Cycling the Altmühl Valley - Round trip from Regensburg

4.1/5 (10)
7 nights
36 miles/day
Self guided from EUR € 799
Bike tour in Germany
Rider Level: Recreational Electric bike tours Primarily bike paths Family-friendly bike tours

Cycling the Altmühl Valley - Round trip from Regensburg

4.1/5 (10)

Rider Level: Recreational Electric bike tours Primarily bike paths Family-friendly bike tours

7 nights
36 miles/day

Self guided from EUR € 799
Bike tour in Germany

Tap above to jump to different sections of this tour

  • A gorgeous German adventure

    Embark on tour taking in the most breathtaking section of the Altmuehl Valley, the serenely winding Danube River, and the lesser-known Wellheimer Tal, created by the original Danube. Two beautiful boat trips on this tour enable you to enjoy the sublime scenery as you cruise along the romantic waterways.

    Cultural highlights are rich and plentiful in the medieval towns of Regensburg, Ingolstadt, and Eichstätt, which punctuate a cycling tour otherwise abounding with the overwhelming beauty of nature.

    • Altmühl Valley Bike Tour
    • Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany. Thomas Kraus@Flickr
    • Regensburg, Germany. Eric Masur, Unsplash
    • Riesling Wine-tastings. Sandra Grunewald, Unsplash
    • Altmühl Valley Bike Tour.
    • Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany. Avarim, Unsplash
    • Regensburg, Germany. Jolaine Hancock, Unsplash
    • Vineyards en route. Markus Winkler, Unsplash

    View more photos

    Highlights

    • Regensburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
    • Danube River
    • The Altmuehl Valley, with its impressive rock formations
    • Weltenburg Monastery
    • The thermal springs of Bad Gögging
    • Neuburg, with its beautiful Renaissance castle
    • Diocesan town of Eichstätt with its Baroque flair
    • Roman Fortress of Vetoniana
    • The mysterious Schulerloch Cave
    • Liberation Hall

    Learn More

    Learn more about self-guided tours or see more bike tours in Germany.

    Interested in adding to your itinerary? Take a look at our cycling day tours in Germany.

  • Traveler photos

    • Photo 1 (photo by Travel Junkie)
    • Photo 2 (photo by Travel Junkie)
    • Photo 3 (photo by Travel Junkie)
    • Photo 4 (photo by Travel Junkie)
    • Photo 5 (photo by Travel Junkie)
    • Photo 1 (photo by AnneD)
    • Great breakfast selections (photo by AnneD)
    • Photo 3 (photo by AnneD)
    • Photo 4 (photo by AnneD)
    • Photo 5 (photo by AnneD)
    • Photo 6 (photo by AnneD)
    • Approaching Neuburg (photo by Easy cycler)
    • Ruins above a village in Altmuhltal (photo by Easy cycler)
    • Eichstatt from the Altmuhl River (photo by Easy cycler)
    • View from the bike route in Altmuhltal (photo by Easy cycler)

    Cycling the Altmuehl Valley

     Tour Description Daily Program 

  • Daily program

    Day 1: Individual arrival in Regensburg
    Your bike tour begins in Regensburg, the most northerly town on the Danube. This town is considered Germany's best-preserved city and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take some time to explore the lovely parks and gardens as well as the historic Old Town.
    Overnight in Regensburg.

    Day 2: Regensburg – Abensberg/Bad Gögging (31-34 miles/50-55 km + boat trip)
    You'll start your cycling tour riding upstream to Kelheim, where Mother Nature has something special in store in the form of the Danube Gap. Many, many years ago, the Danube carved its way through the massive Jura rocks here. Today, you'll follow the Danube through this narrow passageway by boat. In the beer garden of Weltenburg Monastery, fortify yourself for the next section of the tour.
    Overnight in Bad Gögging (area).

    Day 3: Abensberg/Bad Gögging – Neuburg (37-40 miles/60-65 km)
    You'll enjoy a leisurely cycle through fields of hops to Ingolstadt, not only the seat of the Audi works but also a very well-preserved Bavarian fortress town. The Bavarian Purity Law on beer was passed here over 500 years ago. In Neuburg, you'll see one of the most beautiful Renaissance castles along the Danube!
    Overnight in Neuburg.

    Day 4: Neuburg – Eichstatt (37 miles/60 km)
    Today you'll cycle from the Danube to the Altmühl by way of Wellheim Trockental Valley, which was created by the Danube's original course. You'll dip into unspoiled nature with clear views of the scenery - dry grassland and impressive rock formations, for which the Altmühl valley is well known. You'll follow this picturesque path from Dollnstein to Eichstätt.
    Overnight in Eichstätt.

    Day 5: Eichstatt – Beilngries (28 miles/45 km)
    Eichstätt was a diocesan town and boasts delightful Baroque architecture. Before your departure, you'll have time to visit the Jura museum and its many dinosaur fossils (found in the area)! Your cycling tour then takes you through a juniper heath in the Altmühltal Valley to your destination - the charming town of Beilngries.
    Overnight in Beilngries.

    Day 6: Beilngries – Essing/Kelheim (25- 31 miles/40-50 km)
    From Dietfurt, you'll follow the Altmühl and soon reach Prunn Castle, which towers majestically over the river. In Kelheim, you'll reach the end of today's section, which is also the end of the Altmühl. From here, it flows into the Danube.
    Overnight in Essing/Kelheim.

    Day 7: Essing/Kelheim – Regensburg (25- 31 miles/40-50 km)
    Before you set off to Regensburg, it's worth making the effort to cycle up to the Hall of Liberation, where you'll enjoy incredible views of the area. Continue at a more leisurely pace on to Regensburg. Take some time out to delve deeper into the treasures of this wonderful UNESCO World Heritage Site!
    Overnight in Regensburg.

    Day 8: Individual departure from Regensburg
    Your cycling tour comes to an end after breakfast. Embark on your individual journey home. Alternatively, we would be happy to help you extend your stay.

    Surface and terrain

    This tour takes place primarily on flat, dedicated cycle paths with good quality surfaces. Suitable for families.


    Hotels

    These are sample hotels and may vary by availability.

    Hotel Münchner Hof, Regensburg
    www.muenchner-hof.de

    Altstadthotel Kneitingen, Abensberg
    www.hotel-kneitinger.de
    or
    Hotel Eisvogel, Bad Gögging
    www.hotel-eisvogel.de

    Hotel Gasthof Bergbauer, Neuberg
    www.hotel-gasthof- bergbauer.de

    Hotel Adler, Eichstätt
    www.adler-eichstaett.de

    Hotel Millipp, Beilngries
    www.der.millipp.de

    Weißes Lamm, Kelheim
    www.weisses-lamm-kelheim.de

    Please note any city or visitor's taxes are not included in the tour costs.

    Interested in visiting other areas before or after your tour? Visit our hotels page to learn more about lodging options.


    How to get there

    Tour start and end
    Nearest airport: Munich (MUC)
    Nearest train station: Regensburg Hauptbahnhof (central station)

    Tips for getting to and from your tour.


    Cycling the Altmuehl Valley

     Tour Photos Dates & Prices 

  • Dates

    Daily: Mar 31 - October 19, 2024.

    Season A: Mar 31, 2024 - Apr 19, 2024; Oct 6, 2024 - Oct 19, 2024

    Season B: Apr 20, 2024 - Apr 30, 2024; Sep 15, 2024 - Oct 5, 2024

    Season C: May 1, 2024 - May 6, 2024; May 12, 2024 - May 14, 2024; May 20, 2024 - May 25, 2024; Jun 2, 2024 - Jun 29, 2024; Aug 18, 2024 - Sep 14, 2024

    Season D: May 7, 2024 - May 11, 2024; May 15, 2024 - May 19, 2024; May 26, 2024 - Jun 1, 2024; Jun 30, 2024 - Aug 17, 2024

    Prices

    Tour package

    Season A Season B Season C Season D
    Per person, double occupancy €799 €899 €949 €999
    Single use surcharge (1 person/1 room) €1098 €1198 €1248 €1298

    Bike Rentals

    Standard touring bike, 27-speed unisex €99
    Standard touring bike, 27-speed men's frame €99
    Electrically assisted bike €259
    26-inch child's bike €49
    24-inch child's bike €49
    20-inch child's bike €49

    Extra nights, Regensburg

    Per person, double occupancy €65
    Single use surcharge (1 person/1 room) €95

    Discounts

    Child, ages 12-17 sharing a room with 2 full paying adults (on base package price) 25%

    Included services

    • 7 nights accommodation in 3-star hotels
    • Breakfasts
    • Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel (no limit on number of pieces, max weight of 44 lb/20 kg per bag)
    • Comprehensive tour information and maps (1 set per room)
    • Service hotline in case of emergencies (daily: 8 am-8 pm)
    • Boat trip from Kelheim - Weltenburg, including bicycle

    Please note any city or visitor's taxes are not included in the tour costs. You will pay the taxes at hotel reception.


    Bike rentals

    Bikes available for rent on this tour (reserved in advance at the time of booking):

    • Standard touring bike, unisex 27-speed
    • Standard touring bike, men's 27-speed (5'9" and taller)
    • Electrically assisted bike*
    • 26-, 24-, 20-inch child's bikes
    • Child's trailer
    • Tag-along (trailer bike for child)
    • Baby bike seat (no charge, upon request)

    *More about electrically-assisted bikes >

    Standard bikes come equipped with the following at no extra cost:

    • Pannier
    • Handlebar bag
    • Mileage counter
    • Bicycle lock
    • Puncture repair kit

    Bike Protection:
    Bike protection can be purchased at the time of booking. You can read more about that HERE.

    Pedals:
    The bikes will have flat pedals. If you want to bring your own pedals, please bring your own shoes and also the necessary equipment to change the pedals.

    Helmets:
    Helmets are not available to be rented. We recommend, for safety and hygiene reasons, that you bring your own helmet.


    Tour Company


    Cycling the Altmuehl Valley

     Daily program Route Map 

  • Route Map

    Maps are for information purposes only and reflect typical routes between overnight locations. They may not reflect your actual route.


    Cycling the Altmuehl Valley

     Dates & Prices Tour Reviews 

    • Scott Katzer September 29, 2022

      Enjoyed the trip but some things can be improved

      The sites and surroundings were great and we lucked out with the weather as it rained almost every other day. Although we completed the tour with no issues, it was a bit complicated at times. The information between Bike Tours and the tour company Ragwed wasnt always fluid and simple questions seemed to take a bit of time to answer which is a problem when trying to book flights. The information given with the tour company package was a bit limited. Although maps were included, they are not provided with any sort of turn by turn direction. This isnt a big deal for most days as the trail is obvious but entering a city has its own challenges. It is recommended for anyone going on this tour to have GPS on their phone which we had to use (and incur roaming charges) several times. The signage in some locations simply dont exist and some roads were even closed during our tour due to construction. It would be wise for this tour company to occasionally ride their own route and note any changes.
      The hotels were nice for the most part and breakfasts were good. The only one that I felt could be improved was the Regensburg location (IBIS Hotel). While it was nice and fine for the stay, its location is a decent distance from the Old Town (30 minute walk minimum) when there are tons of other places right in the Old Town area to stay. The other locations had hotels right in the middle of the main area (The one in Belingres was real nice). Mileage was fine and a majority was on bike paths/trails. My only request would have been providing the option to use a GPS on this tour as many of the paths either were not labeled or so close to the country roads that its hard to tell them apart. The bikes could be improved a bit as they are a bit bulky and heavy and really could do without the bright red advertising all over it. I will give kudos to the luggage people as we never had to wait for our luggage to arrive and they were usually there by 3pm at the latest.

      What was the date of your tour?
      September 2022
      How many tours have you completed?
      6
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens, Families with young kids
      Do you recommend this tour?
      No
      • 2/5 Value
      • 4/5 Included meals
      • 2/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 3/5 Hotels or boat
      • 4/5 Scenery
      • 2/5 Ease of navigation
      • 1/5 Tour documents
      • 3/5 Local tour company services
      • 2/5 Route selection
    • Monica and Ross September 26, 2018

      Beautiful Bavaria

      A fantastic self guided tour through beautiful scenery, historic towns and points of interest. Accomodation was top notch, and baggage transfer was seamless, bikes were well matched to the task. A couple of the days were a little long and prevented visiting points of interest. An update on changed conditions would have been handy (the low river flow in the Danube prevented the boat from getting to Weltenberg Kloster,meant an unexpected cycling leg).

      What was the date of your tour?
      3 September to 9 September
      How many tours have you completed?
      3
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 4/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • jhnyc September 22, 2018

      Fantastic!

      My 10 year old nephew and I had a wonderful ride through the Altmuehl Valley. The riding was safe (almost entirely on bike paths) and very doable for a 10 year old. Beautiful scenery every day and plenty of fun things to explore along the way. The hotels were quaint and lovely - all offered great breakfasts to get us started each day. The bikes were nice and maps generally very helpful. I would definitely book another trip.

      What was the date of your tour?
      July 2018
      How many tours have you completed?
      This was the first
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • Jonathan M September 16, 2018

      Great trails, not well organized

      This trip follows well marked German bike trails which are very easy to navigate and quite scenic. The hotels are fabulous. However, we did not have a good experience with the German bike company (Radweg Reisen) that operates the trip on the ground. We were self-guided, and our information package was not available the day we arrived, so we didn't have maps and guiding information in advance. When the packet arrived the next morning, we discovered that it contained very little about sights near the tour route. We were able to Google plenty of side trips but wondered: isn't that the job of the tour company? Also, our bikes were delivered late on the day we were supposed to start, so we lost a morning of biking (and actually the bikes were eventually delivered not by the tour company but by an English family to whom the bikes had been misdelivered). We called Radweg Reisen but their corporate office was located hundreds of km away. We have been on lots of trips with biketours.com and find that the smaller shops are much more attentive and give better service. Radweg Reisen is too big to care about 2 self-guided bikers.

      What was the date of your tour?
      8/25-8/30
      How many tours have you completed?
      10
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      No
      • 2/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 3/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 1/5 Ease of navigation
      • 1/5 Tour documents
      • 1/5 Local tour company services
      • 1/5 Route selection
    • Mdlewis June 24, 2018

      Altmuehl Valley, Round Trip from Regensburg

      Our first European Bike Tour was a success! We very much enjoyed the experience. The villages and scenery were interesting to pass through. The Altmuehl Valley is beautiful and the choice of cities for the overnight stays were great. Our bikes were first rate and we didn’t experience any problems with them. BikeTours.com were very supportive through the process. One of the disadvantages of the self guided tours is that you need to make it to the hotel selected for you that night, instead of the flexibility to stay at places of interest along the way. Speaking of the hotels, they were conveniently located, older, but renovated nicely. Unfortunately, none of them had air conditioning (we travelled through very hot weather). Air conditioning would have been muchly appreciated at the end of the day. As the hotels were in a central location, the rooms were on the noisy side of the street. We did get lost twice and perhaps more detailed maps, between each city would be useful. Saying that, we are looking forward to our next trip. My wife will be renting an electric bike next time!

      What was the date of your tour?
      June 8, 2018
      How many tours have you completed?
      One
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 3/5 Value
      • 4/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 4/5 Scenery
      • 3/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 3/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
    • Travel Junkie October 1, 2017

      First bike trip.

      Wow, what a trip! I usually plan everything so it felt a little strange not doing a thing. We showed up at our first hotel and everything was ready to go. Hotels were lovely. Breakfast was adequate, kept us going until lunch. Our luggage was at the hotel when we arrived. We were very happy with the services provided.
      The scenery was amazing, the river, the fields, and the valley. The valley was our favorite. The boat trips were enjoyable. And so many castles!
      A couple of days on the trail were a little harder than I thought they would be. The trail surface was rough and hard to pedal on. When the trail was smooth, the cycling was a breeze. We had no trouble with the bikes although It might have been better if we would have rented the 21 speed bikes. We were on the trail 5 -7 hours each day. All and all, we would do it again. I see another trip in our future.

      What was the date of your tour?
      September 2017
      How many tours have you completed?
      One
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • Photo 1 (photo by Travel Junkie)
      • Photo 2 (photo by Travel Junkie)
      • Photo 3 (photo by Travel Junkie)
      • Photo 4 (photo by Travel Junkie)
      • Photo 5 (photo by Travel Junkie)
      • BikeTours.com staff reply from Brittany October 2, 2017

        We love helping plan the right tour and we're delighted to hear you had a great time! We hope to help you again in the future.

      • 5/5 Value
      • 4/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • AnneD August 24, 2017

      Fantastic way to see Germany!

      Really enjoyed this self-guided experience. The bikes were comfortable, appropriate accessories were included, the luggage pick up and delivery was reliable. The selected accommodations were in the main part of the town.....clean, comfortable, with hearty breakfasts...two spots even had a sauna! Opportunity to enjoy local sights, food and culture, frequently woke to the sound of church bells. Maps and info provided...would recommend bringing a GPS and taking time in advance to understand German road signs ...occasional difficulty finding street names or missing turn-offs...which happens and is a part of the adventure.

      What was the date of your tour?
      Aug 2017
      How many tours have you completed?
      Trips many..but 1st official tour!
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Much easier
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • Photo 1 (photo by AnneD)
      • Great breakfast selections (photo by AnneD)
      • Photo 3 (photo by AnneD)
      • Photo 4 (photo by AnneD)
      • Photo 5 (photo by AnneD)
      • Photo 6 (photo by AnneD)
      • 4/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 3/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 4/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
    • THB123 July 13, 2017

      Great first-time bike tour

      We went on this tour with our 9- and 12-year-old boys. It was an adventure at times, but everyone loved it.

      We averaged about 36 miles per day, with the longest ride 43 miles. With a couple exceptions (detour on second day; climb to scenic vista on beginning of third day), the route was generally flat and easy to ride. Outside of towns, the route follows dedicated bike paths and quiet roads. There were a couple spots, both at Danube river crossings that we found a bit intimidating with the kids, but they were ultimately no problem. With our stops and side trips, we typically had long days (arriving at hotel between 4:30 and 6 or 7), but the rides were not overly taxing physically.

      The scenery was interesting and the towns were charming. Not too many other tourists on the route or in the towns during the week, but on Friday and Saturday there more tourists, mainly Germans cyclists, kayakers, hikers. A couple of the hotels were outstanding, a couple others were merely acceptable. We had quad rooms everywhere, except one hotel provided adjoining double. Included continental breakfasts were good, more or less as expected. Luggage was picked up from and delivered to the next hotel each day without problem.

      Bikes were about as expected, but could have been better. A bit heavy, and could have used tune ups. We did have a flat tire, and the included tools were sufficient to get the tire changed (which we had never done before).

      Signs were typically excellent, but there were a couple missing signs. It is helpful to know when you are following a long-distance or primary bike route (shown on area maps provided) because there's additional signs. For the most part, following bike route signs to the next town was sufficient. We missed turns a few times, but we got better at reading the maps and following the routes after the first day or so.

      What was the date of your tour?
      6/26 to 7/2/2017
      How many tours have you completed?
      First
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      First-time bike tourists, Families with young kids, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 3/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 3/5 Tour documents
      • 4/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • Bike Queen July 12, 2017

      E-Bikes Are the Way to Go!

      For the most part this was a GREAT trip. A few things (in no particular order) might be improved: More detailed descriptions of the routes, especially getting into and out of the larger towns. That's usually when we got lost even with the routes provided. Loved all the hotels, newer and older. Meals everywhere were great. The e-bikes were a lot of fun. They could have used a bit of an overhaul before we took them out, however. gears (especially 5 and 8) slipped. I had virtually no 5th gear. None of it was so difficult that we bothered to stop and get anything fixed. The scenery was fabulous. We had a couple of rainy days, but they didn't' interfere with our fun.

      What was the date of your tour?
      July 4-9, 2017
      How many tours have you completed?
      8-ish
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 4/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 3/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 3/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 4/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • Easy cycler July 15, 2016

      Beautiful Bavarian countryside

      Each day was a unique experience. Starting with the Danube path, then the lush fields and rocky backdrop of the Altmuhl valley, and the ferry rides along the Danube gorge and the canal. The villages along the way were so picturesque.
      The maps and descriptions provided us with a wonderful guide to the sights along the way. The hotels were comfortable, centrally located, and very helpful about what to see and good restaurants for dinner. Our overnights were in towns with rich history and traditions, and there were always interesting spots to stop along the way.
      We finished the tour knowing that we would like to go back.

      What was the date of your tour?
      June 27, 2016
      How many tours have you completed?
      1
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      As expected
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, First-time bike tourists, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • Approaching Neuburg (photo by Easy cycler)
      • Ruins above a village in Altmuhltal (photo by Easy cycler)
      • Eichstatt from the Altmuhl River (photo by Easy cycler)
      • View from the bike route in Altmuhltal (photo by Easy cycler)
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection

    Cycling the Altmuehl Valley

     Route Map Book This Tour 

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