With "Rund um Beethoven," Thillmann wants to establish a successor to "Rund in Bonn" in the city of Bonn. It will also take place on a 1.4-kilometer circuit, past the Beethoven Monument and the Rose Garden in Bonn's Rheinaue. A total of eight races are to be offered on July 9 - for seniors, students, youth, women, amateurs and elite amateurs with course lengths ranging from three to 60 kilometers. Ten hours are planned for the new cycling event in total.

It is not the first sporting event that Thillmann has successfully helped to initiate. In 1989 - at that time still a passionate marathon runner - he organized the first marathon in Bonn together with other Bonn club representatives. Around 2,500 participants took to the course at the inaugural event. Thillmann organized the running event for five years until the major sponsor withdrew in 1993 and the running event ended for the time being.

After completing 68 marathons, Thillmann finally had to switch to a racing bike because of a torn ligament. He has now been cycling regularly for 30 years. He came to Radtreff Campus Bonn through his former employer, Telekom. The club has its origins in the company's cycling group, from which the RCB was founded in 2009. The Telekom Campus on Landgrabenweg in Beuel is the starting point for the bike tours. Starting out with 43 members in the first year, last year the club had 344 members. Since 2015, there has been a competitive sports department with 30 active members, and since 2017 a youth department. Meanwhile, the RCB is one of the largest cycling clubs in NRW.

However, the search for a possible venue for the race proved difficult. "We didn't want a race in an industrial area," says Thillmann. We wanted one that would attract a crowd. Beuel, the area around the Post Tower and Rigal'sche Wiese in Bad Godesberg were under discussion. Then he came up with the idea of the Beethoven monument in the Rheinaue - fitting for the Beethoven Year 2020. But Covid upset the plans. The race date was postponed to 2021 and then it was canceled. Now, on July 9, 2022, the race will finally take place. "We have the okay from the city," Thillmann said. "Everything has been approved." For the organization of the event, the Sports Committee of the Bonn City Council granted a subsidy of 5,000 euros at its most recent meeting. The association estimates the total cost of the event at 16,800 euros. The RCB has already commissioned the company that will set up the start and finish scaffolding and secure the course from both sides with barrier grids. About 250 to 300 participants from all over Germany are expected on July 9. The race will also be part of the race series "Rose-NRW Rennrad Cup 2022". The series of the NRW cycling federation comprises a total of ten events, including "Rund in Refrath", "Cologne Classic" and "Wappen von Pulheim". Registrations should be possible via the state association about four weeks before the race.