Saint Gravel Bodensee.
Saint Gravel Bodensee is the gravel extension of the Bodensee-Radmarathon: about 120 kilometres, roughly 70 percent of them off-road, across the Swiss Seerücken from Kreuzlingen to Stein am Rhein and back. There is no timing and no signage, you ride from a route file, so navigation, self-sufficiency and a patient effort over many hours shape the day.
No date has been announced for the next edition yet. The course, elevation and route profile are from the most recent edition.
Saint Gravel Bodensee: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The start is at the Talent-Campus Bodensee in Kreuzlingen, right on the Swiss-German border, and the loop climbs straight away, a little over three kilometres up from the lake onto the Seerücken. The first section to Stein am Rhein adds short, sharp ramps around km 16 and km 26 that touch twelve percent. In Stein am Rhein you pass the second start and finish site, with mechanics, medical cover and catering.
Then comes the longest and hardest part: 53 kilometres and close to 800 metres of climbing to the extra repair and feed post at Eugerswil. This is where the climbs that define the day sit, among them a kilometre and a half at more than seven percent at km 46. The steepest of the loop arrives at km 79, just under two kilometres with pitches near 14 percent. After one last longer rise around km 95, the way back to Kreuzlingen is almost flat.
The surface is quiet farm and forest tracks, hard gravel roads and the odd trail, with tarmac mostly near the lake. The route follows the Rhine and the Hüttwilersee, passes beaver dams, castles, the Napoleonturm and old fortress bunkers and circles several ponds, with Lake Constance on one side and the Säntis on the other. Nothing is signposted: the route file arrives shortly before the event, and gravel or cyclocross bikes suit it as well as mountain bikes.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 3.3 | 3.2 km | 3.9 % | 5.7 % | +124 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 13.4 | 1.4 km | 4.3 % | 5.7 % | +59 m | — |
| km 16.5 | 0.8 km | 6.7 % | 12.4 % | +55 m | — |
| km 26.1 | 0.9 km | 6.3 % | 10.9 % | +57 m | — |
| km 46.5 | 1.5 km | 7.6 % | 10.7 % | +110 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 70.3 | 2.1 km | 5.4 % | 9.5 % | +115 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 79.3 | 1.8 km | 8.8 % | 13.8 % | +156 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 94.5 | 2.3 km | 5.1 % | 8.2 % | +114 m | Cat. 4 |
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 Saint Gravel Bodensee.
Sit in early
With no timing, nobody sets the pace for you, and that is worth using: spread your effort across the three sections, not according to the riders around you. The opening leg to Stein am Rhein already carries more than 600 metres of climbing in 37 kilometres, while the stretch home from Eugerswil carries almost none. Whatever you save early is what you will spend in the middle.
Ration your effort
The day is decided between Stein am Rhein and Eugerswil, the longest stretch without a post. Its steepest climb at km 79 comes after many hours in the saddle; stay seated in a low gear, because on gravel and trail the rear wheel quickly loses grip when you stand.
Race the finale
The trap is the short ramps of the first hour. At up to twelve percent they invite you to push, and each one costs strength you will miss later. Top up at the many drinking fountains along the way rather than stretching your bottles to Eugerswil.
Training plan for Saint Gravel Bodensee: 12-week build
Build endurance
The organisers' guide time is a little over eight hours at an average below 14 km/h; depending on fitness and stops, expect seven to ten hours. The effort is mostly aerobic, broken up again and again by short climbs and changing ground. With that much off-road riding, your hands, shoulders and core work all day.
Train the climbs
The real demand is still being able to climb in the second half of the day: the hardest ascent and the last longer rise both come after km 75. Build your five- to seven-hour rides so the steepest ramps fall in the final third, and ride them seated at a high cadence.
Ride race-specific
Because the course carries no signage, navigation is part of the preparation. Ride long sessions from a loaded route, check that your bike computer's battery lasts a full day, and practise hitting turns on farm and forest tracks when you are tired. Test tyres and pressure on a mix of hard gravel road, trail and short tarmac stretches.
Arrive fresh
Between the start and finish sites and the Eugerswil post you are on your own for long spells. Practise eating by the clock rather than by hunger, refilling bottles at fountains on the move and fixing a flat without outside help. The repair post helps, but it does not replace your own tools.
Courses
Download the Saint Gravel Bodensee course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Saint Gravel Bodensee 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 Saint Gravel Bodensee.
How long is Saint Gravel Bodensee?
Saint Gravel Bodensee is 120 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 Saint Gravel Bodensee have?
Saint Gravel Bodensee has around 1,509 m of elevation gain over 120 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Saint Gravel Bodensee?
Saint Gravel Bodensee is classified as Rolling, averaging 12.5 vertical metres per kilometre. 36% of the route is flat, 29% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 3% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Saint Gravel Bodensee have?
The hardest climb of Saint Gravel Bodensee starts at kilometre 79.3, runs for 1.8 km at an average of 8.8% and gains 156 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 4. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Saint Gravel Bodensee a loop course?
Yes, Saint Gravel Bodensee is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Saint Gravel Bodensee course?
Yes. The Saint Gravel Bodensee 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 Saint Gravel Bodensee?
Preparation for Saint Gravel Bodensee should account for 120 km, 1,509 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 Saint Gravel Bodensee?
The pacing strategy for Saint Gravel Bodensee should reflect 120 km, 1,509 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 Saint Gravel Bodensee next take place?
No date has been announced for the next edition yet. The most recent one was held on September 13, 2026.
Where does Saint Gravel Bodensee take place?
Saint Gravel Bodensee takes place in Kreuzlingen, Switzerland.
How do I register for Saint Gravel Bodensee?
Registration runs through the organiser: bodensee-radmarathon.ch. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
