The Rhön Cycle Marathon is a fixture in the German cycling calendar. No other cycling marathon is booked out so quickly, even though there are 2000 starting places. Whitsun in Bimbach is a saying that is deeply ingrained in the scene. The Rhön Cycle Marathon Classic Tour on 8 June 2025 offers around 214 kilometres and around 3500 metres of altitude. The route was redesigned in 2019 and leads clockwise across the "open distances" of the Hessian, Thuringian and Bavarian Rhön. When registering, a start window must be selected, which is binding. Either between 6 am and 6.15 am or between 7 am and 7.15 am. The entry fee including pre-registration fee is 60 euros.
Extreme variant with 4800 metres of altitude
Those who want even more kilometres are offered the Rhön Cycle Marathon Extreme variant (Tour E). According to the organisers, this is the most popular variant, chosen by more than half of the participants. Spread over 256 kilometres, an impressive 4800 metres in altitude await. The route focuses on the southern Rhön and the "Black Mountains". The climb from Ginolfs to the Hochrhön and the Totnansberg are two of the toughest long climbs in the Rhön. Another tough climb awaits at kilometre 198 with the Großer Nickus. The entry fee including pre-registration fee is 65 euros.
The Rhön Cycle Marathon Extreme is part of the "Bimbach 400" award and, in conjunction with Tour 4 on Saturday, leads to the achievement of the necessary 400 kilometres of altitude difference. The route of Tour 4 is centred in the southern Rhön. It offers around 2200 metres of altitude over 159 kilometres. There is no participant limit on the route.
Rhön Cycle Marathon Registration
Registration for the three long distances starts at 7 a.m. on 18 January. In the past, the marathon routes have sold out quickly. On 19 January at 7 a.m., the sale of starting places for the RTF and CTF routes begins. Demand has not been quite as high here in previous years and you can also start at shorter notice.
As in previous years, a meadow near the start area will be provided free of charge for camping. There will also be a Rhön bike fair at the start area where clothing and accessories will be on sale.
Registration: https://www.rhoen-radmarathon.de
Reportage from the Rhön Cycle Marathon 2019
Kristian Bauer
Editor
