Road racing takes center stage again in Germany this weekend with the Berlin Marathon ushering in the next leg of the majors on Sunday.
More than 56,000 participants will line up in the general participant field as Tigst Assefa headlines a loaded women’s group and Gabriel Geay looks to be the standout in the men’s race.
Assefa returns to Berlin still riding the momentum of her women-only world record in the marathon from London in April and is locked in on grabbing her third title after back-to-back wins in 2022 and 2023 on the streets of the German capital.
“I am really looking forward to running on the fast course in Berlin again and hope that I can continue my success story here on Sunday,” Assefa said. “I am very well prepared and want to run a personal best.”
A strong women’s field will join Assefa on the course, with defending champion Rosemary Wanjiru, Bedatu Hirpa, Dera Dida and Zeineba Yimer among the notables who have the depth to make sure the race will not be decided until the closing stages.
Wanjiru took last year’s race in 2:21:05 and eyes pushing her personal best of 2:16:14 to under 2:15 with an aggressive pace expected on Sunday, while Dida is poised to upgrade her second place finish from last year after finishing just three seconds behind in 2:21:08.
Meanwhile, without world record holder Sabastian Sawe returning to retain his title in Berlin because of injury, Geay will be among several in the men’s group ready to break away late with enough room to cross under Brandenburg Gate and make the short sprint to the finish line.
“I am glad that I have a second chance to run in Berlin,” Geay said. “I am in good shape and hope to run a very good time.”
Getaneh Molla, Guye Adola, Shura Kitata, Dejene Hailu, Erick Sang and Selemon Barega will join Geay at the start line, as Adola hopes to dig into the same spark that propelled him to victory in Berlin in 2021 while Barega is running just his third marathon but has quickly established himself as an emerging factor among the men’s elite distance talent.
In the men’s wheelchair division, Marcel Hug is an obvious favorite and comes into Sunday’s race with a staggering ten wins on the course, including the last six editions of the event.
“I am very motivated after a slightly longer break,” Hug said. “The Berlin course is flat and fast, and maybe I can produce another top time.”
Catherine Debrunner, Eden Rainbow-Cooper and Manuela Schär lead the way in the women’s wheelchair race as favorites, with Schär knowing she will need a dominant start at the line if she will repeat as champion.
“My second half of the season has gone well so far, and Berlin is almost like a home race for me, so I am really looking forward to it,” Schär said.
Start times
All times Eastern
2:20 a.m. — Handbiker (Tops / Elite)
2:26 a.m. — Wheelchair Elite Athletes
2:29 a.m. — Handbike and Wheelchair Athletes (Additional fields)
2:45 a.m. — Elite Fields
2:45 a.m. — Wave 1 (Groups A, B, C)
3:05 a.m. — Wave 2 (Groups D, E)
3:33 a.m. — Wave 3 (Groups F, G)
4:02 a.m. — Wave 4 (Group H)
4:12 a.m. — Wave 5 (Group J)
4:27 a.m. — Wave 6 (Group K)
How To Watch
The 2026 Berlin Marathon will be broadcast live via stream in the United States on FloTrack with coverage beginning at 2:30 a.m. on Sunday. In Germany, the race will be aired on RTL and RTL+ starting at 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. local time in the region.
The official Berlin Marathon YouTube channel will offer a free livestream in German after the main television broadcast window closes.
Top Elite Entries
Women
Tigst Assefa (Ethiopia) – 2:11:53
Rosemary Wanjiru (Kenya) – 2:16:14
Bedatu Hirpa (Ethiopia) – 2:18:27
Dera Dida (Ethiopia) – 2:18:32
Zeineba Yimer (Ethiopia) – 2:18:47
Misgane Alemayehu (Ethiopia) – 2:19:08
Bekelech Gudeta (Ethiopia) – 2:19:39
Evaline Chirchir (Kenya) – 2:20:33
Alisa Vainio (Finland) – 2:20:39
Zhang Deshun (China) 2:20:53
Gadise Mulu (Ethiopia) – 2:20:59
Eebbisee Addunyaa (Ethiopia) – 2:21:13
Aminet Ahmed (Ethiopia) – 2:21:24
Rika Kaseda (Japan) – 2:21:55
Men
Gabriel Geay (Tanazania) – 2:03:00
Getaneh Molla (Ethiopia) – 2:03:34
Guye Adola (Ethiopia) – 2:03:46
Shura Kitata (Ethiopia) – 2:03:59
Dejene Hailu (Ethiopia) – 2:04:15
Erick Sang (Kenya) – 2:04:30
Selemon Barega (Ethiopia) – 2:05:00
Taresa Tolosa (Ethiopia) – 2:05:17
Tadu Abate (Ethiopia) – 2:05:38
Asefa Boki (Ethiopia) – 2:05:40
Kenya Sonota (Japan) – 2:05:59
Tsubasa Ichiyama (Japan) – 2:06:00
Kiyoto Hirabayashi (Japan) – 2:06:14
Yuhei Urano (Japan) – 2:06:23
Hidekazu Hijikata (Japan) – 2:06:26
