Rennsteigride 2026

The Rennsteigride begins in Schmiedefeld, Thuringia, offering mountain bikers three off-road marathon routes through the Thuringian Forest: 35, 67, or 100 kilometers. No route is easy; the shortest covers 950 meters of climbing, the 67 km route ascends 1,820 meters, and the 100 km supermarathon gains 2,666 meters in elevation. It takes place late in the mountain-bike season and concludes the MarathonMan-Europe series. The course crosses the Rennsteig region’s forest terrain, not city streets, emphasizing sustained climbing, descending, and bike handling over pure speed. The event attracts a strong amateur field, with 645 participants in its eighth running. The weekend also features a 1,000-meter mountain sprint up the Schmiedefeld ski slope. Finishers are awarded unique slate trophies, a local tradition reflecting the race's mountain environment.