Germany · Rhineland-Palatinate / North Rhine (Rheinsteig)
Distance
99 km
Date
Entry fee
€50
€ / km
€0.51
Sold Out in 48 Hours and a Waiting List: What the kleiner KoBoLT's Demand Tells You About the Race
kleiner KoBoLT 99km is a point-to-point trail race held November 28–29, 2026, starting at 14:00 from Rengsdorf and following the Rheinsteig hiking trail through the Rhine gorge forest to Bonn-Oberkassel, Germany.
The kleiner KoBoLT (K99) course covers 99km with 3,360m of gain (34 m/km). Darkness falls 2–3 hours after the gun; the majority of the race runs through the night. Running since 2010 — the 16th edition in 2026 — the race sold out within 48 hours of registration opening on May 16, 2026; a waiting list is active.
Entry fee not confirmed for 2026. Race logistics handled well: documents at Bonn HQ, bus to Rengsdorf start, train home from Bonn finish. Cologne Bonn (CGN) is 74 minutes away. A UTMB qualifier (4 ITRA points; verify), drawing 32 finishers in 2024. Late November conditions: cold, wet, muddy — 'ankle-deep mud on the Rheinsteig' per race reports. Suits UTMB-focused runners who value gritty November forest miles over race-day spectacle.
Elevation and Terrain
Total Meters
3,400m
D+/KM
34.3m/km
For context, the Tor des Géants 330 loop has 73 D+/km.
Is the kleiner KoBoLT a UTMB qualifier?
Is the kleiner KoBoLT a UTMB qualifier?▼
Yes — the K99 earns approximately 4 ITRA points (verify current value at itra.run; was reduced from 5 after 2019), qualifying runners for CCC/TDS-tier UTMB events in a field of approximately 32 finishers.
Is the kleiner KoBoLT 99km sold out for 2026?
Is the kleiner KoBoLT 99km sold out for 2026?▼
Yes — sold out within 48 hours of registration opening on May 16, 2026. A waiting list is active at kleiner-kobolt.de. Entry fee for 2026 was not confirmed before the race sold out.
The Kleiner KoBoLT 99km Race Schedule: When does the 2026 Race Takes Place?
The Kleiner KoBoLT 99km Race Schedule: When does the 2026 Race Takes Place?▼
November 28–29, 2026. Start at 14:00 from Rengsdorf on Saturday; finish cutoff 14:00 Sunday (24-hour limit). Race documents at Bonn rowing club HQ; bus transport provided to Rengsdorf.
Closest Airport and Transfer Options: Getting to the kleiner KoBoLT 99km
Which airport should I use for the kleiner KoBoLT?
▼
Cologne Bonn (CGN) is closest at ~74 minutes. Frankfurt (FRA) and Düsseldorf (DUS) also viable. Direct trains run to both Koblenz and Bonn. The race provides a bus from Bonn HQ to the Rengsdorf start — point-to-point logistics are well handled.
How hard is the kleiner KoBoLT 99km?
How hard is the kleiner KoBoLT 99km?▼
Physically demanding and psychologically unique. 99km with 3,360m of gain starting at 14:00 in late November — darkness falls 2–3 hours later, and the majority runs through the night. Conditions are consistently cold (7–11°C day, near-freezing overnight), wet, and muddy — race reports describe ankle-deep mud on the Rheinsteig. Navigation in darkness is a genuine challenge. Approximately 32 runners finished in 2024 .
Getting to kleiner KoBoLT – 99 km
Nearest airport
Cologne Bonn (CGN) / Frankfurt (FRA) / Düsseldorf (DUS)
Notes
Start: ~1–2 hrs to Koblenz by train or car / Public transport: excellent rail to Koblenz and onward to Bonn finish; easy point-to-point / Accommodation: strong in Koblenz and Bonn; book early (late November)
