Ecotrail Bergen.
Trail 91 km is the longest course at Ecotrail Bergen, and the only one that needs some 27 km just to reach the start line of the next distance down. Prepare for just over 4,000 metres of climbing, and above all for the hardest climb of the day arriving when you have already been out for hours.
Ecotrail Bergen 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The course starts just 14 metres above sea level and runs point to point into the finish where all five distances end. The first 27 km or so belong to it alone. Three times the trail rises past 200 metres and drops well below it again. By the time it joins the next shorter route, some 1,000 metres of climbing are already done.
Then comes the section that defines this race. From km 31 the trail gains 438 metres in just over two kilometres. That averages around 20 percent, and at the top, at about 640 metres, you reach the highest point of the course. It stays up there for several kilometres before falling back below 100 metres by km 47.
Three more climbs of at least 169 metres each follow by km 60. Just past km 65 you meet a shorter course, and it leads up once more to 575 metres. Ecotrail Bergen, set up by its organiser as an environmentally conscious race, is built this way: each shorter distance is the closing stretch of the longer one. At the very end the trail drops from just under 300 metres to close to sea level within a few kilometres, with one small rise before the finish.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 1.2 | 1.2 km | 12.7 % | 29.6 % | +146 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 19.4 | 0.9 km | 14.7 % | 27.6 % | +132 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 29.1 | 1.4 km | 9.3 % | 21.8 % | +133 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 30.8 | 2.1 km | 20.6 % | 45.4 % | +438 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 48.4 | 1.7 km | 10 % | 21.1 % | +169 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 54.8 | 2.1 km | 10.5 % | 28.1 % | +224 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 58 | 1.7 km | 15.1 % | 30 % | +260 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 65.7 | 1.5 km | 17.6 % | 36.4 % | +268 m | Cat. 3 |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Ecotrail Bergen.
Start under control
The first 27 km are a run-up, even if they do not feel like one. Around a quarter of the total climbing sits there, and none of it decides anything. Run it easily enough that at the foot of the big climb at km 31 you feel as if you have only just warmed up.
Hold your rhythm
That climb is the first trap. At around 20 percent it lasts long enough to push your heart rate somewhere you will pay for that evening. Walk it at a pace you could hold for another hour, and treat the kilometres at 600 metres as recovery rather than a chance to bank time.
Spend what is left
The race is decided later. After the low point at km 47 the climbs come close together. From km 66 the trail then takes you one last time from low down all the way to 575 metres. If you can still climb steadily there, you will also get down the last steep descent under control. More than 40 percent of the course runs downhill, and hard braking early on leaves you without quads at the end.
Training plan for Ecotrail Bergen: 12-week build
Build the base
Age-group runners can expect around 14 to 21 hours here, and on a day like that endurance counts for far more than any speed session. The effort is almost entirely aerobic and swings constantly between climbing and braking, since only about a seventh of the course is close to flat.
Train race pace
Two things decide your day. The steep climb after just over 30 km has to be hiked without overreaching. And after more than 65 km you must still be able to climb almost another 500 metres. Neither comes from running volume alone.
Rehearse the course
Build your long sessions so the hardest climbs come late, and on some weekends run two long days back to back. Steep hiking deserves its own session: long repeats on very steep slopes at a pace you can sustain. Add downhill running on tired legs, because the last big descent only begins after about 85 km.
Arrive fresh
The race falls in late June, which puts your longest sessions in May and the first half of June. Use them to practise eating and drinking while hiking uphill as well. On a course with so little flat ground there is hardly another moment for it, and over this many hours that skill is as much a part of training as any climb.
Courses
Download the Ecotrail Bergen course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Ecotrail Bergen dynamically
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Everything about Ecotrail Bergen.
How long is Ecotrail Bergen?
Ecotrail Bergen is 91 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Ecotrail Bergen have?
Ecotrail Bergen has around 4,073 m of elevation gain over 91 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Ecotrail Bergen?
Ecotrail Bergen is classified as Mountainous, averaging 44.4 vertical metres per kilometre. 14% of the route is flat, 21% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 22% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Ecotrail Bergen have?
The hardest climb of Ecotrail Bergen starts at kilometre 30.8, runs for 2.1 km at an average of 20.6% and gains 438 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 2. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Ecotrail Bergen a loop course?
No, Ecotrail Bergen is a point-to-point course: start and finish are in different places.
Is there a GPX file for the Ecotrail Bergen course?
Yes. The Ecotrail Bergen course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Ecotrail Bergen?
Preparation for Ecotrail Bergen should account for 91 km, 4,073 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Ecotrail Bergen?
The pacing strategy for Ecotrail Bergen should reflect 91 km, 4,073 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Ecotrail Bergen take place?
Ecotrail Bergen takes place on June 26, 2027.
Where does Ecotrail Bergen take place?
Ecotrail Bergen takes place in Bergen, Norway.
Which distances does Ecotrail Bergen offer?
Ecotrail Bergen offers 5 distances — Trail 91 km: 91 km; Trail 65 km: 65 km; Trail 45 km: 45 km; Trail 27 km: 27 km; Trail 12 km: 12 km.
How do I register for Ecotrail Bergen?
Registration runs through the organiser: ecotrailbergen.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
