Starting block 1 will leave exactly at 6:30 am. All cyclists of the first starting block have the same starting time. The qualification criteria for a place in the first starting block, defined by the race director, can be found on the public notice board. All the other participants start the marathon by using the Real Timing System: the time runs as soon as you pass the starting line. There are 8 more timekeeping points along the course; they must be passed by all participants. With one missing timekeeping information the cyclist will be disqualified. Several watches displayed on the information boards (race director, presenter, closing vehicle) show the time passed since the official beginning of the race. Only the watches in the start and finish area show the exact Central European Time.