Course description
A full distance in the northern Black Forest around Nagold, host of the German long-distance championship in 2026. The swim is in the Nagold reservoir at Erzgrube, two 1.9 km laps with a land exit. The fully closed bike course runs from the reservoir via Altensteig down into the Nagold valley and then three times round a loop with the steep climb to Mindersbach and the long ascent up to Simmersfeld — 177.3 km and 1,484 m of climbing in total. The marathon covers six laps of about 7 km through the Kleb town park and the centre of Nagold. Swim start and finish are about 25 km apart.
Coach tip
The two transition areas are about 25 km apart with no public transport: you rack your bike at the reservoir the day before and drop your run kit in Nagold. On race morning in 2026 a bus left Nagold for the start at 5 am — only if booked with your registration. Plan the Saturday around both check-ins.
Three times the steep climb to Mindersbach and the long ascent to Simmersfeld, almost 1,500 m of climbing in all: ride the climbs with a power cap and win the time back on the long descents. Train long rides with sustained climbs. In 2026 you had to start the last lap at the Kleb town park by 1:30 pm.
The marathon passes six times through the Kleb town park and the town centre, with three aid stations per lap (water, cola, isotonic). Outside support on the run course is not allowed, and you set up your special-needs table yourself. Split the run into its six laps — the finish closed at 9:45 pm in 2026.