The Bund Deutscher Radfahrer (BDR) has been organising selected dates for long-distance cyclists in Germany in its series since 1990. There is no official timekeeping and no closed roads, but often challenging climbs over the German low mountain ranges and always distances of over 200 kilometres. More than 130 clubs organise a long-distance event every year and look for routes with little traffic and attractive scenery that are fun to ride. The series offers a selection of events with the rating "highly recommended". 20 new tours are selected each year. The routes are signposted and there is catering, a breakdown service and first aid along the way.
A finisher jersey is awarded for five successfully completed cycling marathons and the title of "Super Finisher" is awarded for ten or more completed cycling marathons. The events in Husum (SCH) and Ibbenbüren (NRW) are included for the first time and the marathon in the Lausitzer Seenland (BRA) is back. Also new is the cycling marathon for the BDR Bundes-Radsport-Treffen, which will take place in Gelsenkirchen from 23 to 29 July 2023.
The cycling marathon dates of the 2023 series
22.04.2023 - 21st Spreewald Marathon (BRA)
For the 21st Spreewald Marathon, there are numerous cycling tours, runs, hikes, skating routes and paddle tours in Burg, Lübben, Lübbenau and Straupitz over three days. The Spreewald Marathon is the largest mass sports event in Brandenburg. The cycling marathon through the historic cultural landscape starts on Saturday at 7.45 am in Lübbenau and then criss-crosses the idyllic Spreewald.
01.05.2023 - "Joseph Easter" Cycling marathon (RLP)
At 6.00 a.m. on the dot, the marathon participants are sent off on the 218-kilometre route, which has an elevation gain of over 2800 metres. The Eifel, the Moselle valley, the Hunsrück and five romantic brook valleys through which you cycle make for a varied tour.
07.05.2023 - North Sea Cycle Marathon (SCH)
RSV Husum traditionally takes part in the NordCup Cycling Marathon, but for the first time in the Cycling Marathon Cup Germany - there is a completely new route for it. First of all, it's off to the Eiderstedt peninsula, where there are thatched cottages and unspoilt pastureland as far as the eye can see. The absolute highlight is the loop to the world-famous Westerhever lighthouse. Permission has been granted here to complete a section on the outer dyke. Freshly baked waffles and various vegan spreads are available at the Tetenbüll refreshment depot. Then it's off to Beltringharder Koog, where salty air and thousands of seabirds await the cyclists. Back in Husum, fish sandwiches are served!
28.05.2023 - RHÖN Cycle Marathon (HES)
"Whitsun is the time to ride in Bimbach" - the cycle marathon was already part of the first series of the German Cycle Marathon Cup in 1990. Germany's most famous Cycling marathon has developed into a meeting point for the scene and is therefore always fully booked. You have to register in good time for the two cycle marathon routes over 212 km and 256 km, as all 2000 places for this popular event are taken.
03.06.2023 - ERZTALER Marathon (SAC)
Just outside Dresden is the spa town of Hartha, where the Tharandter Wald cycling team starts its cycling event with tours of between 20 and 230 kilometres and, from this year, even ERZTALER off-road tours of between 40 and 120 kilometres. From here, the group starts at 6.30 a.m. on the most beautiful routes through Saxon Switzerland and the Eastern Ore Mountains. On the longer bike marathon over 230 km and 3300 metres in altitude, a detour leads to the Czech Republic.
04.06.2023 - From Hermann to Wilhelm (NRW)
The tour is known as the Alpine stage in East Westphalia-Lippe, the newly designed route leads along the Teutoburg Forest, over the hilly Lippe highlands into the panoramic Weser Uplands. Two historical monuments are "experienced" along the way, the "Hermann" near Detmold and the "Wilhelm" near Porta Westfalica. At 217 kilometres and 3300 metres in altitude, the challenging cycle marathon has many highlights to offer.
10.06.2023 - Schwalm Valley and Heights Marathon (HES)
The Schrecksbach cycling group is organising a cycling marathon for the 8th time. The route leads through a typical low mountain range landscape characterised by the Schwalm and Vogelsberg mountains. The first difficult climb over the Eisenberg exceeds 636 metres above sea level and gradients of up to eight percent are not uncommon. The high point is the Hoherodskopf at 764 metres. But professionals know that where it goes up, it also goes down again. In total, there are 3200 metres of climbing to be mastered on the 210 km long route, on roads with little traffic as far as possible.
11.06.2023 - 30th Heide Marathon (NDS)
From Altwarmbüchen, just outside Hanover, the RadTourenClub is organising its 30th RTF and offering a 215-kilometre marathon. It goes right across the Lüneburg Heath with few metres in altitude. The start is at 8.00 am and, depending on wind and weather conditions, the fastest cyclists are expected back at around 2.30 pm. In addition to a wide range of refreshments for all participants, the legendary wedding soup will once again be offered for the marathon riders.
18.06.2023 - Jura Cycle Marathon (BAY)
In Bavaria, SV Lupburg organises the Jura Cycle Marathon, a varied and appealing route through the Upper Palatinate Jura landscape. As it is cycled on side roads with very little traffic, the Jura Cycle Marathon is considered an insider's tip and there are accompanying mountain bike routes and even a gravel route in parallel to the RTF and the cycle marathon on the road. All 1,500 starting places are currently taken. However, series riders in the German Cycle Marathon Cup have special starting rights.
24.06.2023 - Tecklenburger Höhen Cycle Marathon (NRW)
After years of organising RTFs, the people of Ibbenbüren are offering a cycling marathon for the first time, thus living up to their name "Marathon Ibbenbüren" to a certain extent. With a great deal of commitment and many helpers, the organising team set about the task of offering a route with beautiful, steeper challenges in the Tecklenburger Land region as well as flat sections towards the Ems. The routes around Ibbenbüren are in a rural location with little traffic and many marvellous views of the Tecklenburger Land.
08.07.2023 - 18th Lusatian Lakeland 100 (BRA)
Lusatian Lakeland is a major event with running, skating, walking, swimming and cycling. Sport, the whole weekend in and around Großräschen. With 320 metres of climbing, it is the flattest cycling marathon in this year's German Cycling Marathon Cup. The route takes you past countless lakes and fantastic trails right next to renaturalised open-cast mine dumps, criss-crossing the southern Lausitz region.
16.07.2023 - Sparkasse Mittelholstein AG Canal trip (SCH)
The Rendsburger Bicycle-Club is taking part in the RMCD for the fourth time. There is a new route this year. Part of the route runs along the picturesque Kiel Canal. An additional highlight of the tour will be the ascent to the highest point in the region, where you can enjoy a wonderful view of the panorama of the Hütten mountains. For beginners, there is even a guided cycle marathon group with a target average of 25-27 km/k.
23.07.2023 - From Buer to the Rhine - Federal Cycling Meeting 2023 (NRW)
The Bundes-Radsport-Treffen (BRT) is the largest and most important mass sports event of the BDR and will take place from 23 to 29 July 2023 in Gelsenkirchen. There will be a week of daily cycle tours, cycle hikes and gravel tours on the most beautiful routes in the Ruhr region. Traditionally, the BRT opens on Sunday with the Deutschland Cup cycling marathon. The organising RC Buer / Westerholt throws its traditional route "From Buer to the Rhine" into the ring and scores points with a low-traffic tour to the Lower Rhine.
30.07.2023 - Holsteiner wave ride (SCH)
The event organised by RSC Kattenberg is a fixture in the NordCup, and the tour is representing Schleswig-Holstein in the German Cycling Marathon Cup for the 10th time. The wave ride is the programme for the event, which starts in Kaltenkirchen just outside Hamburg. There are around 1200 metres of climbing over the 220 kilometres; it is a constant up and down and there is also the well-known North German wind. The route leads through Holstein Switzerland and along Lake Plön to just outside Lübeck.
05.08.2023 - Göttinger Dreiländermarathon (NDS)
The RSC invites you to the 5th Göttinger Radtourenfahrt and for the third time you can also take part in the RMCD with a cycle marathon. The start is in the south-east of Lower Saxony, the other two countries mentioned in the three-country marathon are Hesse and Thuringia. The route starts with the first few metres of elevation gain and a decent climb to the Weser, which is followed for several kilometres and then continues along its source river, the Werra. Hesse is crossed at one point and then it's a long loop through Thuringia, where the highest point of the tour is crossed at 507 metres in altitude. The 214 km route covers over 3200 metres of challenging elevation gain.
06.08.2023 - East Lakes Cycle Marathon (MEV)
Starting in Schwerin, the route leads to the Schaalsee biosphere reserve, on the western side of which it heads north across Schleswig-Holstein territory. At Wohlenberger Wiek and Wismar Bay, you can get a taste of the Baltic Sea before heading south again towards the state capital. Shortly before the end, cyclists are led over the land bridge between the northern and southern parts of Lake Schwerin.
13/08/2023 - Pirker GRENZErfahrung (BAY)
Pirk is located in the Upper Palatinate, just 30 kilometres from the Czech border. On well-maintained, low-traffic roads, the route leads through the hilly landscape of the northern Upper Palatinate and over a length of 55 km through the neighbouring Czech Republic. The 3150 metres in altitude challenge the riders' fitness, but the numerous climbs are without extreme gradients and can be ridden at a good pace. Again and again, wide views of the landscape open up, in some cases as far as the Bavarian Forest.
26.08.2023 - Int. 16 dam tour (NRW)
16 reservoirs in such a small area - there is no other like it in Germany. After the start, the route leads into the Oberbergisches Land. Lonely streams, large forests and lakes create a fascinating landscape. The eastern part of the route runs through the Sauerland, where the Biggesee is the largest reservoir of the dam marathon. The low mountain ranges in the Bergisch and Sauerland regions offer the right sporting challenges, with 3500 metres of altitude to overcome on the 210 km route.
03.09.2023 - 12th St. Pauli Marathon to hell (HAM)
At the "Marathon to hell", the starters are sent off on a cycle tour to Ratzeburger See and around the Schaalsee biosphere reserve to the sounds of AC/DC's "Hells bells". The first and last refreshment depot is located at the "Unter den Linden" restaurant, known from the North German cult series "Büttenwarder".
17.09.2023 - 11th Prinzen-Rolle Cycle Marathon (RLP)
VfB Polch in Rhineland-Palatinate is hosting this year's final race of the German Cycling Marathon Cup, the Prinzen-Rolle Cycling Marathon will be held for the 11th time. Many a valley will be crossed on the 214-kilometre route, but professionals know that there is always a mountain between the valleys. And so there are 2600 metres of elevation gain, including one or two tough climbs. The Moselle with its vineyards and the Eifel with the Hohe Acht are the highlights of the tour.
Kristian Bauer
Editor
