Bike
MTB
10 of the toughest self-supported bike races in the world
As bikepacking grows in popularity, so do the organised events combining elements of racing and riding unsupported over long distances. Looking for a challenge? These are the hardest ones in 2020.
Sportives are great for that one-day hit to get those bike legs pumping, but if you're seeking more of a bike adventure, then a self-supported bike race or event may just be what you're looking for.
There’s been an explosion in the popularity of multi-day ultra-distance events in recent years, and they are no longer seen as the domain of specialist long-distance bike athletes. The rise of gravel bikes has made such events more appealing to ride for the everyday cyclist, with self-supported races usually combining both off-road and road riding. That said, there are also road-, gravel- and mountain bike-specific events.
What is a self-supported bike race?
Essentially, a self-supported bike race (or bikepacking event) is exactly as it sounds. You race as an individual to a designated finish without support, carry your own kit (anything from tools to clothing to camping gear), and if you suffer a mechanical or a puncture it's up to you to fix it. Ultimately, there's no help from anyone.
Typically, self-supported races are multi-stage events that see participants ride over large distances and for more than just one day. Most events will have a designated finish and an established route, with checkpoints to pass through along the way. Some events just have a start point and an end point and how you get to there is entirely up to you – there are some rules though, so no cheating!
Gravel bikes are perfect for long distance riding
© Corey Rich/Red Bull Content Pool
Events can range from relaxed to competitive. Either way you'll be able to find camaraderie and community in riding such races with like-minded riders along the way. Here are 10 to try:
1. Iditarod Trail Invitational
Red Bull athlete Rebecca Rusch made her debut at the Iditarod in 2019
© Iditarod Trail Invitational
When? March 1 2020
Where? Knik Lake, Alaska, USA | MAP
Distance: 1,000km
Terrain: Snow, ice tracks
Best bike: Fatbike
Racing a bike self-supported in freezing temperatures and in inhospitable wintery conditions may not seem particularly attractive at first thought, but if it does appeal then this is the race for you. The Iditarod Trail Invitational takes place over 1,000km of Alaskan wilderness and is a test of resilience as much as a race to the finish. Participants must carry all the supplies they need, but they can stop at remote villages on the route and use supplies that they've forwarded to the villages prior to the race. Despite the extremities, the Iditarod is still very popular race.
2. Classics Story, The Northern Way
Those cobbles...
© George Marshall/Red Bull Content Pool
When? April 11 2020
Where? Pedaleur De Flandres, Ghent, Belgium | MAP
Distance: 1,200km
Terrain: Road, cobbles
Best bike: Road
This event celebrates road cycling's one-day Monuments by allowing you to ride the legendary roads, cobbles and climbs that are part of professional cycling history. The ride takes in sections of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Gent Wevelgem, the Tour of Flanders, Paris Roubaix, the Amstel Gold Race and Liège-Bastogne-Liège among other Spring Classics. There is a seven-day limit to get to the finish in Valkenburg from the start in Ghent. Mechanicals are a given on the cobble sections, but you'll have to sort out those issues yourself. There is the added bonus that you could catch the pros ride Paris-Roubaix, while if you finish early enough, the Amstel Gold Race too.
3. Italy Divide
A badge of honour for those who complete Italy Divide
© Italy Divide
When? May 1 2020
Where? Pompei, Italy | MAP
Distance: 1,250km
Terrain: Off-road
Best bike: MTB or gravel
This event is mainly off-road on gravel roads, while it also has some technical trails that will see you explore some of the most wild and remote parts of Italy. Taking part on a mountain bike is strongly recommended, but it would also be possible on a gravel bike. Naples is the starting point for this event, but you also pass through Rome, Siena, Florence, Bologna, Mantua and Verona – a feat some manage in just six days. If you like the sound of traversing your way across Italy you'll have to be quick though as the entry list is limited to 250 participants.
4. Carso Trail
Carso Trail
© Carso Trail
When? May 8 2020
Where? TBC, Italy
Distance: 335km
Terrain: Off-road
Best bike: MTB or gravel
Promoted as more of a bikepacking adventure than an out-and-out race, this unsupported expedition takes place on the border between Italy and Slovenia, with the Gulf of Trieste a stunning backdrop. The route starts in Italy before making its way into Slovenia and upto the high point of Mount Nanos before it winds its way back into Italy. The route is over 335km in total, of which 70 percent is off-road tracks, while the total elevation gain is a punchy 5,500m. If you're fast, it's possible to do it in under 24-hours, but why rush? Organisers say most complete it in three days, and with the stunning views on offer, it's easy to see why.
5. Dirty Kanza
Dirty Kanza is probably the world's most competitive ultracycling race
© Dirty Kanza
When? May 30 2020
Where? Emporia, Kansas, USA | MAP
Distance: 332km
Terrain: Gravel
Best bike: Gravel, MTB
Kansas in middle America has long dirt roads that cut through America's farming heartlands. This is where Dirty Kanza takes place – a tough 322km race that tests your resolve in more ways than you ever thought possible. People usually complete it in a day, but you can, of course take, longer to enjoy the surroundings. Mountain and gravel bikes are the machines of choice on this terrain, and the race bible says you can have no support, so kudos if you get through this one without a puncture.
6. IncaDivide
You'll need your climbing legs for IncaDivide
© IncaDivide
When? July 13 2020
Where: Urubamba, Peru | MAP
Distance: 1,600km
Terrain: Road with some gravel/paved sections
Best bike: Road
Now into its fourth year, IncaDivide brings the climbing (and lots of it) to the self-supported rides table. Racing takes place on the roads and gravel terrain that surrounds the Andes mountains, near Peru's second-biggest city of Cuzco. A high-altitude competition, 1,600km in length with 38,000m of total elevation, it's clear that this is for the fittest out there. Participants have 14 days to complete the route, while passing through three mandatory checkpoints along the way. Although unsupported, you can expect a well-organised ride – the event is part of the established Bikeman series of self-supported ultra-cycling races that take place around the world.
7. Transcontinental
The 2018 winner James Hayden reaches Bjelašnica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
© Camille McMillan/Transcontinental Race
When? July 25 2020
Where? Brest, France | MAP
Distance: 4,000km
Terrain: Road with some gravel/paved sections
Best bike: Road
The Transcontinental takes riders right across Europe on a racing adventure. For 2020, the Transcontinental will start in Brest, France and finish in Burgas in Bulgaria. Participants, who can ride solo or as a pair, have to hit four checkpoints along the way, but apart from that, the route is up to you. If you’re crazy enough to try and go for the win, you’ll need to be finishing in less than 10 days. For the rest of us that don’t fancy over 400km per day, anything under three weeks is still pretty impressive.
8. NorthCape 4000
The race finishes at the North Cape monument in the Arctic Circle
© Nord Cape - Official
When? July 25 2020
Where: Lake Garda, Italy | MAP
Distance: 4,000km
Terrain: Road
Best bike: Road
Want to see as much of Europe as you can by bike? This could be the adventure for you. The NorthCape 4000 passes through 11 countries in a self-supported ride that's (you guessed it) 4,00km in length. Starting in Italy's Lake Garda, the NorthCape travels northwards to the ultimate destination of the Arctic Circle. The route is fixed (meaning all you're left to do take in all the amazing scenery as you pedal along) and changes every edition. There are four mandatory checkpoints along the way for the 2020 edition, and these will be in Balaton (Hungary), Krakow (Poland), Riga (Latvia) and Rovaniemi (Finland).
9. Silk Road Mountain Race
Silk Road Mountain Race: is this new 1,700km event the world's toughest?
© Tom Hardie
When? August 14 2020
Where? Talas, Kyrgyzstan | MAP
Distance: 1,800km
Terrain: Road, gravel and off-road
Best bike: MTB or gravel
The Silk Road Mountain Race can best be described as brutal – really brutal. Of the 100 international competitors that set off on the inaugural event in August 2018, only a third of them finished. It doesn't have to be undertaken solo though – participants can also ride as a duo. The route trawls through the mountains of Kyrgyzstan on a journey that sees riders take on gravel, single and double track as well old former Soviet roads that have long been forgotten and fallen into disrepair. There are three checkpoints to visit along the way before reaching the finish line near Balykchy.
10. The Distance
When? August 22 2020
Where? North York Moors, Yorkshire, UK | MAP
Distance: 80km-120+km (depending on your speed)
Terrain: Road with gravel/off-road sections
Best bike: Gravel
The Distance, which takes place in Yorkshire, markets itself as ‘self-supported with benefits’ with hot food and a complimentary drink on arrival at the campsite. That said, you’ll still need to pack a sleeping bag and some shelter in the form of a tent for this two-day challenge. All riders must get to a series of checkpoints throughout a day's riding. Depending on how fast you get there, you'll then be given one of three route options to the next checkpoint or final camp, which all differ in length. Faster riders will be given the route that's the longest to the next finish point, while slower riders who've probably been a bit more sociable while riding, will do a shorter route. Entries are limited to 150 people, so get in quick.
