Black Forest ULTRA Bike Marathon 2026

The Black Forest Ultra Bike Marathon begins and ends in Kirchzarten, a cycling hub on the edge of Germany’s Black Forest. It takes place each July as a mountain bike marathon for participants seeking significant climbing over flat speed. The full Ultra route spans 118 km with 3,550 meters of elevation gain. Shorter options cover 71 km, 54 km, and 46 km, accommodating both long-distance specialists and those entering a challenging off-road event at a shorter distance. The course crosses the Dreisam Valley and the southern Black Forest, passing through Kirchzarten, Hinterzarten, Todtnauberg, and Feldberg, with its summit at 1,492 meters. Temperatures can vary from approximately 30°C in the valleys to around 10°C at higher elevations, making clothing and pacing as critical as fitness. Annually, about 5,000 cyclists participate, and the event retains a sentiment from its first winner, Mike Kluge: “Everyone who finishes the ULTRA Bike is a winner.”