Flat grade share
- TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon
- 85.7% Favoured
TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon vs Montana Marathon (Billings)
A data-led head-to-head using sourced race facts and available derived figures under one published methodology.
Data current as ofTBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon or Montana Marathon (Billings) — which comes out ahead?
Montana Marathon (Billings) has the stronger available profile on course flatness, scenery score and conditions.
Route comparison snapshot
TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- 0.2%
- flat grade share
- 85.7% Favoured
- lower ascent
- 180 m
- climbing density
- 4.3 m/km
- net elevation
- -5 m
- maximum grade
- 9.0%
Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Mapped route
- Held
- Elevation profile
- Held
- course flatness
- -2.5% Favoured
- flat grade share
- 74.5%
- lower ascent
- 193 m
- climbing density
- 4.6 m/km
- net elevation
- -253 m
- maximum grade
- 15.6%
| Metric | TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon | Montana Marathon (Billings) |
|---|---|---|
| Flat grade share | 85.7% ✓ | 74.5% |
| GAP factor (% slower than flat) | 0.2% | -2.5% ✓ |
| Uphill share | 7.5% | 7.2% |
| Steep-up share | 0.2% | 0.5% |
| Downhill share | 6.7% | 18.3% |
| Total ascent (m) | 180 m | 193 m |
| Climbing density (m/km) | 4.3 m/km | 4.6 m/km |
| Longest climb length (m) | 1,250 m | 3,750 m |
| Longest climb gain (m) | 35 m | 39 m |
| Longest climb average grade | 2.8% | 1.0% |
| Total descent (m) | 185 m | 446 m |
| Net elevation (m) | -5 m | -253 m |
| Max absolute grade | 9.0% | 15.6% |
| Start elevation (m) | 172 m | 1,211 m |
| Finish elevation (m) | 168 m | 958 m |
| Scenic score | 89/100 | 97/100 ✓ |
| Conditions | 59/100 | 71/100 ✓ |
GAP factor (% slower than flat)
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- -2.5% Favoured
Uphill share
Steep-up share
Downhill share
Total ascent (m)
Climbing density (m/km)
- TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon
- 4.3 m/km
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- 4.6 m/km
Longest climb length (m)
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- 3,750 m
Longest climb gain (m)
Longest climb average grade
Total descent (m)
Net elevation (m)
Max absolute grade
Start elevation (m)
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- 1,211 m
Finish elevation (m)
Scenic score
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- 97/100 Favoured
Conditions
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- 71/100 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 | TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon | Montana Marathon (Billings) |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-09-27 (legacy event-level date). | Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-09-20 (legacy event-level date). |
| Location | Davenport, Iowa | Billings, Montana |
| 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 | Point To Point |
| Surface | Unavailable | Roads open to traffic. |
| Elevation character | Flat | Net Downhill |
| Scenery | Riverside, Island, City, Waterfront, Historic | Waterfront, Parkland, Countryside, Mountain, Canyon, City |
| Technicality | Non Technical | Non Technical |
| Total ascent | 180 m | 193 m |
| Climbing density | 4.3 m/km | 4.6 m/km |
| Total descent | 185 m | 446 m |
| Net elevation | -5 m | -253 m |
| Max absolute grade | 9.0% | 15.6% |
| Flat grade share | 85.7% | 74.5% |
| GAP factor | 0.2% | -2.5% |
| Cutoff | 7:00:00 | 6:30:00 |
| Entry model | Open | Open |
| Qualifying status | Boston_equivalent | Boston_equivalent |
Schedule
- TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-09-27 (legacy event-level date).
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
Exact race date not confirmed. Event weekend starts 2026-09-20 (legacy event-level date).
Location
- TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon
- Davenport, Iowa
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Billings, Montana
Actual distance
- TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon
- 42.2 km
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- 42.2 km
raceindex.org mapped route held
- TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon
- Held
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Held
raceindex.org elevation profile held
- TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon
- Held
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Held
Course type
- TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon
- Loop
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Point To Point
Surface
- TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon
- Unavailable
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Roads open to traffic.
Elevation character
- TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon
- Flat
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Net Downhill
Scenery
- TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon
- Riverside, Island, City, Waterfront, Historic
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Waterfront, Parkland, Countryside, Mountain, Canyon, City
Technicality
- TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon
- Non Technical
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Non Technical
Total ascent
- TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon
- 180 m
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- 193 m
Climbing density
- TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon
- 4.3 m/km
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- 4.6 m/km
Total descent
- TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon
- 185 m
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- 446 m
Net elevation
- TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon
- -5 m
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- -253 m
Max absolute grade
- TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon
- 9.0%
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- 15.6%
Flat grade share
- TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon
- 85.7%
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- 74.5%
GAP factor
- TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon
- 0.2%
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- -2.5%
Cutoff
- TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon
- 7:00:00
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- 6:30:00
Entry model
- TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon
- Open
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Open
Qualifying status
- TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon
- Boston_equivalent
- Montana Marathon (Billings)
- Boston_equivalent
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, TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon or Montana Marathon (Billings)?
Montana Marathon (Billings) has the lower GAP factor, making it the flatter course on our route model and more favourable on gradient alone.