ASVÖ King of the Lake.
The individual time trial at King of the Lake runs 47 flat kilometres around the Attersee – a pure race against the clock. More than half the course is dead level, with only a gentle rise near kilometre 24 to break the rhythm. This is about holding constant power in an aerodynamic position. Also known as KOTL.
King of the Lake 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
Once around Lake Attersee, clockwise, on fully closed roads: that is the ASVÖ King of the Lake, regarded as Europe's largest individual time trial. Start and finish sit at the marina in Kammer near Schörfling, from where the loop leads via Weyregg, Unterach and Attersee back to where it began. Alongside individual riders, four-person teams take on the 47.2 km, raced in mid-September against an autumnal lakeside backdrop.
The profile is as flat as the region allows: a good half of the course is level and there are virtually no steep ramps. Four short rises interrupt the rhythm, the longest at km 23.8 with 1.3 km at 3.6 percent, plus shorter ramps at km 31.4 and 34.5 with pitches around 7 percent. The final small rise comes at km 45.4, just before the road swings back towards the marina.
Between those waves lies what defines this event: long, fast straights along the water where the road belongs entirely to the riders. Three intermediate timing points at km 12, 34 and 44.7 give the race its structure and make every lap of the lake comparable, year after year and rider against rider.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 23.8 | 1.3 km | 3.6 % | 7.4 % | +45 m | — |
| km 31.4 | 0.4 km | 5.3 % | 6.9 % | +21 m | — |
| km 34.5 | 0.8 km | 3.4 % | 5.5 % | +27 m | — |
| km 45.4 | 0.4 km | 3.8 % | 6.9 % | +16 m | — |
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 King of the Lake.
Sit in early
A time trial on a mostly flat course is won by even power, not by attacks. Pick a wattage you can hold just below threshold for the full 47 kilometres, and resist the urge to overcook the flat opening – the classic time-trial mistake.
Ration your effort
Stay in a clean, low position as long as possible, because on a course that's 54 percent flat, aerodynamics decides the seconds. The only real interruption is a 1.3-kilometre rise at kilometre 24 (up to seven percent, 45 metres); lift your power there briefly without going into the red, then immediately regain speed and position over the top.
Race the finale
As it's a loop you finish at start elevation – pace it so the second half is no slower than the first.
Training plan for King of the Lake: 12-week build
Build endurance
For most age-group riders the lap of Lake Attersee takes between 65 and 90 minutes, with the fastest staying just over the hour. That is the classic threshold effort: one long, even push without drafting, where aerobic capacity, threshold power and aerodynamics decide almost everything.
Train the climbs
A course this flat forgives no pacing errors. There are no descents to sneak recovery into and no climbs to reshuffle the field, only your own number held for three quarters of an hour or more. The four short rises, above all the 1.3 km at km 23.8, are the only places where a controlled push above target power pays off, provided you settle straight back into rhythm afterwards. The final rise at km 45.4 arrives when your legs are already burning and deserves a line in your race plan.
Ride race-specific
The core of your preparation is long threshold work: start around 2 by 20 minutes and build over the weeks towards 40 to 60 continuous minutes in your target zone. Position endurance matters just as much: holding a low, still aero position for an hour is a trained skill, so move a growing share of your intervals onto the time trial bike in race posture.
Arrive fresh
Finally, rehearse the whole race at least once: a full-distance effort with checkpoints at your planned splits, including the measured surges over the rises. On the Attersee, the rider who holds the steadiest line on the power chart is usually the fastest one around the lake.
Courses
Download the King of the Lake course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for ASVÖ King of the Lake 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 ASVÖ King of the Lake.
How long is King of the Lake?
King of the Lake is 47.2 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 King of the Lake have?
King of the Lake has around 331 m of elevation gain over 47.2 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of King of the Lake?
King of the Lake is classified as Flat, averaging 7 vertical metres per kilometre. 54% of the route is flat, 21% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 0% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does King of the Lake have?
The hardest climb of King of the Lake starts at kilometre 23.8, runs for 1.3 km at an average of 3.6% and gains 45 metres. 4 climbs are mapped in total.
Is King of the Lake a loop course?
Yes, King of the Lake is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the King of the Lake course?
Yes. The King of the Lake 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 King of the Lake?
Preparation for King of the Lake should account for 47.2 km, 331 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 King of the Lake?
The pacing strategy for King of the Lake should reflect 47.2 km, 331 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 ASVÖ King of the Lake take place?
ASVÖ King of the Lake takes place on September 18, 2027.
Where does ASVÖ King of the Lake take place?
ASVÖ King of the Lake takes place in Schörfling am Attersee, Austria.
Which distances does King of the Lake offer?
King of the Lake offers 3 distances — Einzelzeitfahren: 47.2 km; Mannschaftszeitfahren 4er: 47.2 km; Mannschaftszeitfahren 10er: 47.2 km.
How do I register for King of the Lake?
Registration runs through the organiser: kotl.at. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
