The organisers of the Neusiedler See Cycling Marathon are setting an example for more women in cycling in 2026. At the 34th edition of the marathon classic, the female participants will have their own starting block for the first time, which will be positioned directly behind the first men's block. With this measure, organising committee head Johannes Hessenberger and his team want to increase the proportion of women at the start of the Austria Top Tour further increase. The event will take place on 18 and 19 April in Mörbisch.
Ivan Basso as star guest
Two-time Giro d'Italia winner Ivan Basso is taking part in the cycling marathon as a celebrity ambassador. The 48-year-old Italian, who finished second in the Tour de France in 2005, now runs a professional team together with former Tour winner Alberto Contador. Basso will not be riding at race pace in the marathon classic, but will start at the front and then drop back. This will allow him to chat to the riders and provide them with slipstream. On Saturday, there will be a meet & greet with the Italian and a social ride during the Kids Races and the time trial. Basso explains that he wants the Burgenland I don't know well yet. He is looking forward to discovering the region, the lake and the surrounding landscape from the saddle.
Lake Neusiedl Cycling Marathon with World Championship qualification
The 34th edition is heading for an all-time record number of participants. The 2,500 mark could be broken for the first time. Participants can qualify for the UCI World Championships in road races and individual time trials. In three years' time, there will even be a home world championship: in 2029, the Neusiedler See Cycling Marathon will be the first time that Austria hosts a UCI Gran Fondo World Championship takes place. The route covers a mostly flat 125 kilometres around Europe's largest steppe lake.
Lake Neusiedl cycling marathon with ex-pros
In addition to Ivan Basso, other well-known athletes will be taking part. Ex-professionals Rene Haselbacher and Johnny Hoogerland as well as ski jumping expert Martin Koch will be competing in the marathon classic. The main competition will take place on 19 April, with six further competitions on the programme on Saturday. The NRM Mini offers a return ferry journey from Illmitz to Mörbisch. The kids and e-bike race, the business ride and the individual and pair time trial competitions complete the programme. The time trials are now among the biggest in the UCI Gran Fondo World Series. If you want to take the ferry back to Mörbisch with Ivan Basso, you should start in the NRM Mini or the short Business Ride.
Kristian Bauer
Editor
