BIKE Festival Willingen 2025: Read about Germany's biggest bike festival in the live blog
From 23 to 25 May 2025, Willingen once again hosted one of the largest outdoor bike trade fairs in Germany, with over 100 exhibitors, endless testing opportunities and lots of races and events for the whole family. After the 25th anniversary last year was once again a resounding success, 2025 was another year of numerous highlights at the foot of the Ettelsberg. There was plenty on offer for kids in particular this year.
You can read all about the most exciting new products, the racing action, the side events and much more in our Live blog of the BIKE Festival Willingen.
Read our live blog about the BIKE Festival Willingen 2025
The Expo: The heart of the BIKE Festival
The heart of the BIKE Festival is of course the huge Expo area. This is no less than one of the largest German outdoor trade fairs in the MTB sector. Around 100 exhibitors showcase the season's new products and await you with brand new test equipment, which you can put to the test directly in the neighbouring bike park. An overview of all exhibitors and the festival schedule can be found on the BIKE Festival Willingen event website. Parts and accessories are sometimes available at trade fair prices. One or two celebrities will also be making an appearance - so it's well worth a visit. Entry to the Expo is free of charge.
Washing area
Pouring rain, sleet and even snow on the Ettelsberg - the BIKE Festival in Willingen has really seen everything the weather gods have in their repertoire. But nobody has ever let it spoil their mood. When the mud flies, biking is really fun. Dr Wack Chemie takes care of the shower afterwards with its F100 bike cleaner. The washing area is open on all three days of the festival - it's not just the bikes that get clean again here.
Dance marathon
The legendary festival party is back on Saturday evening. If you haven't had enough exercise by then, you can let the fat beats of our DJs knead your legs tired. When the marathon runners have long since slept off their lactate rush, the party marathon really gets going in the K1 hut. We start at 9 pm, serving good vibes and cold drinks. By the way, our party is open to everyone who is in a party mood, not just festival visitors.
Adventure playground
Test bikes, whizz around the Medizini pump track all day or get a taste of racing for the first time - the kids' programme is huge.
For heaven's sake, don't park the kids with their grandparents this weekend! We have expanded the festival programme for the next generation of bikers: our partner Medizini has installed even more pump track curves in the middle of the exhibitor area. In this kids' area, professional guides will look after the youngest riders and show them in a playful way how they can get even more fun out of themselves and their bikes.
And if your own bike has become too small in the meantime: There are small hire bikes available in the area, but the festival exhibitors around it also have test bikes ranging from wheels to small racing bikes. The latter could already be used in the Lazer Junior Trophy on the Sunday of the festival. While the youngest riders (born in 2021 and later) meet up for the first Puki race of their lives, those born between 2015 and 2010 will already be casually rolling onto the starting line on carbon bikes. Spectators should not miss the final races of the VPace Kids Cup (Saturday, from 12.30 pm). The excitement among 5 to 10-year-olds is even greater here, as they will be racing downhill in full kit. Just like the big downhillers, of course, with a track walk beforehand and an award ceremony on the podium afterwards. Too much excitement? Then the kids' mountain bike network in Willingen is just the thing. Simply follow the symbols for the bird, rabbit, squirrel and bear tour (8-21 km)! Info: willingen.de
Tent festival
The camping area at the BIKE Festival is legendary and notorious. It's not just the amateur downhill racers who set up camp here and work on their bikes right next to the track - visitors can always take a look over the mechanics' shoulders and pop in for a quick tech talk - there are also plenty of other curious campervans to marvel at. From a converted UAZ Buchanka to a stylish biker bully, you've seen it all here. The only thing you can't do here is rest. Because as soon as the sun goes down, the parties start between the tents. Bike jumping and beer ping-pong included. Information on the basic camping areas can be found on the festival website. If you want something a little more comfortable, you can rent a pitch in the well-equipped Willingen mobile home park.
The Orbea offensive
With a team truck at the Festival Expo! Orbea has only just signed a partnership with FMD Racing and is now heading into the 2025 World Cup season with one of the best racing teams in the world, so it's just perfect that the World Cup season opener is taking place in Bielsko-Biala, Poland, the weekend before the BIKE Festival in Willingen. Because on the way back, Orbea's brand new, huge team truck will turn up in Willingen and will not only serve as an eye-catcher and stand on the Expo site. This truck will also be loaded with a lot of stuff: The brand new bike: The latest creation from the Orbea designers will see the light of day on the big festival stage on Friday. It will be unveiled with great ceremony - as befits the unveiling of a previously camouflaged prototype. Afterwards, you can admire the bike up close, take photos and ask the designer all about it. "The Gravity Cooperative": Orbea and FMD Racing have formed their new racing team in the downhill and freeride categories under this umbrella. And as the team truck has just come from the Downhill World Cup, there is an extremely high probability that downhill stars such as Tahnee Seagrave and Martin Maes will be hopping off the bus in Willingen. You can then go on Orbea Trests with these girls and boys. We recommend that you secure one of the e-gravel and e-MTBs in good time. Just like the information on all other planned Orbea festival side events.
Cruising green trails
The goal is to build 200 kilometres of trails throughout the region by 2028 and link them with 200 kilometres of connecting trails. This would make sporty rides from one bike park to the next possible in the Sauerland, as well as relaxed forest walks for the whole family. So far, almost half of the project has been realised: there are already five completed routes at Diemelsee (total 52.11 km), four laps in the forests of Korbach (total: 17.82 km) and two laps in Willingen (total: 19.36 km). Don't expect a carpet of root wonders here. Instead, the Green Trails are a flow trail network for relaxed forest cruisers. And even enduro bikers and downhillers will be delighted when they crank up the four-kilometre uphill trail from Willingen through the Hoppecke valley. Playfully uphill, but also downhill through a beautiful forest. Before continuing with gusto to the Ettelsberg or the marathon downhill trail. The current status with map is available at greentrails.de
BIKE Academy
Learning from the pros - that's the motto of the BIKE Academy. The timetable is full to bursting, but more exciting topics will be added right up to the start of the festival. In addition to technical tutorials, do-it-yourself workshops and meet & greets, there are plenty of courses on the topics of brakes, suspension and drivetrain. This year, we were also able to win Schwalbe for the BIKE Academy, who will be coming with their tyre experts to share their concentrated knowledge on casings, rubber compounds and tubeless set-up. You can still register during the festival - while space lasts.
Bike Marathon Willingen: More panorama, more flow
The new routes of the BIKE Marathon have a little bit more of everything: panorama, trails, flow and scenic highlights are constantly interspersed along the way. This year, route director Volker Schröder has only saved on metres in altitude. Marathon beginners in particular, or anyone who wants to step on the gas at the party in the evening, can look forward to a shortened small loop (33.7 km/830 metres in altitude) with easy flow trails on the Dreiskopf. However, if you can motivate your inner badass to tackle a further 40 kilometres (and 1000 metres in altitude) of the medium route, you can enjoy completely new, crisp trail descents. Take the Biggenstein downhill, for example: steep, rough and full of roots, this forest trail sabres your nerves and suspension. And as soon as you have passed this two-kilometre-long test, the next one piles up on the other side of the valley. This time, however, it's uphill: 150 metres in altitude with a 10 percent gradient now have to be pressed into the cranks. Painful, but beautiful? Then take on the long loop, so you can experience the whole thing again and even collect UCI points! E-bikers are also allowed to take part in the medium distance this year. Out of competition, but with the challenge: the battery must last to the finish.
The 3 distances
Last registrations are still possible on the Saturday of the festival, from 6 to 7 am. Marathon start: 7.30 am
- Small round: 33.7 km / 830 m elevation gain
- Middle round: 71.8 km / 1880 metres altitude
- Large round: 110 km / 2930 hm
Orbea Wild Ride: German E-Enduro Championship
Willingen has a proven track record when it comes to organising championships. However, the Orbea Wild Ride marks the premiere of the German E-Enduro Championships.
The current German E-Enduro champions are Sofia Wiedenroth and Andre Kleindienst. Orbea launched the new format - the Orbea Wild Ride - together with race organiser Racement in 2024. This year, the race will celebrate its premiere in Willingen and last year's winners will have to defend their titles on the challenging tracks of the Hochsauerland. Both licensed and amateur riders can compete against the champs. A total of 6 stages will be completed. The varied track layout will be designed in such a way that illegal engine tuning will not bring any advantages. However, anyone who thinks they can overtake the pros in power mode could soon find themselves with an empty battery - changing the battery during the race is prohibited. As is usual in enduro racing, the route is kept secret until the start numbers are issued - so it remains exciting right up to the start! In addition, all stages are ridden blind and without training.
Info & Notes
The German Championship under the name Orbea Wild Ride will be held on Friday at 13:30 in the two categories Elite Women and Elite Men, with the Open Women, Open Men and Open Masters classes also being held. The course: The course consists of six stages and will be announced at the start number distribution. Only pedelecs with pedal assistance of up to 25 km/h and a maximum rated continuous power of 250 watts and a maximum power of 750 watts are permitted to compete. Changing the battery during the race is not permitted.
IXS Downhill Cup
It is also known as: The Hard Line - Diddie Schneider once laid out the downhill course on the Ettelsberg. The brief: to make the 2005 and 2006 World Cup racers really sweat. And it did just that. Despite various modifications, the character of the Hard Line has not changed to this day. Those who plunge in from the start ramp are confronted with rock gardens, root packages and steep chutes. The highlights are the road gap and the drop in the middle section, which is up to six metres high. Length: 1600 metres, height difference: 250 metres. Fancy it? Click here to register: ixsdownhillcup.com.
Scott Enduro: On a secret mission
Every year, the Willingen trail builders draw a few new lines in the soft forest soil around the Ettelsberg. This keeps things particularly exciting at the Scott Enduro. The new routes are only announced when the start numbers are handed out. In addition to the classic descents around the bike park, the "loamy" trails, which are peppered with banked roots and tree stumps, are what make the enduro race so appealing. The loose terrain with its natural obstacles requires a particularly creative riding style and is a lot of fun. Germany's series champion Christian Textor knows this too. He had to relinquish his title to Torben Drach two years ago, but was able to regain the championship title at last year's edition after a spectacular race. This year, the race in Willingen will take a break from the German Enduro Championships. Instead, amateur racers can catapult themselves into the enduro flow on the high-speed tracks around Willingen.
Info & Notes
The Scott Enduro has a total of seven categories: Elite Men, Elite Women, Pro Masters, Open Men, Open Women, Open Junior male and Pro Junior male. The procedure: The route will only be announced at the start number distribution on site. Each participant will receive a map showing the course. The race will start in individual mode, i.e. participants will be sent out onto the course at 20-second intervals. The award ceremony will take place approx. 30 minutes after the race.
Bosch eMTB Challenge: Skill test
The Bosch eMTB Challenge is the ultimate skills test for e-mountain bikers and great fun for all skill levels. This year there are three categories - Amateur, Advanced and Pro. The latter was introduced due to the cancellation of the EDR-E and includes a more demanding Pro stage. One thing in particular awaits you at the Challenge: varied trails. Around 35 kilometres and 1,000 metres in altitude have to be mastered. Riding technique is just as important as orientation, fitness and clever battery management. The so-called stages, a mixture of different uphill and downhill routes, are ridden for a time without training. The so-called "No Feet Zones" must be mastered without putting your feet down, otherwise you will be penalised. On the transfer routes, on the other hand, it's not about speed; good orientation is required here, as these sections are ridden according to a map. The Bosch eMTB Challenge is particularly fun with friends, as you can compete against each other on the stages and pass the transfer sections with tech talk. But be careful: If you ride past the orientation points while chatting away, you will incur a penalty time.
The most important rules
There are three start categories: eMTB Rider Amateur, eMTB Rider Advanced and Pro. All Advanced participants complete an additional stage with high technical and riding requirements. There is no training. A route map will be handed out at the start. The order of the landmarks and stages must be adhered to. Time is only measured on the stages, while no-feet zones apply on the uphill stages, where putting your foot down results in a ten-second penalty. Compulsory equipment: helmet, gloves, knee pads.
Vpace Kids Cup: Downhill preschool
Start number distribution, riders meeting, track walk - it feels like the Downhill World Cup. Except that the riders are still at school and have their heads in helmets the size of astronauts. Until a few years ago, the youngest members of the family were just spectators at the race weekends. But with the VPace Kids Cup, there is now a separate racing series for children aged between five and ten. Demand is huge and the starting places are usually fully booked shortly after registration opens. No wonder, as the kids experience pure racing feeling here. After registering and picking up their race number, running the course is part of the routine for budding downhillers. This includes around 400 metres of obstacles suitable for children, such as grass bends, berms, waves, stone fields and small jumps. Together with bike stars such as Jasper Jauch and Marcus Klausmann, the young racers identify the best lines and key sections during the track walk. During training, the rookies can memorise the track in detail before leaving the starting gate for the first of two final runs. Then it's all about Keep your nerve and go full throttle. At the award ceremony, however, everyone is a winner, because only every child is honoured. What counts is the Olympic idea: participation is a great achievement. And in the end, it's all about everyone having fun - the little ones as well as the grown-ups.
Info
The VPace Kids Cup consists of a total of six events in 2025. There are three age groups, divided into boys and girls. The courses are approx. 400 metres long and include child-friendly obstacles such as grass bends, berms, waves and small jumps. After the track walk and training run, the actual race takes place in two timed heats. Each child receives a medal at the award ceremony.
Lazer Junior Trophy
Racing like the big boys and shooting across the same finishing straight as the marathon pros - that's really only possible at the Lazer Junior Trophy in Willingen. Parents and festival visitors stand along the course and cheer on the kids with great enthusiasm. Even the very youngest can take part here. It all starts with the "Minis" in the 2022-2021 age group, who are allowed to use anything that rolls on two wheels, so the kids can complete their first real race on a balance bike. The track is first explored on a trial lap before heading straight to the starting grid. And then there's no stopping the kids. Of course, the Lazer Junior Trophy is also a winner-takes-all event! But as with the Kids Cup, every single participant receives a medal. So it's worth taking part and is guaranteed to be an unforgettable experience for all children.
Shimano Gravel Ride: Gravel party for a limited time
Cranked handlebar fans take note: The Shimano Gravel Ride is coming in 2025 with a completely new format. Until now, the focus of our gravel ride has been on the picturesque landscape of the Sauerland. But this year, all gravel bikers who like to grab the lower handlebars will have the opportunity to compete with the other participants on two sections of the route. This is where the clock is ticking this time. Another new feature is the 45-kilometre loop via Niedersfeld, Küstelberg and Titmaringhausen. You will cross impressive nature reserves and unique high heath areas. The highlight is the Graf Stollberg Hütte at kilometre 28, where participants can take a well-earned break and enjoy a breathtaking panorama (all participants will receive a voucher for the hut in their starter pack).
The format
The gravel ride on Friday is 44.3 km long and has 950 metres of elevation gain, a mix of asphalt side roads, gravel paths and natural forest and meadow paths. The gravel ride is based on GPX data and is not signposted. The two time stages at kilometre 21.5 and kilometre 33 will be announced and marked by signs. A GPX-compatible navigation device is recommended for all participants.
