Flat grade share
- Zürich Marathon
- 98.2% Favoured
SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne Marathon vs Zürich Marathon
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofSwissCityMarathon – Lucerne Marathon or Zürich Marathon — which comes out ahead?
Zürich Marathon has the stronger available profile on flat grade share, course flatness and conditions.
Route comparison snapshot
SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 0.3%
- flat grade share
- 88.6%
- lower ascent
- 162 m
- climbing density
- 3.8 m/km
- net elevation
- -2 m
- maximum grade
- 7.8%
Zürich Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 0.0% Favoured
- flat grade share
- 98.2% Favoured
- lower ascent
- 66 m
- climbing density
- 1.6 m/km
- net elevation
- -2 m
- maximum grade
- 5.9%
| Metric | SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne Marathon | Zürich Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 88.6% | 98.2% ✓ |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 0.3% | 0.0% ✓ |
| Uphill share | 5.0% | 0.9% |
| Steep-up share | 1.1% | 0.0% |
| Downhill share | 6.4% | 1.0% |
| Total ascent (m) | 162 m | 66 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 3.8 m/km | 1.6 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 760 m | 330 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 27 m | 8 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 3.5% | 2.5% |
| Total descent (m) | 163 m | 68 m |
| Net elevation (m) | -2 m | -2 m |
| Max absolute grade | 7.8% | 5.9% |
| Start elevation (m) | 437 m | 410 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 435 m | 408 m |
| Scenic score | 100/100 ✓ | 55/100 |
| Conditions | 89/100 | 91/100 ✓ |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- Zürich Marathon
- 0.0% Favoured
Uphill share
- Zürich Marathon
- 0.9%
Steep-up share
- Zürich Marathon
- 0.0%
Downhill share
- Zürich Marathon
- 1.0%
Total ascent (m)
- Zürich Marathon
- 66 m
Climbing density (m/km)
- Zürich Marathon
- 1.6 m/km
Longest climb length (m)
- Zürich Marathon
- 330 m
Longest climb gain (m)
Longest climb average grade
- Zürich Marathon
- 2.5%
Total descent (m)
- Zürich Marathon
- 68 m
Net elevation (m)
- Zürich Marathon
- -2 m
Max absolute grade
- Zürich Marathon
- 5.9%
Start elevation (m)
- Zürich Marathon
- 410 m
Finish elevation (m)
- Zürich Marathon
- 408 m
Scenic score
- SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne Marathon
- 100/100 Favoured
- Zürich Marathon
- 55/100
Conditions
- Zürich Marathon
- 91/100 Favoured
Only metrics available for at least one side are shown. A ✓ marks the better value for each metric (higher-is-better aware). Scores are out of 100 when available. Ascent, climbing density, max absolute grade and median finish describe course or field context and are not marked as better or worse.
Race facts that change the decision
| Fact | SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne Marathon | Zürich Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-25 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-04-11 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Lucerne, Switzerland | Zürich, Switzerland |
| Actual distance | 42.2 km | 42.2 km |
| raceindex.org mapped route held | Held | Held |
| raceindex.org elevation profile held | Held | Held |
| Course type | Loop | Out And Back |
| Elevation character | Gently Rolling | Flat |
| Terrain | Road | Road |
| Scenery | Lakeside, Waterfront, Historic, City, Coastal, Mountain, Forest | City, Lakeside, Historic |
| Atmosphere | Big City, Festival, Scenic Tour | Big City, Festival, Community |
| Technicality | Non Technical | Non Technical |
| Total ascent | 162 m | 66 m |
| Climbing density | 3.8 m/km | 1.6 m/km |
| Total descent | 163 m | 68 m |
| Net elevation | -2 m | -2 m |
| Max absolute grade | 7.8% | 5.9% |
| Flat grade share | 88.6% | 98.2% |
| GAP factor | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| Cutoff | Unavailable | 5:30:00 |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
| Qualifying status | Championship | Unavailable |
Schedule
- SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-10-25 (legacy event-level date).
- Zürich Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2027-04-11 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne Marathon
- Lucerne, Switzerland
- Zürich Marathon
- Zürich, Switzerland
Actual distance
- SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne Marathon
- 42.2 km
- Zürich Marathon
- 42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne Marathon
- Held
- Zürich Marathon
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne Marathon
- Held
- Zürich Marathon
- Held
Course type
- SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne Marathon
- Loop
- Zürich Marathon
- Out And Back
Elevation character
- SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne Marathon
- Gently Rolling
- Zürich Marathon
- Flat
Terrain
- SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne Marathon
- Road
- Zürich Marathon
- Road
Scenery
- SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne Marathon
- Lakeside, Waterfront, Historic, City, Coastal, Mountain, Forest
- Zürich Marathon
- City, Lakeside, Historic
Atmosphere
- SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne Marathon
- Big City, Festival, Scenic Tour
- Zürich Marathon
- Big City, Festival, Community
Technicality
- SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne Marathon
- Non Technical
- Zürich Marathon
- Non Technical
Total ascent
- SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne Marathon
- 162 m
- Zürich Marathon
- 66 m
Climbing density
- SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne Marathon
- 3.8 m/km
- Zürich Marathon
- 1.6 m/km
Total descent
- SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne Marathon
- 163 m
- Zürich Marathon
- 68 m
Net elevation
- SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne Marathon
- -2 m
- Zürich Marathon
- -2 m
Max absolute grade
- SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne Marathon
- 7.8%
- Zürich Marathon
- 5.9%
Flat grade share
- SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne Marathon
- 88.6%
- Zürich Marathon
- 98.2%
GAP factor
- SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne Marathon
- 0.3%
- Zürich Marathon
- 0.0%
Cutoff
- SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne Marathon
- Unavailable
- Zürich Marathon
- 5:30:00
Entry model
- SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne Marathon
- Open
- Zürich Marathon
- Open
Qualifying status
- SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne Marathon
- Championship
- Zürich Marathon
- Unavailable
Facts are shown only when they exist in the sourced race record; Not held means no sourced value is held for that race.
Common questions
Which is flatter, SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne Marathon or Zürich Marathon?
Zürich Marathon has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.