The big boom in mountain bike marathons has ebbed away dramatically in recent years. Road bike, gravel and e-bike formats are sucking the juice out of the former heroes of MTB sport. Even organisers who include the trends in their programme are struggling with the change in registration behaviour since the coronavirus.
Unfortunately, many of the small, local marathons have now disappeared from the race calendar. However, you can still rely on dense starting fields, especially at the big events. They show: The myth, the fascination, the challenge of the mountain bike marathon lives on! We present ten endurance competitions for 2026 that marathon enthusiasts should not miss.
1st Salzkammergut Trophy: 18 July 2026
"Once hell and back" - this is how the organiser advertises the infamous A-distance of the Salzkammergut Trophy. With 204 kilometres and 7029 metres of elevation gain, it is considered one of the toughest mountain bike marathons in the world. Participants have time to conquer the monster from 5.00 am to 9.00 pm, with the waiting times always breathing down their necks.
With twice the altitude metres of other major marathons, the long distance of the Salzkammergut Trophy is one of the toughest tests a cyclist can take. For those who don't feel up to it, the marathon classic has six more distance classifications.
I have already registered for the Salzkammergut Trophy 2026. The thought of the notorious A-course with over 7000 metres of altitude difference is already making me lose sleep. Anticipation mixes with dread: this challenge demands everything from even seasoned mountain bike pros. The Salzkammergut Trophy will be the highlight of my 2026 marathon season. Jan Timmermann, BIKE editor
2nd BIKE Marathon Willingen: 30 May 2026
The marathon is the sporting centrepiece of the BIKE Festival Willingen every year and takes participants over some of the most spectacular mountain bike trails in the Sauerland. When registering, there are three attractive routes to choose from, catering for every riding level. There are even UCI points up for grabs for the marathon experts with a licence. The festival site offers athletes and their families everything a biker's heart desires.
- Small loop: 33.7 km / 830 m elevation gain
- Medium loop: 71.8 km / 1880 m elevation gain
- Long tour: 110 km / 2930 metres altitude
3rd Grand Raid BCVS: 22 August 2026
First held in 1990, the Grand Raid is one of the absolute marathon classics in the Alps - a must-do for endurance junkies! With over 5000 metres in altitude, the long distance is also a tough one. The route through the high mountains of the Valais Alps is anything but easy for mountain bikers. Marathon riders can rely on spectacular landscapes and various key passages on the Grand Raid BCVS.
Routes
- 37 km / 1845 metres altitude
- 68 km / 2996 hm
- 93 km / 3944 hm
- 125 km / 5025 hm
4th Alb Gold Trophy: 26 September 2026
The Alb Gold Trophy celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026. Although the marathon on the Swabian Alb does not break any altitude records compared to the alpine events, it is still popular and attracts marathon bikers to Baden-Württemberg. Mountain bikers can still count on beautiful days in the German low mountain range at the end of September. Participants can choose between one and three laps.
Routes
- 30 km / 350 hm
- 60 km / 700 hm
- 90 km / 1050 hm
5th Hero South Tyrol Dolomites Selva Gardena: 13 June 2026
The Dolomites are rightly one of the favourite destinations for mountain sports enthusiasts. For mountain bikers, the mountain range offers plenty of opportunities to let off steam. The Hero Südtirol Dolomites is part of the UCI Cross-Country Marathon World Cup and leads through the heart of the Dolomites. Many unforgettable marathon stories have been written between the rock faces, some of which are Unesco World Heritage Sites, every year since 2010
Routes
- 60 km / 3200 hm
- 71 km / 4200 hm
- 86 km / 4500 hm
6th Alpentour Trophy Schladming: 18-21 June 2026
The four-day Alpentour Trophy is Austria's biggest UCI race. The concept is as simple as it is ingenious: the participants ride a marathon three days in a row, with the excitement culminating in the final mountain time trial on the fourth day. No Hollywood director could come up with a better sports thriller than this. The starting point is always the bike mecca of Schladming, whose bike park trails always sweeten the finish of the marathon. The entry fee includes a daily dinner where the highlights of the day are presented.
- Day 1: 60 km / 2130 m elevation gain
- Day 2: 70 km / 2760 metres altitude
- Day 3: 59 km / 2580 metres altitude
- Day 4: 11 km / 1100 m elevation gain
7th Riva Bike Marathon: 02 May 2026
The Bike Festival in Riva has been the spring kick-off for the bike scene for many years. The accompanying marathon heralds the start of the competition season in the Alps. First a marathon, then a dip in Lake Garda and dolce vita: the concept has always appealed to many mountain bikers. With its exhibitors and relaxed Italian atmosphere, the festival site provides the perfect stage.
Routes
- 30 km / 1065 hm
- 59 km / 2400 hm
- 83 km / 3400 hm
8th Endurothon Schierke: 15 August 2026
It was not without reason that the Endurothon Schierke was the venue for the German Mountain Bike Marathon Championships last year. Here in the Harz Mountains, they have set themselves the task of combining the endurance requirements of a marathon with numerous single trails. The result is a route that literally sucks the body dry and sends goose bumps down the spine of hardened athletes. The route takes bikers deep into the nature of the wild German mountains.
Routes
- 23 km / 770 hm
- 50 km / 1700 hm
- 75 km / 2550 hm
- 100 km / 3400 hm
9th Eiger Bike Challenge Grindelwald: 09 August 2026
The Eiger Bike Challenge is famous and notorious for its extremely steep elevation profile. Many metres of elevation gain are covered in just a few kilometres. The paths and trails between the alpine meadows below the legendary north face of the Eiger demand everything from marathon mountain bikers. Luckily, the organisers offer five different courses. This means that everyone can choose their own personal challenge for their legs.
Routes
- 20 km / 890 hm
- 30 km / 1458 hm
- 45 km / 2124 hm
- 50 km / 2448 hm
- 80 km / 4196 hm
10th Nutrixxion Marathon Trophy: April - August 2026
In addition to the major marathon heroes' forges, the low mountain ranges host races for everyone that offer the right dose of challenge for every mountain biker. Some of them come together in a series classification and offer marathon fans the opportunity to get their money's worth throughout the season. The first dates for the Nutrixxion Marathon Trophy have already been announced for 2026. Five events between North Rhine-Westphalia and North Hesse have been announced so far. The title sponsor has been supporting the race series for over twelve years.
Kellerwald Bike Marathon Gilserberg (12 April 2026):
- 45 km / 885 hm
- 86 km / 1796 hm
- 127 km / 2707 hm
Arnsberg MTB Marathon (07 June 2026):
- 35 km / 850 hm
- 60 km / 1700 hm
- 90 km / 2550 hm
Ars Natura Mountain Bike Marathon Morschen (14 June 2026):
- 44 km / 1109 hm
- 66 km / 1600 hm
- 88 km / 2218 hm
SKS Sauerland Marathon Schmallenberg (15 August 2026):
- 33 km / 880 hm
- 59 km / 1545 hm
- 109 km / 2880 hm
3-Valley Marathon Medebach (29 August 2026):
- 33 km / 841 hm
- 59 km / 1505 hm
- 86 km / 2169 hm
Jan Timmermann
Editor
