In this post I have given you the explanations of all the changes that we will have in the Marató de Barcelona 2025 and what are the novelties compared to past editions.
Now it’s time to tell you from the start to the finish line what the course will be like, where it climbs, where the wind blows, and how to tackle the most demanding parts of the course. In short, an analysis of the Barcelona Marathon circuit so that you can get an idea of what you will find the day you put on your race bib.
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Marató: analysis of the routee
THIS MAP IN A BIG DIMENSION BY CLICKIN ON THE IMAGE OR LINK
➡︎ TRACK TO DOWNLOAD
START – KM 5: First five kilometres with two long favourable straights and two climbs, combining uphill sections where you have to regulate (although your legs allow you to go faster) with calm areas to go at a steady pace.
- SALIDA (KM 0 – 1,5): The adventure begins: as soon as we start we have a right turn and then a little more than 1 kilometre of straight road between the flat and the descent.
- MARINA (KM 1,5 – 1,9): 400 metres uphill on a wide road and a short descend..
- ARAGÓ (KM 1,9 – 4,9): Four kilometres practically flat and on a very wide road.
- VILADOMAT (KM 4,9 – 5): Short climb.
KM 5 – 10: Five kilometres of straight, starting uphill and then becoming more favourable. A stretch to find a comfortable pace and not to force yourself.
- VALÈNCIA TO ENRIC GRANADOS (KM 5 – 6): Uphill stretch with some rest. The pace should be slowed down a little.
- VALÈNCIA TO MERIDIANA (KM 6 – 9): Flat most of the way and then a gentle descent. To keep up the pace.
- VALÈNCIA TO BAC DE RODA (KM 9 – 10): First downhill, then a short slope and then flat.
KM 10 – 12,6: Loop of almost 2.5 km. Again with a winding profile. It tends to go uphill at first, including a steep climb, and then it is a gentle descent.
- CALATRAVA BRIDGE (KM 10 – 10,3). Short, hard climb and then a fast descent. No forcing.
- FELIP II (KM 10.2 – 10.4): Uphill with moderate gradient.
- JOSEP ESTIVILL (KM 10.4 – 10.6): Flat and downhill.
- GRAN DE LA SAGRERA (KM 10.6 – 10.9): Fairly flat straight.
- GARCILASO (KM 10.9 – 11.2): Uphill straight. Comfortable pace.
- MERIDIANA (KM 11,1 – 12,3): More than one kilometre of gentle downhill that allows you to go with your legs loose.
KM 12,6 – 16,8: More than 4 km of straight road. It starts uphill again and then has a favourable profile.
- MALLORCA TO SAGRADA FAMILIA (KM 12,6 – 14): Moderate profile climb with some demanding moments. To run at a comfortable pace..
- MALLORCA TO CAL·LÀBRIA (KM 14 -16,8): We continue along the same street, now with a more favourable profile, especially at the end which is a gentle downhill.
KM 16,8 – 19: We close the first lap passing near the starting arch and then we wander through Sant Antoni. It’s a section with a very favourable profile, downhill and flat with a few moments of gentle ascent.
- CAL·LÀBRIA (KM 16,8 -17,6): Fast descent to gain a few seconds.
- GRAN VIA (17,6 – 19): ery wide avenue, with a first few metres with short climbs and then flat.
- RAMBLA CAT TO RONDA SANT ANTONI (KM 19 – 19,8): More or less flat stretch with no complications.
- SEPÚLVEDA (KM 19,8 – 20,7): Long straight stretch, flat at the start and then moderately uphill.
- ROCAFORT A PARAL·LEL (KM 20,7 – 22). We link several streets with a profile between the flat and the gentle downhill.
KM 22 – 27: Five kilometres with a fairly favourable altimetry, but where the wind may appear.
- PARAL·LEL (KM 22 A 23,5): Gentle descent along a wide avenue.
- DRASSANES / PORT VELL (KM 23,5 – 25): Long, flat and windy straight
- RODEANDO CIUTADELLA (KM 25 – 27): Three practically flat lanes. We pass near the finish line and in Marina we cross paths with those who are already on their way to the finish line.
KM 27 – 30,7: Three km conditioned by the wind and the possible heat and another one already looking for Diagonal Mar. There is no choice but to adapt the pace and seek shelter by forming groups of runners.
- LITORAL (KM 27 – 30): The stretch most exposed to the wind, it pays to do it accompanied by people for shelter. It is fairly flat, but there is a stretch of 300 metres of false flat near km 29.
- JOSEP PLA / TAULAT (KM 30 – 30,7): Josep Pla is flat and Taulat is gently downhill, but the wind can also affect the route.
KM 30,7 – 35,4: Almost five kilometres in an out and back stretch, conditioned by the wind. Diagonal Mar can take forever because it comes at a critical moment in the race.
- DIAGONAL MAR (KM 30,7 – 35,4): One of the heaviest and most monotonous sections where keeping a cool head plays a fundamental role. The wind may be blowing, the ideal would be to look for companions to take shelter from it. Even though it is not 100% flat, it is an area where you can keep up your running pace.
KM 35,4 – 38,9: Three kilometres on the way back to the finish line,which are fairly flat, except for a short ramp.
- LLULL / LLACUNA / PALLARS (KM 35,4 – 37,8): Three straights, where the wind should be less of a factor than before.
- PAMPLONA / SALVADOR ESPRIU (KM 37,8 A 38,6):Two straights, mostly flat but with a short climb at the end of Pamplona.
KM 38,9 – 41: Two kilometres that combine climbs and flats and where there is likely to be quite a lot of animation.
- MARINA (KM 38,9 – 39,9): Long straight, which starts gently downhill and then changes and turns uphill..
- ALMOGAVERS (KM 39,9 – 40,6): Fairly flat straight
- ROGER DE FLOR (KM 40,6 – 41): Gently uphill straight. The last difficulty.
KM 41 – 42,195: Round trip to Pl. Urquinaona and then on to the finish line at Arc de Triomf with a fairly favourable profile, knowing that we will soon be kissing the finisher’s medal.
- AUSIÀS MARC (KM 41- 41,5): Straight more or less flat.
- RAMBLA / RONDA SANT PERE (KM 41,5 – 42): Gently downhill straight.
- FINISH LINE (KM 42 – 42,195): We pass under the Arc de Triomf and it’s now only 100 glorious metres to the finish.
And… stretegy, map & altimetry
Analysis of the circuit
Red: hard climbs.
Yellow: false flat or easy climbs.
Green: flat or downhills.
1· Start & first meters
START TO km 1,5
Just where the more classic Cursa El Corte Inglés started, on Passeig de Gràcia between Gran Via and Plaça Catalunya, the Marató begins. As soon as we set off, we turn right and enter the very wide Gran Via, which is more or less flat with a hidden tendency to go downhill.
2· Marina & Aragò
km 1,5 TO 5
We turn left to face the hard climb to Marina and connect with the crossroads between this and Aragó. It will be along the latter that we will have to run on a straight road of about 4 kilometres that starts off a bit steep, then is largely flat and at the end becomes somewhat winding.
3· València
km 5 TO 10
We connect with València going up the short Viladomat. The beginning of València is quite demanding at times and up to the height of Enric Granados you have to take it as a climb despite having some rests. From there on, it’s between winding and very favourable until you cross Meridiana.
4· Clot – Sagrera
km 10 TO 12,6
To leave Valencia and face the Calatrava bridge you have to go up and down a hard but very short slope, and then take that bridge which is also a short and hard climb and then a descent. From there, go up Felip II, down Josep Estivill and a false flat through Gran de Sagrera that connects with Garcilaso which is uphill and then Marina on a gentle descent.
5· Mallorca
km 12,6 TO 16,8
Another of the long straights of the day is here. The road up to Sagrada Familia is in uphilll, especially at the start. Afterwards it is more favourable, and at times you can even feel that you are going downhill, but there is a slight upturn halfway through after crossing Diagonal.
6· Cal·làbria & Gran Via
km 16,8 TO 19
To connect with Gran Via and head close to the departure area (Plaza Catalunya) you have to take Cal·làbria, which is downhill. Then, for about a couple of kilometres along this road, which is somewhat winding at first and then flat.
7· Sant Antoni & Paral·lel
km 19 TO 23,5
This is an out-and-back stretch of roads, more or less favourable, although the end of Sepúlveda (and a bit of Manso) is a bit of a climb. This time Paral-lel goes in the opposite direction to usual, so it is quite favourable.
8· De Colón a Marina por Ciutadella
km 23,5 TO 27
Very flat and with the possibility of a wind (possibly in our favour), it will take us to the area opposite the finish line. We continue along this stretch without difficulties, more or less flat although not completely flat.
9· Litoral
km 27 TO 30
It’s the opposite direction to what we’re used to, so we’re more likely to have a favourable wind at that time of day. It’s fairly flat and we avoid the #putorepecho, but from Mc Donalds to the Mar Bella pavilion it’s slightly uphill.
10· Diagonal Mar
km 30 TO 35,4
Taulat will now be a gentle downhill and then it’s a 5 kilometre long out and back, more or less flat, although at the innermost end (near Agbar) it’s steep uphill. The wind can be a conditioning factor and we are in one of the critical moments of the race.
11· Poblenou
km 35,4 TO 38,9
Long, flat straights, except for the last 50 metres of Salvador Espriu, which are steeper. It is more covered than the coast, so the wind may not have as much of an effect, although it could blow against you.
12· Marina to Ausiàs Marc
km 38,5 TO 41
Marina starts with a slight downhill slope, but from Pujades onwards it climbs steeply up to the Meridiana roundabout. Then we turn left through Almogavers and the profile is more favorable, but at Roger de Flor it goes up again. After that, we connect with Ausiàs Marc to Urquinaona.
13· Last meters to finish line
km 41 TO 42,195
Ausiàs Marc is some flat, but the rest is very favourable with a slightly downhill along Ronda Sant Pere, to then reach Passeig Sant Joan, pass under Arc de Triomf and cross the finish line.
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