49. Wilischlauf.
The 26.8 km Wilischlauf is a landscape run from the castle courtyard at Röhrsdorf near Dresden that saves its verdict for late: the long climb of the Wilisch only starts after kilometre 14, and the steepest ramp of the day follows soon after. Preparing for it comes down to one thing, legs that can still climb after an hour and a half.
Wilischlauf 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
From the castle courtyard at Röhrsdorf the big loop heads through forest, across meadows and through villages such as Gorknitz, Sürßen, Tronitz, Maxen, Lungkwitz and Saida. This is a landscape run in the plain sense of the word rather than a mountain race: a small amateur field, here in its 49th edition, on a course that lives on the alternation of open ground, woodland and village passages.
The opening kilometres slope gently down to the lowest point at kilometre 5.4. From there the course climbs in stages: five short ascents, none much over a kilometre, lift you to a little above 350 metres by kilometre 12. Nearly all of that is then given back. At kilometre 14.5 the centrepiece begins, just over three kilometres up the Wilisch at around seven percent on average. Single ramps go beyond 20 percent.
From the high point at just under 450 metres the course drops back into the valley until shortly before kilometre 21. Straight out of the valley floor comes the steepest section of the day, a little over half a kilometre at twelve percent. What follows is a rolling stretch at around 290 metres and one last descent, closing the loop after roughly 600 metres of climbing.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 5.4 | 0.7 km | 6.3 % | 9.9 % | +44 m | — |
| km 7.9 | 1.1 km | 4.2 % | 6.7 % | +46 m | — |
| km 9.6 | 0.6 km | 3.9 % | 6.3 % | +22 m | — |
| km 10.5 | 1.2 km | 5.2 % | 8.5 % | +61 m | — |
| km 12.1 | 0.5 km | 4.3 % | 6.6 % | +19 m | — |
| km 14.6 | 3.2 km | 7.1 % | 22.9 % | +226 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 20.8 | 0.6 km | 12.3 % | 16.1 % | +71 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 Wilischlauf.
Start under control
The gentle downhill at the start is the first trap. Five kilometres of falling ground feel like free time, but anything run above race effort here is repaid on the Wilisch. Keep this stretch deliberately easy and treat the five ascents up to kilometre 12 as groundwork, not as a chance to gain places. Use the four refreshment points early, not once you are already running short.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided between kilometres 14.5 and 21.5. On the Wilisch, hold a cadence you could carry on past the top, and power-walk the ramps above 20 percent instead of forcing them at a high heart rate. Arrive at the summit with something left and the long descent rolls for you; arrive empty and it costs you minutes and your quads.
Spend what is left
The nastiest moment comes afterwards. The steep counter-climb at kilometre 20.8 meets legs that have just absorbed around 220 metres of descent, and it can stop you dead. Walk it if you must, but start running the moment you are over the top, because the rolling stretch to kilometre 24 rewards anyone who can still find a rhythm.
Training plan for Wilischlauf: 12-week build
Build the base
Age-group runners should expect around 2:30 to 3:30 hours on the big loop. That is a long aerobic effort but not a steady one: the hard phases arrive in surges, they crowd together from halfway onwards, and the descents between them offer less recovery than they promise.
Train race pace
The Wilisch only arrives after about an hour and a half, and that is where training has to aim. Put the climbing of your long runs into their final third: easy hilly ground first, then a 20 to 30 minute ascent at a cadence you can sustain. Repeated hill efforts of five to eight minutes prepare the ground for this in the preceding weeks.
Rehearse the course
The opposite direction matters just as much. The descent and the steep counter-climb straight after it can be rehearsed: run a longer slope down under control and go directly into a short, steep ascent. Your quads learn the braking work, and you get to know the feeling of having to climb out of a downhill. Brisk uphill walking belongs in the programme too, since on the steepest ramps it is the faster technique.
Arrive fresh
A mid-April date puts your build-up in the winter months. Because the loop runs through forest and across meadows, regular runs away from tarmac belong in the plan, so that ankles and stride are used to changing ground. Try out drinking and eating on the move during long sessions, because over this duration that is part of the preparation.
Courses
Download the Wilischlauf course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
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Everything about 49. Wilischlauf.
How long is Wilischlauf?
Wilischlauf is 26.8 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 Wilischlauf have?
Wilischlauf has around 612 m of elevation gain over 26.8 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Wilischlauf?
Wilischlauf is classified as Hilly, averaging 22.9 vertical metres per kilometre. 16% of the route is flat, 36% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 7% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Wilischlauf have?
The hardest climb of Wilischlauf starts at kilometre 14.6, runs for 3.2 km at an average of 7.1% and gains 226 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 3. 7 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Wilischlauf a loop course?
Yes, Wilischlauf is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Wilischlauf course?
Yes. The Wilischlauf 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 Wilischlauf?
Preparation for Wilischlauf should account for 26.8 km, 612 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 Wilischlauf?
The pacing strategy for Wilischlauf should reflect 26.8 km, 612 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 49. Wilischlauf 2027 take place?
49. Wilischlauf 2027 takes place on April 17, 2027.
Where does 49. Wilischlauf 2027 take place?
49. Wilischlauf 2027 takes place in Dohna, Germany.
Which distances does Wilischlauf offer?
Wilischlauf offers 2 distances — Wilischlauf 26,8 km: 26.8 km; Wilischlauf 9,2 km: 9.2 km.
How do I register for Wilischlauf?
Registration runs through the organiser: wilischlauf.de. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
