As recently as December, the organisers feared for the staging of the cycling marathon because construction work on the Brenner motorway was putting pressure on the alternative routes. However, the brief period of uncertainty seems to have fuelled the hype surrounding the Ötztaler. Hardly had there been Green light from the authoritiesthe hunt for a starting place began. For the 2025 edition, 25,198 cyclists from 50 countries applied for a starting place via the lottery. This represents a new record in the history of the race. Compared to the previous year, when 22,000 people registered, this represents an increase of more than 14 per cent. In previous years, often only 15,000 names made it into the lottery pot. The organisers are impressed by the continuing popularity of the event. Dominic Kuen, head of the organising committee, emphasises: "The majority of registrations once again came from Germany, but we have received enquiries from all parts of the world and from more nations than ever before. This shows us that the legend of the Ötztal Cycle Marathon is unbroken."
Ötztal Cycle Marathon: strict participant limit
Despite the overwhelming demand, only around 4000 starting places will be allocated, as in previous years. The lucky participants will be chosen by lottery in mid-February. Last year, 4226 cyclists from 36 nations took part, including 341 women and 3885 men. The strict limit on the number of participants is necessary to ensure safety on the challenging route and to be able to cope with the logistical effort. The organisers have to perform a balancing act between the high demand and the organisational possibilities.
Ötztal Cycle Marathon 2025: route over four Alpine passes
The fascination of the Ötztal Cycle Marathon lies not least in its challenging route. Participants have to cover a distance of 227 kilometres and officially climb 5500 metres in altitude. The route leads over four high alpine passes: Kühtai, Brenner, Jaufenpass and, as the crowning finale, the 29-kilometre Timmelsjoch. The finish is in Sölden in Ötztal, where the participants are welcomed by numerous spectators. In recent years, the route has only been changed following landslides and other unplanned natural events.
Specialised becomes new main sponsor
One innovation for the 2025 edition is the partnership with a new main sponsor. The bike manufacturer Specialized will take on this role. Dominic Kuen explains: "As one of the world's leading manufacturers of performance bikes and innovative bike technology, Specialized embodies everything that the ÖRM stands for - passion, joy and the pursuit of top performance." Founded in 1974, the US company is known for its high-quality cycling equipment and technological innovations. The partnership promises to create added value for both the event and the participants.
Significance for grassroots cycling
The concentration on big names can be observed in many areas. In cycling, the Ötztaler Cycle Marathon benefits from this trend. There is no other Alpine marathon where the time achieved can be estimated so well - the Ötztaler finish time has become proof of performance in recent years. Closed roads, perfect organisation and a challenging route are the basis for success. There are several tougher routes in the annual calendar - but no event in the German-speaking world can match the popularity of the Ötztaler.
Kristian Bauer
Editor
