Eddy Merckx Classic Radmarathon: Course, Elevation & Route Profile

Course & Elevation

Starting and finishing in Fuschl am See, the long route opens through the hilly Salzkammergut countryside on public roads, passing several of the region's lakes and small villages. Short, punchy ramps alternate with rolling terrain from the first kilometres, a pattern that recurs throughout the day, and the field spreads out early.

The decisive section begins at kilometre 43: the Gaisberg Höhenstraße above Salzburg near Zistelalm, climbing roughly five kilometres at around six percent to just under 950 metres. It's the long route's only clearly categorised climb, the point where the field finally sorts itself out, and also what sets the long route apart from the two shorter routes, which never reach this altitude.

More than 120 kilometres remain after the summit. The second half stays rolling, with recurring short ramps between five and eight percent that are never long individually but add up over the distance. Only in the closing kilometres does the terrain noticeably ease, before the course drops back down to the Fuschlsee and finishes where it started.

Pacing Strategy

At almost 2,600 metres of climbing over 169 kilometres, the long route is neither a flat sprint nor a high-mountain stage: the effort is spread across many short ramps rather than a few big ones. Riding the opening rolling kilometres too hard, just because the field pushes the pace there, costs you later.

The race is decided on the Gaisberg Höhenstraße between kilometre 43 and 48, but more than 120 kilometres remain after it, which is the day's main pacing trap: burning matches on the climb and starting the second half empty. Keep something in reserve at the summit for the recurring short ramps still to come, rather than treating the climb like a time trial.

In the closing kilometres back into Fuschl am See the field strings out again as the last short ramps arrive. A steady effort held over the whole day pays off more here than an early surge or a late attack.

Training plan for Eddy Merckx Classic Radmarathon: 12-week build

For most age-group riders the long route takes five to seven hours. The effort is mostly steady and aerobic, punctuated by shorter, harder efforts on the ramps and the Gaisberg climb, not a sustained threshold race, but not pure endurance pace either. July heat in the Salzkammergut adds a further factor over that much time in the saddle.

The decisive phase is the climb to the Gaisberg Höhenstraße between kilometre 43 and 48: roughly five kilometres averaging six percent, arriving after the first third of the race, best ridden on fresh legs. After that, the outcome depends mostly on how well you handle the many short ramps of the second half over more than 120 kilometres, once your legs are already tired.

Prepare with long rides of four to six hours that include one clearly defined climb of five to eight percent over several kilometres, ideally placed in the second half of the session. Add rolling endurance rides with repeated short ramps to train the ability to absorb many short efforts back to back, rather than one long climb.

Because the course doesn't flatten out until late, it's worth practising tempo efforts at the end of long rides when your legs are already tired, exactly the situation you'll face on the 120 kilometres after the Gaisberg. Use those long rides to rehearse steady fuelling and drinking too, since nutrition is part of what decides the closing rolling kilometres at this distance.