The ultimate marathon experience: KitzAlpBike-Marathon 2023
For the 27th time, the international mountain bike community will meet in the Brixental Valley on 1st June 2023 for one of the toughest, but also most beautiful long-distance races of the racing season: the KitzAlpBike.
Four different distances await - varying from tough to tender - but each one is a unique ride surrounded by breathtaking mountain scenery that takes you to your personal performance limits and beyond. The "most tender" face of the KitzAlpBike Mountain Bike Marathon is the medium distance. Here, the athletes are put through their paces over 38 kilometres and with a difference in altitude of 1,500 metres. Even though it is the shortest version of the KitzAlpBike, the long and challenging climb up the Choralpe (1,000 metres in altitude) alone is a real test of fitness.
The 65 kilometres and 2,500 metres of altitude on the MEDIUM PLUS course are once again very demanding. After the challenging climbs up the Choralpe and the Pengelstein, the race sends its participants back down into the valley via the Fleckalm trail. On its challenging root sections, riding technique and know-how are a must in order to be both safe and fast.
The EXTREME distance at the KitzAlpBike 2023 adds another dimension. 74 kilometres with 3,000 metres of altitude difference, including climbs to the Choralpe and the Pengelstein, and a detour to the Hierzeggalm await. Steep climbs are followed by action-packed descents on the numerous single trails in the biker region. The EXTREME distance presents itself as a technical and physical challenge - even extreme for professionals.
The supreme discipline, the ULTRA distance, leads the participants of the "Streif of mountain bikers" across the Kitzbühel Alps. The 86 kilometres and 3,600 metres of altitude difference, peppered with awe-inspiring uphills, technical trails and speedy downhills, push even the hardiest to the limit under the mountain bike sun. After the last section of the route, the riders take the Hahnenkamm trail in the direction of Kitzbühel to the Seidlalm Lake, via the Steilhang, Mausefalle and Hocheck to the Hahnenkamm mountain-top station. The route to the finish leads via the Fleckalm Trail to Kirchberg.
Hundreds of spectators will once again line the edge of the course this year, cheering the athletes on with frantic shouts of encouragement as they battle against their inner obstacles. The start for all distances is at 8 a.m. From this time onwards, spectators can take the SkiWelt gondola lift in Brixen up to the Choralpe, where the first athletes will reach the summit over 1,800 metres above sea level shortly before 9 a.m.