WebreaderShopNewsletterTop dealers & workshops

BIKE Festival Willingen 2025BIKE marathon, kids' action & more: Saturday's highlights

Maik Schröder

 · 24.05.2025

Let's start with the BIKE Marathon: Those who opted for the long lap had to ride 110 kilometres and 2,930 metres in altitude!
Photo: desire lines
On day 2 of the BIKE Festival in Willingen, the participants of the BIKE Marathon started early in the morning. Then the kids were in the spotlight at the Vpace Kids Cup. It was a few degrees warmer and the sun came out too - which made for a great festival atmosphere on the Expo site. An overview of the highlights from Willingen on Saturday.
Topics in this article

Saturday brought great bike action in Willingen: both the adults and the youngsters were out and about on the trails around the Ettelsberg, chasing the best times. There was also plenty going on at the festival site - luckily the weather played along most of the time...

Everything about the BIKE Festival Willingen and the most exciting news and numerous impressions can also be found on our live blog throughout the weekend.

Recommended Editorial ContentInstagram

At this point, you will find external content that complements the article. You can display and hide it with a click.

External Content
I agree to display external content. This may involve the transmission of personal data to third-party platforms. Learn more in our Privacy Policy.

>> BIKE Festival Willingen 2025: Wild ride! The highlights of the 1st festival day

>> The highlights of the last festival day in Willingen

BIKE Marathon

The participants of the BIKE Marathon before the start.Photo: desire linesThe participants of the BIKE Marathon before the start.

Under a bright sky, but still a chilly 4 degrees, the almost 1000 marathon runners were sent out on the brand new long distances at 7.30 this morning. There were three distances to choose from: The short one with a flowing trail section and 33.7 kilometres, a medium one with 71.8 kilometres, 1880 metres in altitude and quite a sporty descent on the Biggenstein downhill. A two-kilometre trail that the enduro racers created last year.

Here we go: Those who opted for the long lap had to ride 110 kilometres and 2,930 metres in altitude!Photo: desire linesHere we go: Those who opted for the long lap had to ride 110 kilometres and 2,930 metres in altitude!

However, the racers who pushed themselves a second time round the Ettelsberg circuit with the Biggenstein downhill and the subsequent 150 metre uphill ramp into their burning legs were of course celebrated as the kings of the long distance. At the end, they had 110 kilometres and 2930 metres of altitude on the clock. The winner: Julia Grégoire from Belgium (time: 5:29:30 hrs), fastest man: Peat Weinberg (GER) from Altenberg (time: 4:24:34 hrs). Congratulations to all participants!

How do you like this article?

All results of the BIKE Marathon 2025 can be found here.

Vpace Kids Cup

At the Vpace Kids Cup, the youngsters were able to show what they can do.Photo: desire linesAt the Vpace Kids Cup, the youngsters were able to show what they can do.

At the Vpace Kids Cup, the youngsters were able to show what they are capable of. They raced down the slope over grass, sand trails and inbuilt ramps towards the best time. Many parents, siblings and fans stood along the course and cheered the boys and girls on. What the youngsters put on the track looked really professional!

There was a great atmosphere on the course, where the little ones were cheered on.Photo: desire linesThere was a great atmosphere on the course, where the little ones were cheered on.

But before they were allowed out on the course, the participants first had to pick up their race numbers. Some were really cool, others were certainly a little nervous. But from the looks of it, this nervousness subsided as soon as they hit the course!

Can we finally get started? First the start number, then the fun.Photo: desire linesCan we finally get started? First the start number, then the fun.

Bosch eMTB Challenge

Bosch eMTB Challenge: Around 35 kilometres and 1,000 metres in altitude - a mix of action, nature and challenge.Photo: desire linesBosch eMTB Challenge: Around 35 kilometres and 1,000 metres in altitude - a mix of action, nature and challenge.

Around 35 kilometres and 1,000 metres in altitude - a mix of action, nature and challenge. Riding technique, fitness and clever battery management are required here. The participants had to ride through certain sectors and set the best time.

The participants were divided into three categories: "Amateur Rider" for beginners and hobby riders, "Advanced Rider" for advanced eBikers and the new "Pro Rider" category for professionals.Photo: desire linesThe participants were divided into three categories: "Amateur Rider" for beginners and hobby riders, "Advanced Rider" for advanced eBikers and the new "Pro Rider" category for professionals.

The participants were divided into three categories: "Amateur Rider" for beginners and hobby riders, "Advanced Rider" for advanced eBikers and the new "Pro Rider" category for professionals. The "Advanced" bikers completed an additional stage with high technical and riding demands, which was only suitable for experienced cyclists. The "Pro Riders" also had to master another challenging Pro Stage.

Varied programme on the festival site

Fun for the whole family: that's the BIKE Festival Willingen.Photo: desire linesFun for the whole family: that's the BIKE Festival Willingen.

Visitors visibly enjoyed themselves once again on the festival site. The little ones could really let off steam on the pump track, and the grown-ups could marvel at the latest trends and innovations - or treat themselves to a cold drink.

Practise early!Photo: desire linesPractise early!Riding technique skills could be practised on the Medizini pump trackPhoto: desire linesRiding technique skills could be practised on the Medizini pump track

With little rain, midday was also an opportunity to get hold of one of the latest bikes for a test ride. Fun for the whole family.

Later in the evening, the legendary BIKE Festival Party takes place. In our Liveblog you can see impressions of the event location when the time comes. Have a look!

Maik Schröder

Maik Schröder was born in East Westphalia and prefers to ride through the countryside on his gravel bike. The tour can also include a culinary stop to fortify himself for the next few kilometres. Even if there are few metres of altitude to conquer in the flatlands, he has the ambitious goal of completing a Transalp one day. As online editor, he is responsible for creating digital editorial content such as news reports, new products and event coverage.

Home
BIKE Festival Willingen

Most read in category Events