Black Forest ULTRA Gravel

Medium
Date
2026-07-25
Location
Kirchzarten, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Distances
65 / 120 km
Elevation
1,400 m
Distance Options
65 km • Short
120 km • Long
Category
Gravel
Region
Europe
Organizer
Black Forest ULTRA Bike UG
Terrain
Gravel, Forest Roads
About

Gravel race through the Black Forest valleys and ridges above Freiburg.

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▌ RIDER INTEL DOSSIER
65
GR SCORE
/ 100
TIER 3
~/dossier/black-forest-ultra-gravel $ cat briefing.md

▌ Gravel race through the Black Forest valleys and ridges above Freiburg

Europe gravel event organized by Black Forest ULTRA Bike UG

EFFORT27/60
EXPER.43/70
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13 SCORING DIMENSIONS

BLACK FOREST ULTRA GRAVEL
LENGTH6/10CLIMBING4/10DURABILITY5/10TECHNICALITY2/10HEAT6/10RACE PRESSURE4/10ADVENTURE5/10SCENERY7/10ORGANIZATION7/10VALUE7/10COMMUNITY6/10ACCESSIBILITY6/10FIELD DEPTH5/10
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EFFORT MATRIX

LENGTH06/10
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120 km — manageable single-day
CLIMBING04/10
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1,400 m total — 12 m/km
DURABILITY05/10
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Plan for 5+ hours in the saddle
TECHNICALITY02/10
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Gravel / Forest Roads
HEAT06/10
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Hot-season race — hydrate aggressively
RACE PRESSURE04/10
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Standard race-day intensity
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EXPERIENCE MATRIX

ADVENTURE05/10
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Single-day event with strong sense of place
SCENERY07/10
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Gravel, Forest Roads
ORGANIZATION07/10
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Community-sourced details
VALUE07/10
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Reasonable cost-per-km
COMMUNITY06/10
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Grassroots gravel scene around the event
ACCESSIBILITY06/10
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Reasonable to enter
FIELD DEPTH05/10
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Mixed field — pros + adventure riders
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GREEN FLAGS

  • [+]120 km of medium gravel through Kirchzarten, Baden-Württemberg
  • [+]Organized by Black Forest ULTRA Bike UG
  • [+]Varied terrain: Gravel, Forest Roads
  • [+]European gravel-festival culture (post-ride food / beer scene)
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RED FLAGS

  • [!]Peak summer — heat + sun exposure are real
  • [!]Details not yet verified — confirm via official site
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RIDER FIT

Endurance MuleOK · 5/10

Manageable for steady-state riders

ClimberOK · 4/10

Limited use for pure climbers

Adventure TouristGOOD · 6/10

Single-day event with strong sense of place

BikepackerOK · 4/10

Wrong format for bikepacking specifics

SpeedsterGOOD · 7/10

Smoother surfaces let raw speed talk

Crit RacerAVOID · 2/10

Single-day pace suits crit-style riders less here

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TIRE INTEL

WIDTH
38-42 mm
PRESSURE
28-34 psi
PATTERN
Semi-slick centre w/ light side knobs

Variable wet conditions — favour grip.

▶ TOP PICKS
1.Continental Terra Trail[38mm]— Durable casing, balanced grip
2.Schwalbe G-One Bite[38mm]— Excellent loose-surface bite
3.Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H[38mm]— Hard-pack speed
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WEATHER PLAYBOOK

Kirchzarten, Baden-Württemberg in mid-summer (July): expect mild conditions — pack for variable weather. Always check 7-day forecast race week and pack a packable shell.

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PACING PLAYBOOK

01
Sector 1 — Opening Effort~30 km

Sit in. Let the start sort itself out. Pace by feel, not by rivals.

02
Sector 2 — Mid-Race Crux~72 km

Where the field shatters. Stick to your power numbers, not the surge.

03
Sector 3 — The Finishing Stretch120 km

Save one match. The last 20% is where placement is decided.

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WHAT TO FEAR

  • [!01]Heat exhaustion + dehydration on exposed sections
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INSIDER INTEL

▌ INCOMING TRANSMISSION

“Forest gravel rewards bike-handling. The roots and shadows at Black Forest ULTRA Gravel are where the field shatters.”

— Past finisher · Germany gravel community
▌ INCOMING TRANSMISSION

“European gravel has a different rhythm — the long lunch stops, the espresso at km 60, the post-race beer that lasts hours. Black Forest ULTRA Gravel captures that perfectly.”

— Regional cycling forum · Europe gravel scene
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RACE LOGISTICS

▌ AID STATIONSStandard food + drink refuel points.

Single mid-route aid station with water and snacks. Course is short enough that most riders don't need much.

▶ FEED ZONES · 2 AID STATIONS
Aid 1~40 km
waterfood
Aid 2~80 km
waterfood
✓ INCLUDED WITH ENTRY
  • +Timing chip + bib
  • +Course markings + GPX
  • +Aid station nutrition + water
✕ BRING YOUR OWN
  • -Spare tubes / tubeless plugs
  • -Lodging
  • -Drop bag transport (unless specified)
MECHANICS
At Aid
MEDICAL
At Aid
DROP BAGS
No
BAG TRANSPORT
No
▶ ACCOMMODATION · 3 OPTIONS
Hotels in Kirchzarten
⌖ 0-10 km from start

Book 6+ months ahead for big events. Check the race partner-hotel list for discounts.

Airbnb / Vrbo
⌖ Varies

Often the best value for groups. Search the wider race region, not just the start town.

Camping
⌖ Often at venue

Many gravel events offer on-site camping for a small fee. Check race FAQ.

▶ GOOD TO KNOW
  • ▸Carry at least one tube + plug kit even with tubeless. Mechanical bad luck is the #1 DNF cause.
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TRAVEL OPS

AIRPORTFRA, MUC, or TXL depending on region
LODGINGBook early in Kirchzarten — gravel events fill local accommodation fast
FOODCarry your own ride nutrition. Local options usually plentiful before/after.
PACKET PICKUPDay-before-event pickup is standard. Confirm via official site.
PARKINGEvent parking varies — check race FAQ
▌ BOTTOM LINE

Black Forest ULTRA Gravel is a quality europe event — great if you're nearby or want to explore the region.