Vienna Winter Trail.
Ganze G'schicht is the long course at the Vienna Winter Trail: from the Marswiese up to the Kahlenberg and back the same way, run in January and only as a pair. Around 830 metres of climbing over 24 km call for a team that settles on one effort on the steep ramps rather than splitting apart.
Vienna Winter Trail 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
Start and finish are at the Marswiese sports centre on Neuwaldegger Straße. Half a kilometre in, the first long climb begins: three kilometres and roughly 200 metres of gain, mostly steady, with a few pitches just short of 20 percent. A short drop follows, and from km 6 comes the hardest piece of the day, a little over a kilometre averaging more than eleven percent with a peak above 30 percent. It lifts you onto the highest stretch of the course, around 500 metres.
Between km 8 and the turn at the Kahlenberg the ground never settles: short counter-climbs alternate with descents and there is almost nothing flat. Because the course returns the way it came, much of what you ran up becomes descent on the way back and the reverse also holds, so two short, steep ramps around km 15 and km 17 were downhills on the way out.
The last quarter belongs to the descent. From around km 20 you lose almost 200 metres in a little over three kilometres back to the Marswiese. This is a run through open country in midwinter, and the aid stations hand out no cups: your own cup or bottle comes with you the whole way.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.5 | 3 km | 6.6 % | 19.6 % | +199 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 6.2 | 1.4 km | 11.5 % | 31.8 % | +156 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 9.5 | 0.6 km | 6.7 % | 17.1 % | +40 m | — |
| km 10.9 | 0.7 km | 4.7 % | 12.3 % | +34 m | — |
| km 12.9 | 0.6 km | 7 % | 20.6 % | +38 m | — |
| km 15 | 0.8 km | 8.5 % | 20 % | +68 m | — |
| km 17.2 | 0.3 km | 15.8 % | 21.6 % | +51 m | — |
| km 19.2 | 0.7 km | 5.7 % | 13 % | +37 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 Vienna Winter Trail.
Start under control
The race is shaped in the first hour but not won there. Two long climbs before km 7.5 hold more than 40 percent of the total ascent, and taking them too fast on fresh legs is paid back in the restless middle section and on the return. Walk the steepest part after km 6 deliberately instead of forcing it at a high heart rate; the time you lose walking is smaller than what an overcooked effort costs you afterwards.
Hold your rhythm
You race as a team of two, so the weaker runner on the day sets the pace. Agree beforehand who leads on the ramps and who leads downhill, since the strengths rarely split evenly. The main trap sits on the return: the short ramps near km 15 and km 17 are steeper than they felt as descents on the way out, and they arrive on tired legs.
Spend what is left
The final descent from km 20 is fast but long. If your quads still have something left, it gains minutes; if you emptied them on the climbs, every steeper stretch costs time. Brake under control and run it together.
Training plan for Vienna Winter Trail: 12-week build
Build the base
For an age-group pair, Ganze G'schicht usually takes between two and a half and four hours. The effort is mainly aerobic but far from steady: almost forty percent of the course is steep, uphill and downhill alike, and the many short counter-climbs keep producing spikes that run straight into descents.
Train race pace
The race turns on the two climbs of the first seven and a half kilometres and on the ramps of the return. Build long runs in hilly terrain that place the steepest work in their middle third, and practise brisk uphill walking as a technique in its own right. The closing descent needs quads that still hold after two hours, so downhill running at the end of long sessions is the most targeted preparation.
Rehearse the course
A late January date means the whole build falls in winter. Keep your long runs outdoors and off-road rather than on a treadmill, so footing and cold are familiar, and test clothing for a run of several hours in which sweating uphill alternates with cooling down on the descents. Since the stations offer no cups, drinking from your own cup or soft flask belongs in every long session.
Arrive fresh
Run at least a few of the long sessions as a pair. You find out who is stronger on which ground and settle on a shared pace you can both hold for three hours.
Courses
Download the Vienna Winter Trail course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Vienna Winter Trail 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 Vienna Winter Trail.
How long is Vienna Winter Trail?
Vienna Winter Trail is 24 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 Vienna Winter Trail have?
Vienna Winter Trail has around 845 m of elevation gain over 24 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Vienna Winter Trail?
Vienna Winter Trail is classified as Mountainous, averaging 36.2 vertical metres per kilometre. 7% of the route is flat, 27% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 19% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Vienna Winter Trail have?
The hardest climb of Vienna Winter Trail starts at kilometre 0.5, runs for 3 km at an average of 6.6% and gains 199 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 3. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Vienna Winter Trail a loop course?
Yes, Vienna Winter Trail is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Vienna Winter Trail course?
Yes. The Vienna Winter Trail 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 Vienna Winter Trail?
Preparation for Vienna Winter Trail should account for 24 km, 845 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 Vienna Winter Trail?
The pacing strategy for Vienna Winter Trail should reflect 24 km, 845 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 Vienna Winter Trail 2027 take place?
Vienna Winter Trail 2027 takes place on January 23, 2027.
Where does Vienna Winter Trail 2027 take place?
Vienna Winter Trail 2027 takes place in Vienna, Austria.
Which distances does Vienna Winter Trail offer?
Vienna Winter Trail offers 2 distances — Ganze G'schicht: 24 km; Halbe G'schicht: 12 km.
How do I register for Vienna Winter Trail?
Registration runs through the organiser: wien-rundumadum.at. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
