Rosenheimer Radmarathon Training Plan & Preparation

Course & Elevation

Tour 1 is a loop that runs from Rosenheim through the rolling pre-alpine countryside and back to the start — paved throughout, signposted, with one feed station on the way. The first ten kilometres or so stay flat along the valley floor and serve as a warm-up.

Then comes the rolling middle section that gives the loop its character: a chain of short climbs, none longer than about a kilometre. At kilometre 10.5 the first ramp waits, 0.7 kilometres at around 5 percent, followed by smaller rises near kilometres 28 and 30, before the steepest of these short climbs arrives at kilometre 36.5 — 1.2 kilometres at just under 6 percent with pitches around 8 percent.

The only longer climb of the tour begins at kilometre 44.3: 2.6 kilometres at roughly 4 percent, carrying you to the high point at about 630 metres. From there the course runs mostly downhill and flat back into Rosenheim. More than half the loop is level and no section is steeper than just under 9 percent — Tour 1 is a good-natured pleasure ride, run as a non-competitive Radtourenfahrt, though still at a brisk pace.

Pacing Strategy

On Tour 1 there is no decisive pass where the field splits — you set the pace largely yourself. More than half the course is flat, so consistency is what counts: rolling along in a fast group gets you along efficiently without emptying the tank.

The short climbs of the middle section are the only place you can lose matches. Ride the ramps at kilometres 10.5 and 36.5 and the 2.6-kilometre climb from kilometre 44 evenly and seated; none is steep enough to reward attacks. After the high point at around 630 metres comes a long descent to recover before the flat run back into Rosenheim.

The main trap is the flat opening: on level roads an excessive early pace feels free for a long time. Keep the first kilometres deliberately calm and eat and drink at the feed station on schedule — over this manageable distance that is enough to ride evenly all the way to the finish.

12-Week Preparation

For Tour 1, plan on roughly two and a half to three and a half hours in the saddle depending on your pace. The demand is mostly steady and aerobic: long flat sections broken up by short, moderate climbs. The profile calls for no anaerobic spikes — the steepest pitch is just under 9 percent.

The foundation of your preparation is aerobic endurance. Over several weeks, build long easy rides towards three hours so the race distance is no longer an open question. If you have only ridden shorter loops so far, Tour 1 makes a realistic first Radmarathon.

Because the climbs are short and moderate, you need no long mountain intervals. It is enough to add a few strong climbs of five to ten minutes at the end of some rides so the rolling middle section feels familiar. Practise steady rolling and drafting too, since the flat sections are ridden most efficiently in a group.

In the final week, ease off the volume a little. Fuelling at this duration is simple — a bar or two and regular drinking are enough; still rehearse it on a long ride so nothing surprises you on race day.