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The 10 best marathon races

Sebastian Brust

 · 03.01.2013

The 10 best marathon racesPhoto: Robert Niedring
The 10 best marathon races
The tension in many a starting block could probably electrify an entire city. When the gun finally fires, the energy of thousands of participants is discharged into unstoppable propulsion. Marathons are fascinating, these ten marathons are fascinating.

Grand Raid/Cristalp

That's why you should start at the Grand Raid/Cristalp: The Cristalp is the classic par excellence and therefore a must. Otherwise, the Swiss serenity is inspiring.Photo: Marek Vogel That's why you should start at the Grand Raid/Cristalp: The Cristalp is the classic par excellence and therefore a must. Otherwise, the Swiss serenity is inspiring.

Routes: 68 km/2996 m elevation gain, 93 km/3944 m elevation gain, 125 km/5025 m elevation gain
Entry fee: from 80 euros
Date: 23/24 August 2013
Place: Verbier (Switzerland)
Internet: http://www.grand-raid.ch

Dolomiti Superbike

That's why you should start at the Dolomiti Superbike: the starter pack is a tasty treat and filled with a variety of culinary delights from local producers. These include apples, yoghurt, Schüttelbrot bread and pasta. It's a wonderful way to savour your work in front of a magnificent Alpine backdrop.Photo: Sportograf That's why you should start at the Dolomiti Superbike: the starter pack is a tasty treat and filled with a variety of culinary delights from local producers. These include apples, yoghurt, Schüttelbrot bread and pasta. It's a wonderful way to savour your work in front of a magnificent Alpine backdrop.

Routes: 60 km/1785 m elevation gain, 113 km/3357 m elevation gain
Entry fee: from 60 euros
Date: 6 July 2013
Place: Villabassa (Italy)
Internet http://www.dolomitisuperbike.com

Salzkammergut Trophy

That's why you should take part in the Salzkammergut Trophy: the Trophy is the ultimate challenge, there's nowhere else with more metres in altitude.Photo: Erwin Haiden That's why you should take part in the Salzkammergut Trophy: the Trophy is the ultimate challenge, there's nowhere else with more metres in altitude.

Routes: 74 km/2446 m elevation gain, 120 km/3848 m elevation gain, 211 km/7049 m elevation gain
Entry fee: from 30 euros
Date: 13.7.2013
Venue: Bad Goisern (Austria)
Internet: http://www.salzkammergut-trophy.at

Black Forest Ultra Bike

That's why you should start at the Black Forest Ultra Bike: Impressive panorama and endless downhills in the Black Forest.Photo: Sportograf That's why you should start at the Black Forest Ultra Bike: Impressive panorama and endless downhills in the Black Forest.

Routes: 77 km/2050 m elevation gain, 89 km/2300 m elevation gain, 110 km/3150 m elevation gain
Entry fee: from 50 euros
Date: 23.6.2013
Place: Kirchzarten
Internet: http://www.ultra-bike.de

National Park Marathon

That's why I want to start at the Natiional Park Marathon: Because of the fascinating high mountain landscape and the high proportion of single trails.Photo: Martin Platter That's why I want to start at the Natiional Park Marathon: Because of the fascinating high mountain landscape and the high proportion of single trails.
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Routes: 71 km/1750 m elevation gain, 104 km/2870 m elevation gain, 138 km/4010 m elevation gain
Entry fee: from 49 euros
Date: 31.8.2013
Place: Scuol (Switzerland)
Internet: http://www.bike-marathon.com

Rocky Mountain BIKE Marathon powered by Vaude

So start at the Willingen BIKE Marathon: After the race, the manufacturers' car parks await.Photo: Robert Niedring So start at the Willingen BIKE Marathon: After the race, the manufacturers' car parks await.

Routes: 53 km/1470 m elevation gain, 96 km/2748 m elevation gain, 123 km/3555 m elevation gain
Entry fee: 42,50 Euro
Date: 14-16 June 2013
Venue: Willingen
Internet: http://willingen.bike-festival.de

Hibike Spessart BIKE Marathon

That's why you should start at the Spessart BIKE Marathon: great atmosphere at the edge of the course, super organisation and an ingenious route.Photo: Sportograf That's why you should start at the Spessart BIKE Marathon: great atmosphere at the edge of the course, super organisation and an ingenious route.

Routes: 40 km/1050 m elevation gain, 80 km/2300 m elevation gain, 110 km/3200 m elevation gain
Entry fee: from approx. 35 euros
Date: 12/13 October 2013
Venue: Frammersbach
Internet: http://www.bike-spessart.de

Erzgebirge Bike Marathon

That's why you can start at the Erzgebirgs-Bike-Marathon: Certificate in BIKE title design with your own photo and wooden pinion finisher medal.Photo: Peter Neusser That's why you can start at the Erzgebirgs-Bike-Marathon: Certificate in BIKE title design with your own photo and wooden pinion finisher medal.

Routes: 40 km/800 m elevation gain, 70 km/1600 m elevation gain, 100 km/2400 m elevation gain
Entry fee: from 28 euros
Date: 3/4 August 2013
Place: Seiffen
Internet: http://www.erzgebirgs-bike-marathon.de

Roc-d'Azur Marathon

That's why I started at the Roc-d'Azur Marathon: What better way to round off the season than under the French Mediterranean sun.Photo: Michal Cerveny That's why I started at the Roc-d'Azur Marathon: What better way to round off the season than under the French Mediterranean sun.

Routes: 44 km/1250 m elevation gain, 56 km/1800 m elevation gain, 83 km/2700 m elevation gain
Entry fee: from 22 euros
Date: 9-13 October 2013
Venue: Fréjus (France)
Internet: http://www.rocazur.com

Mad East Challenge

That's why you should take part in the Mad East Challenge: a marathon weekend couldn't be more compact and challenging.Photo: Henri Lesewitz That's why you should take part in the Mad East Challenge: a marathon weekend couldn't be more compact and challenging.

Routes: 45 km/1500 m elevation gain, 75 km/2000 m elevation gain, 82 km/2750 m elevation gain
Entry fee from 20 Euro
Date 22/23 June 2013
Place Dresden
Internet: http://www.madmission.de


The GPS data - if available - can be downloaded free of charge below.

Note: Some of the GPS data was provided by the organisers. Although they have been compiled with great care, they should be regarded as guidelines for which we cannot accept any liability. Due to the use of different GPS devices and software or different weather conditions compared to the recording, there may be isolated deviations. We therefore recommend that you take a map of the region with you in addition to your device.

Downloads:

GPS data: Marathons - Salzkammergut Trophy (pdf)

GPS data: Marathons - Roc d'Azur Marathon (pdf)

GPS data: Marathons - Willingen BIKE Marathon (pdf)

GPS data: Marathons - National Park Marathon (pdf)

GPS data: Marathons - Switzerland: Grand Raid/Cristalp (pdf)

GPS data: Marathons - Mad East Challenge (pdf)

GPS data: Marathons - Erzgebirgs-Bike-Marathon (pdf)

GPS data: Marathons - Dolomiti Supberbike (pdf)

Sebastian Brust was born in 1979 and was originally socialised on his grandmother's folding bike, but has mainly been riding studded tyres since his fifth birthday. Loves all kinds of bikes - and merging with nature. Believes that disc brakes are much safer today than they were 15 years ago and thinks he has helped with his brake and pad tests. However, the trained vehicle technology engineer very much regrets that the bicycle industry is orientating itself on what he considers to be the wrong ideals of the car industry. At BIKE, he corrects, produces and organises digital content on the website.

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