MTB marathon dates 2024: 101 races between 1000 & 61,000 metres in altitude
Jan Timmermann
· 05.04.2024
During the bike season, there is a different mountain bike marathon almost every weekend in Europe alone. From the low mountain ranges to the Alps, there are races in every conceivable variety. Those looking for adventure can take part in exciting international competitions in Eastern Europe or cross the deserts of Africa in marathon format.
From the flat North Sea coast to the South American jungle to the highest peaks of the Himalayas, there is no place in the world where mountain bikers have not devised an endurance challenge.
MTB races 2024: 101 bike marathons from 1000 to 61,000 metres in altitude
We have taken the trouble to compile the most interesting MTB marathons of the upcoming season. The dates are supplemented by a look beyond the horizon with a lactate guarantee. In total, endurance fans will find no less than 101 challenges in this article. There has never been such a comprehensive overview anywhere else!
We concentrate exclusively on the long distances of the corresponding competitions and have organised the events according to the number of metres in altitude to be covered. Unlike a marathon race, there is no fixed marathon distance in mountain biking. In addition to the long distance, most events also offer the option of competing in the medium or short distance. This means that even marathon newcomers can enjoy getting to grips with the fascination of endurance biking.
The events are often flanked by other events such as children's races, expos or festivals, making a visit worthwhile twice or three times over. Our list starts with marathons with an altitude difference of 1000 metres or more. If you like it tougher, you should take a closer look at the extreme races in the Alps, multi-day marathons or adventure expeditions in our unique list.
A taster: 13 MTB marathons between 1000 & 2000 metres in altitude
Pedalling 1000 metres uphill under your own steam is an achievement that should not be underestimated - especially not if the whole thing takes place as part of a mountain bike competition - i.e. for a time. However, these marathons offer the perfect introduction to the world of long-distance cycling.
Most of these are local events in the easily accessible German low mountain ranges, so they can confidently be described as "everyman races" in the literal sense of the word. Ideal for getting a taste of marathon air and falling in love with cranking up the metres against the clock.
Even in the flattest regions of Germany, there are corresponding challenges. Even in the notoriously less mountainous Netherlands, there are MTB Marathon Amerongse Berg Knead 1700 metres of altitude into your calves - but then over a distance of 90 kilometres.
Dates 2024
- Geba Kamm Ride Helmershausen: 35 km / 1000 hm / 04.05.2024
- MTB Marathon Veringendorf: 53 km / 1100 hm / 14.04.2024
- Bike The Rock Heubach: 41 km / 1100 hm / 27.04.2024
- Hassbergritt Hofheim: 45 km / 1100 hm / 11.05.2024
- MTB Marathon Dresden: 72 km / 1100 hm / 20.05.2024
- Maintal Bike Marathon: 51 km / 1200 hm / 03.10.2024
- Alb Gold Trophy: 82 km / 1250 hm / 07.07.2024
- Fast & Forest: 58 km / 1400 hm / 28.07.2024
- MTB Marathon Amerongse Berg: 90 km / 1700 hm / 21.09.2024
- Odenwald Bike Marathon: 60 km / 1800 hm / 02.06.2024
- Stupava Marathon: 78 km / 1900 hm / 14.09.2024
- Northern Black Forest Trophy: 69 km / 1920 hm / 27.07.2024
- Voralpen MTB Marathon St. Veit: 64 km / 1960 hm / 28.04.2024
Long distance: 39 MTB marathons between 2000 & 3000 metres in altitude
The list of long-distance marathons with 2000 to 3000 metres of elevation gain is the longest in this comparison for a reason. This is a difference in altitude that even trained amateur cyclists can cover with a little preparation.
The races include popular classics of the German low mountain range, such as the Franken Bike Marathonwhich is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, or the MTB Marathon Pfrontenwhich also hosts the Folding Bike World Championships. But also the competitions of the Nutrixxion MTB Trophy include long distances peppered with metres of elevation gain, which are also rewarded in a series classification.
Steep is cool? Then it's worth taking a look at Austria. The Graz Schöckl summit assault for example, demands 2490 metres in altitude on a route that is only 55 kilometres long. It is similarly tough on the WeinSteinBike Wachau with 2800 metres of elevation gain over 66 kilometres.
There are also numerous marathons in this upper-middle altitude category in neighbouring countries, such as the Malevil Cup in the Czech Republic, which will also be held for the 25th time in 2024. The Silesia Bike Marathon is also organised in the same country.
In cycling-loving Belgium, for example, there is the Hard'n Mountain Bike Marathon, Raid des Hautes Fagnes, the Ardennes Trophy and La Hallonienne. If you want to chase metres in altitude in Slovakia, sign up for the Stupava Marathon.
Dates 2024
- Albstadt Bike Marathon: 83 km / 2000 hm / 13.07.2024
- Dark Forest Bike Marathon: 60 km / 2000m / 19.07.2024
- Vulkan Bike Eifel Marathon: 100 km / 2000 hm / 07.09.2024
- Dünsberg Bike Marathon: 85 km / 2008 hm / 29.9.2024
- Miriquidi Bike Challenge: 90 km / 2040 hm / 10.08.2024
- Greifenstein Bike Marathon: 69 km / 2100 hm / 08.09.2024
- Erbeskopf Bike Marathon: 88 km / 2150 hm / 30.06.2024
- Schinderhannes MTB Marathon: 90 km / 2200 hm / 19.05.2024
- Rhine Hunsrück MTB Marathon: 80 km / 2200 hm / 02.06.2024
- Lautertal bike marathon: 83 km / 2205 hm / 06.10.2024
- ARS Natura MTB Marathon Neumorschen: 88 km / 2218 hm / 26.05.2024
- Malevil Cup: 100 km / 2230 hm / 01.06.2024
- Silesia Bike Marathon: 90 km / 2250 hm / 18.05.2024
- Eldorado MTB Marathon: 79 km / 2250 hm / 19.05.2024
- La Hallonienne: 81 km / 2300 hm / 01.04.2024
- Bike the Bugles: 70 km / 2300 hm / 25.08.2024
- Alta Valtellina Bike Marathon: 100 km / 2311 hm / 27.07.2024
- Hard'n Mountainbike Marathon: 105 km / 2350 hm / 12.05.2024
- MTB at the Rursee Marathon Erkensruhr: 90 km / 2350 hm / 30.06.2024
- Franken Bike Marathon: 87 km / 2400 hm / 16.06.2024 (25th anniversary)
- Schöckl summit assault: 55 km / 2490 hm / 06.07.2024
- Krieger Laacher See MTB Marathon: 85 km / 2500 hm / 16.06.2024
- Arnsberg Marathon Neheim-Hüsten: 90 km / 2550 hm / 09.06.2024
- Must tour: 60 km / 2575 hm / 25.05.2024
- HILS-ITH Bike Marathon Delligsen: 95 km / 2600 hm / 07.04.2024
- Erzgebirge Bike Marathon: 100 km / 2600 hm / 04.08.2024
- Saarschleifen Bike Marathon: 102 km / 2600 hm / 11.08.2024
- MTB Marathon Pfronten76 km / 2600 m elevation gain 07.09.2024 (incl. folding bike world championship)
- P-Way Marathon93 km / 2600 hm / 15.09.2024
- 3 Valleys Marathon Titmaringhausen: 91 km / 2620 hm / 31.08.2024
- Ardennes Trophy: 97 km / 2650 hm / 19.05.2024
- Mostviertel Bike Marathon: 78 km / 2700 hm / 10.08.2024
- Kellerwald Bike Marathon Gilsberg: 127 km / 2707 hm / 21.04.2024
- MTB Marathon Biesenrode: 80 km / 2800 hm / 16.06.2024
- WeinSteinBike Wachau: 66 km / 2800 hm / 29.06.2024
- Jura Bike Marathon: 71 km / 2850 hm / 19.05.2024
- SKS Marathon Grafschaft: 109 km / 2880 hm / 17.08.2024
- Raid des Hautes Fagnes: 115 km / 2900 hm / 23.06.2024
Oberliga: 21 MTB marathons between 3000 & 4000 metres in altitude
These marathons definitely belong to the premier league. If the pain threshold of 3000 metres in altitude is exceeded in a race, occasional bikers no longer really have a job. In the big classics of the German low mountain marathons, such as the BIKE Marathon Willingen, the Black Forest Ultra or the Endurothon Schierke, only experienced marathon bikers take on the long distance. In the Alps, steep climbs, such as the Ironbike Marathon with 3391 metres of altitude over 71 kilometres, are the order of the day.
Fancy something a little more exotic? The Novodubnicky Maraton in Slovakia has an altitude difference of exactly 3000 metres. In the Czech Republic Author Kral Sumavy climb over 3200 metres in altitude. With the power of a baguette and croissant, the French Alsace Bike Marathon more than 3300 metres in altitude. Next door in Belgium Stoumont MTB Marathon through the Ardennes, a total of 3600 metres in altitude. A particularly exotic treat for absolute endurance junkies is the Desert Dash in NamibiaIn a maximum of 24 hours, 397 kilometres and over 3400 metres in altitude have to be covered through the Namib Desert.
Dates 2024
- Novodubnicky Maraton: 84 km / 3000 hm / 24.08.2024
- Rennsteigride: 100 km / 3000 hm / 31.08.2024
- Wipfeltrophy: 71 km / 3050 hm / 11.05.2024
- Granite MTB Marathon: 90 km / 3100 hm / 19.05.2024
- M3 Montafon Bike Marathon: 75 km / 3100 hm / 27.07.2024
- Iron Bike Side Race: 83 km / 3130 hm / 22.09.2024
- Kronplatz King Marathon: 64 km / 3150 hm / 31.08.2024
- Author Kral Sumavy: 105 km / 3202 hm / 25.05.2024
- Alsace Bike Marathon: 129 km / 3302 hm / 06.07.2024
- BIKE Marathon Willingen: 119 km / 3333 hm / 25.05.2024
- Ironbike Marathon: 70 km / 3391 hm / 03.08.2024
- Dolomiti Superbike123 km / 3400 hm / 13.07.2024
- Summer Bike Marathon: 80 km / 3400 hm / 14.07.2024
- Desert Dash: 397 km / 3406 hm / 06.12.2024
- BIKE Marathon Riva / 83 km / 3434 hm / 04.05.2024
- Black Forest Ultra: 118 km / 3550 hm / 14.07.2024
- Stoumont MTB Marathon: 95 km / 3600 hm / 16.06.2024
- Kitzalp Bike: 86 km / 3600 hm / 22.06.2024
- National Park Marathon141 km / 3848 hm / 31.08.2024
- Endurothon Schierke: 115 km / 3850 hm / 24.08.2024
- Ortler Bike Marathon115 km / 3905 hm / 15.09.2024
Forging heroes: 3 MTB marathons between 4000 & 7000 metres in altitude
They are the true heroes of the marathon world. When it comes to the long distances of these races, normal people get weak knees just reading the course data. Only those who are die-hard endurance athletes can get through. The Salzkammergut Trophy is probably the toughest classic marathon race in Europe with more than 7000 metres of altitude in one ride.
Dates 2024
- Eiger Bike Challenge: 80 km / 4200 hm / 11.08.2024
- Hero South Tyrol Dolomites: 86 km / 4500 hm / 15.06.2024
- Grand Raid BCVS: 125 km / 5025 hm / 24.08.2024
- Salzkammergut Trophy: 209 km / 7008 hm / 13.07.2024
Stage races: 22 multi-day marathons with up to 18,000 metres of elevation gain
If you want to climb even more metres in altitude, one day is not enough. Multi-day marathons are organised in several stages. While an extended weekend is enough for some competitions, other stage races can easily last a full week.
Riding a marathon every day and keeping an eye on the final classification - these are perfect challenges for ambitious endurance bikers. But even well-trained hobby bikers can get a lot out of such multi-day rides.
There are stage races all over the world, many of which pass through breathtaking landscapes, such as the 4 Islands in Croatia, the Titan Desert in Morocco, the Rwanda Epic in Rwanda or the Rift Valley Odyssey in Kenya.
Across the pond, for example, the legendary BC Bike Race in Canada. Races in the most remote places on our planet have an adventurous character, such as the Mongolia Bike Challenge in Mongolia or the Yak Attack in Nepal.
It gets particularly steep at the La Leyenda Del Dorado in Colombia. There, the participants have to cover 9000 metres in altitude in just 280 kilometres. Since 1993, the La Ruta in Costa Rica. This makes it the oldest stage race in MTB history.
Among professionals, the Cape Epic in South Africa as the Tour de France of mountain bikers. But would you rather combine racing with a holiday? The La Leyenda Del Caribe in the Dominican Republic is the first MTB marathon in the Caribbean and advertises five relaxed stages and luxurious accommodation in a five-star hotel. How much does it cost? At least 1299 US dollars without flights and upgrades.
Dates 2024/2025
- La Leyenda Del Caribe: 282 km / 3171 m elevation gain / 5 days / 06-10 May 2024
- Rwandan Epic: 300 km / 5000 hm / 5 days / 21-25 October 2024
- Titan Desert: 600 km / 6000 hm / 6 days / 28.04.-03.05.2024
- Cape Pioneer Trek: 234 km / 6000 hm / 3 days / 01-05 October 2024
- 4 Islands: 272 km / 6210 m elevation gain / 5 days (incl. prologue) / 16-20 April 2024
- Strefa MTB Trophy: 230 km / 7656 m elevation gain / 4 days / 20-23 June 2024
- MTB Trilogy: 227 km / 7700 hm / 3 days / 03.-06.07.2024
- Rift Valley Odyssey: 475 km / 8000 hm / 5 days / 23-27 September 2024
- Sudety Challenge: 302 km / 8233 m elevation gain / 5 days (incl. time trial) / 22-26 July 2024
- La Ruta: 270 km / 8800 hm / 3 days / 21-23 November 2024
- BC Bike Race: 310 km / 8964 m elevation gain / 7 days / 01-07 July 2024
- La Leyenda Del Dorado: 280 km / 9000 hm / 5 days / 22-26.07.2024
- Alpine Tour Trophy: 192 km / 9650 m elevation gain / 4 days (incl. time trial) / 20-23 July 2024
- Andalusia Bike Race: 30 km / 10,000 m elevation gain / 6 days / 26.02.-02.03.2024
- Yak Attack400 km / 10,476 m elevation gain / 7 days / 23.05.-03.05.2025
- Swiss Epic: 350 km / 12,000 m elevation gain / 5 days / 20-24 August 2024
- Brasil Ride: 600 km / 13,000 m elevation gain / 7 days / 29 May - 1 June 2024
- Apenninica-MTB: 400 km / 13,000 m elevation gain / 6 days / 02-07 September 2024
- Mongolia Bike Challenge: / 860 km / 13,400 m elevation gain / 6 days / 09-18 August 2024
- Cape Epic: 617 km / 16,500 m elevation gain / 8 days / 16-23 March 2024
- BIKE Transalp500 km / 17,500 m altitude / 7 days / 14-20 July 2024
- Transpyr: 750 km / 18,000 m elevation gain / 7 days / 09-15 May 2024
BIKE is in the thick of it again this year! Editor Jan Timmermann will start in July 2024 at the BIKE Transalp with 17,500 metres of elevation gain - and is already warming up for the four-day Alpentour Trophy in Schladming. We are already looking forward to his reports on his experiences!
Even wilder: 7 adventure races around the world with up to 61,000 metres of elevation gain
Can it be a little more extreme? Because so far we've been talking about "ordinary" mountain bike marathons. These are tough - no question! But they are still relatively safe as part of a race event. There are refreshment stations and usually a hotel bed. But man has come up with even crazier endurance challenges.
For self-catering races such as the Tour Divide through Canada and the USA, the Hope 1000 through Switzerland or the 1000miles Challenge through the Czech Republic and Slovakia, you have to organise your own food and sleep. In bikepacking style, you carry all your luggage with you and have to fight your way from checkpoint to checkpoint.
The most daring adventurers among them regularly set recordsthat can hardly be grasped with the pure mind. In the same self-catering format, the Atlas Mountain Race in Morocco and the 20K Ultratrail in Italy - but the official race ends after a maximum of seven or eight days.
At the The Munga In South Africa, the participants only find out exactly where they have to go at the start line. They have a maximum of 120 hours to complete the route, which is at least 1130 kilometres long. At the first edition of the race, there was a million dollars in prize money to be won, more than in any other MTB competition. However, just before things got serious, the sponsor cancelled the race.
Also a lot of money is the 24,900 dollar entry fee for the Tour d'Afriquewhich runs for several months in 76 stages across the African continent - from Cairo to Capetown, a race of over 9000 kilometres!
Dates 2024/2025
- The Munga: min. 1130 km / 6435 hm / max. 120h / 27.11.2024
- Atlas Mountain Race: 1300 km / 21,140 m elevation gain / self-catering, max. 8 days / 09.02.2024
- 20K Ultratrail1000 km / 25,000 m altitude / self-catering, max. 7 days / 26.07.2024
- Hope 10001000 km / 30,000 m altitude / self-catering / 15.06.2024
- 1000miles: 1600 km / 40.000 hm / self-catering / 30.06.2024
- Tour d'Afrique: 9030 km / over 60,000 / 76 driving days / 17.01.-04.05.2025
- Tour Divide: 4418 km / 61,000 m altitude / self-catering / 14.06.2024
6 more challenges for altitude metre junkies
Mountain bikers don't necessarily have to sign up for a marathon race to gain a lot of metres in altitude. There are also established routes such as the Stoneman Miriquidi with 162 kilometres and 4400 metres of altitude or the Chiemgau King with 168 kilometres and 4629 metres of elevation gain, which bikers can tackle at any time on their own or with friends.
Another altitude metre craze has also become increasingly popular in recent years: the so-called Everesting. A biker rides up and down the same self-selected climb as many times as it takes to reach the height of Mount Everest at 8848 metres. And of course it doesn't end there. A martial trend, for example, is also Double Everest with 17,696 metres of elevation gain in one trip.
It gets even more incredible with the Olympos Mons Challengebikers climb the highest mountain in our solar system at 26,400 metres in one go - an achievement that seems to be out of this world!
Are you a multisport athlete? Then you could Adventure Racing Arouse your interest. For example, with one of the 69 races in the Adventure Racing World Series. In this year's world championship, teams will travel around 700 kilometres through Ecuador by mountain bike, pack raft, climbing and on foot.
Jan Timmermann
Editor
