Route description
The Scary Schotter is the sporting highlight of the event and will take place on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at 10 AM, leading over the Hoheward spoil heap. With a total length of approximately 44 km and a grueling 750 meters of elevation gain, this race is a true challenge for all ambitious gravel riders. Competitors must conquer seven laps of 6.66 km each, accumulating over 110 meters of climbing per lap.
The starting point is the exhibition grounds between Zeche Ewald and the base of the spoil heap. From there, the course leads onto the so-called Balkonebene, where the impressive industrial complex and the exhibition area lie at your feet. The first kilometer on a wide promenade with fine gravel offers the first opportunity to gain positions, while the wind turbine of the neighboring Halde Hoppenbruch catches your eye in the distance.
After about 1.5 km, the route transitions onto the former service road of the heap, changing the surface to loose, coarse gravel. Where massive dump trucks once hauled mining debris, your riding technique and endurance will now be put to the test as you tackle gradients of up to 7%. At the same time, finding the best riding line is crucial to conserve your equipment and overtake competitors.
A short flat section provides a brief moment of recovery and a chance to take in the distant view of the industrial landscape west of the heap. If you look closely, you can even spot the distinctive white roof of a certain football arena. What follows is the most intense climb of the course—steep, mostly paved, and with sections exceeding a brutal 10% gradient—leading you to the summit plateau of the heap. The cheers from the fan zone up there will hopefully give you the next push of motivation.
From the top, you will descend with the vast backdrop of the eastern Ruhr area unfolding before you. The track then takes you north around the heap. If you still have the energy to appreciate the landscape amidst the race, you might catch a glimpse as far as the lush green Münsterland to the south.
Further along the descent, positioning is key to tackling a short but tight singletrack section. After that, a fast asphalt descent with hairpin turns will launch you back onto the Balkonebene of the heap. Here, once again, endurance is crucial as you attack your rivals on the next flat kilometer in the battle for positions.
The final section takes you down the steep, paved main descent of the heap, returning you to the exhibition grounds and the roaring crowds.
