The Bike Leg in Duisburg: 90 Flat Kilometers Where You Build (or Blow Up) Your Race

The Course in Two Lines

Around 90 km on roads closed to traffic, described by sources as very flat and fast. One source mentions two out-and-back loops, crossing the Rhine on the Solidarity Bridge (Brücke der Solidarität) with the industrial Ruhr backdrop as scenery. A section of the course mapped by a third-party source measures 43.5 km with roughly 110 m of elevation gain and a 0% average grade. The race guide lists about 100 m of total climbing. Translation: there are no climbs to recover on or make a difference on. You're pedaling the whole time, at the same effort, in the same position. The data comes from third-party sources for the 2026 edition: check the official 2027 map before race day.

The Real Opponent: Consistency

On a course like this, the fast time goes to whoever holds steady power for nearly three hours, not whoever goes out hard. The classic risk on flat courses is this: the first 30 km feel free, the legs are spinning, your average speed climbs. Then the half marathon hands you the bill. The race guide says it plainly: don't burn all your matches on the bike just because it feels easy—the run is where your time is decided.

What to do in practice:

• Set a target power (or perceived effort, if you don't have a power meter) and don't exceed it in the first 20 km, even if you feel great.
• The out-and-back format gives you natural reference points: use the turnarounds to check your splits and figure out which way the wind is pushing.
• Avoid power spikes when passing: on flat terrain they cost more than they're worth.

The Wind: The Only Real Variable

With few changes in rhythm and no shelter, the wind can be the difference between a 2:20 split and a 2:35. The race guide recommends checking wind direction and strength the day before. With the double out-and-back, a steady wind means two fast sections and two slow ones: plan to push slightly harder into the headwind and recover with the tailwind, not the other way around. It's counterintuitive, but it's the most efficient way to manage an exposed course.

Aero Position: This Is Where You Win

The course suits aero bars and rewards whoever can stay in position the entire time. Over 90 km with no climbs, the aerodynamic difference between staying low and stable versus sitting up every ten minutes is huge. But aero position is trainable: if you can only last 30 minutes on the extensions in training, you won't hold it for 150 in a race.

The plan suggested by the race guide:

• Long rides on flat courses at race pace, entirely in aero position.
• Mobility work on neck, shoulders and hips to make the position sustainable.
• Practice fueling in position too: 60-90 g/h of carbs need to go down without sitting up every time, and they need to be tested before race day.

Decisions to Make Before the Race

1. Pacing test: do at least one simulation of 60-70 flat km at race power followed by a 20-30 minute run. If the run falls apart, lower your bike target. 2. Equipment: race wheels and a fast-course setup make sense here, but only if you can handle the bike in crosswinds. Test them in windy conditions beforehand, not on race day. 3. Gearing: with a 0% average grade you don't need easy gears, but check the official 2027 map for any ramps on the bridge or in the underpasses. 4. Wind plan: the night before, check the forecast and decide where to push and where to save energy. Write it down. Mid-race, with your brain under load, improvising doesn't work.

The Duisburg bike leg is a race of discipline, not courage. Whoever rolls into T2 with good legs already has half the result in the bag.