Name: SaarschleifenBike Marathon 2026
Start: 2026-07-26T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-07-26T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Mettlach / Saarschleife

SaarschleifenBike

About SaarschleifenBike

Once a year, the secret MTB Eldorado above the Saarschleife opens its gates: At the SaarschleifenBike Marathon, amateur riders and licensed racers compete on routes that are closed to the public the rest of the year. Three distances — Kleine Schleife (35 km), Mittlere Schleife (50 km), Große Schleife (100 km) — through the Saarschleifenland and along one of Germany's most beautiful river landscapes. E-bike classes on the short and medium distances, corporate competition included.

Dates 26 Jul — 26 Jul 2026

Venue Mettlach (10042)

Prices 35.00€ — 95.00€

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

SaarschleifenBike — edition 2026

Tickets →

The SaarschleifenBike Marathon 2026 will take place on July 26, 2026, in Mettlach. Three MTB distances (35, 50, 100 km) lead over exclusively opened trails around the Saarschleife. E-bike classes on the short and medium distances, corporate championship (Ursapharm) integrated.

The 2026 edition again features the three-part route structure with start and finish in Mettlach. All routes use the closed network of paths above the Saarschleife and lead over ridges, through forests, and along the steep banks of the Saar. Refreshment stations along the route, pasta party in the finish area, competition for amateur and licensed riders, as well as for corporate teams.

Highlights SaarschleifenBike 2026

Three distances for every skill level
Exclusively opened trails around the Saarschleife
E-bike classes on 35 and 50 km
Main sponsors Ursapharm, Bitburger, and others
Corporate championship included
Volksfest atmosphere in Mettlach on race day

Programme SaarschleifenBike 2026

Sunday, July 26, 2026 — Race Day

Early morning — Bib pickup and equipment check at the Mettlach start/finish area
Start block Große Schleife / Ultra Marathon (approx. 100 km, 2,600 m elevation gain) — earliest start
Following: Mittlere Schleife / Marathon (approx. 50 km, 1,380 m elevation gain)
Following: Kleine Schleife / Sport Track (approx. 35 km, 870 m elevation gain) — incl. E-bike competition
During the distances: 5 technical trail segments, exclusive path sections above the Saarschleife
From noon: Finish line arrivals, award ceremonies, pasta party, expo
Corporate competition as part of the Ursapharm Corporate Championship

Accompanying Weekend

Depending on the edition, combined with the SaarschleifenRun (trail running) on the previous or following day. Full schedule and registration links on saarschleifen.bike/infos and saarschleifen.bike/strecken.

Prices SaarschleifenBike 2026

Entry fees vary depending on the distance and early bird period. Typically: Kleine Schleife from approx. €35, Mittlere Schleife from approx. €55, Große Schleife from approx. €80. Register online at saarschleifen.bike.

Practical information

Practical information — SaarschleifenBike

Getting there

By car: Take the A8 motorway, exit Mettlach, follow signs. By train: Regional train Saarbrücken–Trier to Mettlach, short distance to the start from there. Parking spaces will be organized around the start and finish area.

Registration & Entry Fees

Register online at saarschleifen.bike. Entry fees vary depending on the distance and early bird booking period. Registration deadline is usually a few weeks before the race.

Equipment

MTB required, helmet required (with buckle), functional brakes. Hydration pack or bottles recommended, refreshment stations distributed along the distances. For the ultra distance: bring energy bars and gels yourself.

Accommodation

Hotels in Mettlach (Victors Saarschleife, Bachem), guesthouses in Orscholz, campsites on the banks of the Saar. It gets crowded during the festival week — book early.

Tip for companions

Combine race day with a visit to the treetop path, a canoe tour on the Saar, or a walk to the Cloef viewpoint. Luxembourg is also only 40 minutes away.

The Saarschleife — Postcard motif and insider tip at the same time

When the Saar river makes an almost 180-degree turn near Mettlach in the Merzig-Wadern district, one of Germany's most famous natural motifs is created: the Saarschleife. From the Cloef viewpoint near Orscholz, it looks like a postcard. From the mountain bike saddle, it looks completely different again — and that's exactly what makes the SaarschleifenBike Marathon unique: Once a year, trails are opened that are otherwise closed, through forests, over high ridges, and along the steep slopes of the loop.

Three routes, one experience

The marathon offers three distances, carefully tailored to skill and experience:

Kleine Schleife — Sport Track: approx. 35 km, approx. 869 meters of altitude — the entry-level option for amateur riders and ambitious touring cyclists
Mittlere Schleife — Marathon: approx. 52 km, approx. 1,381 meters of altitude — the reference distance for many licensed racers
Große Schleife — Ultra Marathon: approx. 97 km, approx. 2,600 meters of altitude — challenging, with five technical trail segments

E-bike classes are offered on the 35 km and 50 km routes. A club membership is not required; amateur and licensed riders are welcome. Company teams automatically participate in the Ursapharm Corporate Championship.

The atmosphere — Volksfest with marathon character

Mettlach itself is a small town, characterized by the headquarters of Villeroy & Boch. On marathon weekend, the town transforms into an MTB capital with start and finish areas, an expo area, refreshment stops along the route, and thousands of spectators. Main sponsors are Ursapharm, Bitburger, and several regional players from the Saarschleifenland. The event is considered „Saarland's largest marathon“ — referring not to runners, but to cyclists.

More than just a race

A whole sports weekend is created around it: In some years, it's combined with the SaarschleifenRun (trail running), along with pasta parties, an expo with brands and trail rider talks, and meetings with professionals. Those who have participated once almost certainly return — many participants are regulars from France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and neighboring Rhineland-Palatinate.

Experience the Saarschleifenland

For those who don't approach the weekend solely from a sporting perspective: a tourist paradise opens up around Mettlach. Cloef viewpoint, Saarschleife Treetop Path, the Victors Saarschleife Premium Resort, canoe tours on the Saar, hiking trails on the Traumschleifen (dream loops), the industrial and ceramic heritage of Villeroy & Boch. Accompanying persons have plenty to do while participants are breaking a sweat.