The Salzkammergut is the toughest mountain bike marathon in Austria. Since 1998, cyclists from all over Europe act out their sporty ambitions amidst most fascinating mountain scenery of the Salzkammergut. So no matter what your performance level may be, there will be a perfect distance for every participant! Chill out during the 22 kilometers or challenge 37, 55, 80, 127 or even the infernal 210 kilometers as well as the technically challenging "All-Mountain" competition over 58 kilometers with start in Bad Ischl.

The highway to hell is 210 km long!

1998 is the year 1 in the Salzkammergut Trophy era. Already in the birth year of the event, the picturesque landscape of the Salzkammergiut bared its claws to the bikers. Then 220 participants in total at the start; and at its debut the extreme distance threw 10 of 20 bikers off its track. Quickly the trophy gained a reputation being one of the toughest marathons in Europe. And no stopping since – new courses, new races, new ratings – year after year the Trophy team tries it’s best providing perfect challenges for rookies as well as for diehard pros. Seven different distances are up for selection: 22, 37, 53, 74 and 119 km, furthermore the technically challenging “All-Mountain“ course with more than 55 km. .

And of course the epic extreme distance for the 900 toughest bikers “under the sun” although no sunrise yet – at 05:00 am for those mad men and mad women waiting for the kick-off in Bad Goisern. While the birds start chirping, they silently focus on what they will be facing at: 210 km in the Salzkammergut Mountains with a total of incredible 7.119 meters of climbing. The sun will have set in Bad Goisern for some time when the last finishers cross the line; and those who were able to beat the A course will be honored with the ultimate and exclusive black finisher jersey – gaining meanwhile cult status among the MB scene Still, as the saying goes and still holds: already in 1998 half of the participants had to accept the rare feat of surviving as finisher on the first attempt. Often it takes several attempts to conquer the extreme distance before the track succumbs. And besides physical fitness and endurance it takes great mental power while testing the mettle.

A one of a kind bike festival!

The Salzkammergut Trophy start was on a very small scale but established itself over the years not only for the athletes a “must-attend” event. The Trophy weekend has become a huge festival one highlight chasing the other, staging not only the classical mountain bikers. Meanwhile the unicyclists are a permanent program fixture such as the e-bikers tackling the ground-breaking Bosch eMTB-Challenge. The most recent contest of all is the Gravel Marathon. Besides breath-taking scenery, participants as well as visitors anticipate a perfect organized sports event. In order to provide this perfect setting for all participants, more than 1.100 volunteers operate at the Salzkammergut Trophy ensuring a safe and smooth sports event – especially safety is a top priority. Eleven catering stops and numerous fans along the race tracks, including special fan zones push the bikers to incredible top-performances.

Part of the Trophy are the great side events during the whole weekend. For those who would like to be up-to-date regarding the state-of-the-art mountain bike developments, Bad Goisern is the place to be. During the entire weekend the Bosch eBikeTestival offers more than 100 various e-mountain bikes put up for the acid test. Those bikes may be either tested on special sign-posted tracks or with a guided eMTB tour by a local guide. We especially recommend the breathtaking sun-set tours mirroring the perfect back drop of the Salzkammergut mountain range. Most popular are also the eMTB riding technique tours with former MTB World Champion biker Greta Weithaler.

The bike expo with its 90 exhibitors is defiantly one of the highlights during the Trophy weekend. State-of-the-art products and developments in the mountain bike sector – shop till you drop onsite from technical equipment to sports fashion. Many expo stands have special offers and sweepstakes. Test bikes – conventional (or even better marathon machines??) ones as well as eBikes are waiting to be put to the acid. Many hobby bikers also appreciate the opportunity exchanging information with professional team mechanics for the perfect set up for their own bike. But besides sports matters, bikers know how to party – which they already prove on Friday. The pre-race party with great live acts is the traditional kick off for the weekend. On Saturday as of 11:00 pm, the hopefully finished marathon will be celebrated at the legendary After-Race-Party in the roofed courtyard for the Neuwildenstein Castle – another marathon until dawn break. 

Unicycle, e-Mountain Bike and Juniors > The first big spectacle as a weekend opener: 100 Unicycle downhiller dash down 500 meters of elevation from the famed Predigstuhl into the valley of Bad Goisern. The race has become meanwhile a popular fixture among the unicycle scene – awarding the Austrian Unicycle Downhill Champion in Bad Goisern.

Bosch (e)MTB scavenger hunt on July 13, 2025

The Bosch (e)MTB scavenger hunt will take place again on Sunday. You can ride alone, with or without motor support, with friends, your partner or in a group. The routes can be choosen by each participant and are easy to ride and are between 20 to 37 kilometers long. There is no time measurement, but there are stations with fun skill competitions such as the deuter backpack challenge, mini crossbow or archery competitions, where you should collect as many additional points as possible. Anyone who completes the short route and gets a stamp at the three checkpoints will receive the bronze medal. The silver medal is won by whoever completes the five middle distance checkpoints. For the gold medal you have to complete all six checkpoints and also achieve at least half of the maximum points at all skill stations. It starts between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. at the Bosch stand on the exhibition grounds, and the start time can be freely chosen. The three men and women with the most points win the trophies and will be honored in the marquee at 2:15 p.m. All participants receive a t-shirt and take part in the raffle!
If you would like to rent an eMTB for the competition, you can contact Nemo Point. The bikes will be brought to Bad Goisern for the start. The 2025 route map will be distributed at the Bosch stand before the start.

GRAVEL Marathon in Obertraun & Bad Goisern

Two thirds of the C-Course runs along gravel and forest roads ideal for cross and cross country bikes. We offer a special gravel rating with 67,6 kilometers and 1.952 meters in altitude for those bikers with their own starting block at 10:13 hrs in Obertraun. There is going to be a special women as well as a men classification. On the G-course over 21,8 kilometers and 567 meters in altitude, an additional gravel route with start/finish in Bad Goisern is offered. Times are also rated among the Slow-Motion-Rating. However please note that in the various age groups and team ratings as well as at any other Trophy special ratings one may only participate with a mountain bike!

SCOTT Junior Trophy

The SCOTT Junior Trophy on July 13th 2025 has two different contests for kids and youngster age 3 up to 14.  At the "Parcours competition" speed does not matter - it's the biking skills! The classification is not according to the age, but depends on the wheel diameter respectively the skills of each participant. Every child receives a race number, however its more the Olympic idea so there will be no rating or ranking list! Whereas the XC-Race" is the perfect competition for skilled and ambitious bikers born between 2011 and 2020. The start takes place according to the age groups and will be rated in a Grand-Prix-mode. As soon as the first biker crosses the finishing line, all overlapped bikers may not continue to the next lap but are waved off at the finishing line. The three best in each category receive a trophy.

Information

Pump the Trophy!

On Sunday also between 09:00 am and 12:30 pm, once again hit the Pump Track doing the laps as fast as possible. Thereby speed will be increased by pumping through the bumps without needing to pedal. Start will be in single modus as so called “flying start”. However there will also be the opportunity to do a warm-up lap before.  Already on Friday will be a technical training for free with Elke Rabeder and Christoph Grill at 02:00 pm as well as at 04:00 pm. Each participant of the „Pump the Trophy” receives a certificate. The first three of each category will be awarded with medals.

Slow-Motion-Rating – thus the last will be the first!

Something really special is the SlowMo rating: not the fastest, not the biggest but the slowest team may win the big prize at the Trophy on July 13th. After the race the times of all team members will be added – the team which has been biking the longest time wins! Therefore those teams have an advantage with the most members biking the longest possible distances finishing just prior the time limit. For all winners there are non-cash prizes worth more than € 20.000,-!

Upper Austria: an entire state off-road!

More than 3.000 km mountain bike tracks in the Salzkammergut, Mühlviertel and in the National Park Kalkalpen prove that the best way going from point A to point B is a detour. Friendly hosts, sports retailer and bike rentals provide for the perfect day on the bike. The renowned Dachstein loop with its three variations (marked blue, red, black) rewards all bikers with breathtaking views of the majestic mountain peaks of the Inner Salzkammergut. World Cup level at the Bike Arena Obertraun – with its challenging cross country courses. And the trans national park route through the green wilderness of the National Park Kalkalpen and Gesäuse, rustic cottages invite you to take a break.

PROGRAM