“The new six-day race”—and announces the dates, venue, and ticket information. The reference to a “new” race reflected an important change for 2017. Berlin had become part of the newly organized Six Day Series, joining events in London, Amsterdam and Copenhagen in an international competition culminating in a series final in Mallorca. The new format combined the traditional two-rider Six-Day contest with sprinting, women’s races, Derny events and motor-paced stayers.

The Berlin Six-Day was first held in 1909, when 15 two-rider teams competed in an exhibition hall at the Berlin Zoological Garden for a prize of 5,000 goldmarks. Often described as the world’s oldest surviving six-day race, it became one of Germany’s most celebrated indoor sporting events. Its history includes many of track cycling’s greatest riders, and for periods of its early popularity Berlin was able to support more than one Six-Day race in a single year. Since 1997, the event has been staged at the Berlin Velodrome.

The 2017 meeting was the 106th edition of the race and drew approximately 60,000 spectators over its six evenings. The Dutch pairing of Yoeri Havik and Wim Stroetinga won the main competition. After sitting eighth following the opening night, they moved into the lead on the second evening and never surrendered it. The pair won three Madison chases during the week and finished ahead of defending champions Kenny De Ketele and Moreno De Pauw of Belgium, who placed second after previously winning the Six Day Series rounds in London and Amsterdam.

Germany’s Maximilian Levy won the Champions Sprint ahead of Robert Förstemann, with Tomáš Bábek completing the podium. European champion Stefan Schäfer, paced by Peter Bäuerlein, won the stayers’ competition. The program also included women’s mass-start racing, with riders competing in scratch, points and elimination events.

With its overhead perspective, bold crisp colors and near-abstract treatment of the riders, this poster captures both the international character of the Berlin Six-Day and the visual intensity of a packed velodrome. It is an unusually refined modern interpretation of one of track cycling’s longest-running traditions.

This poster has been professionally and archivally linen-backed.

Virtually all original vintage posters of this era were viewed as temporary advertising and were printed on fragile, thin paper. While expensive, linen backing is a conservation method used to mount, stabilize, preserve, and protect vintage posters, allowing them to be displayed or framed without compromising their value.

This poster is an original first printing, not a reproduction.