Once a fringe pursuit, ultra cycling has steadily gained popularity in recent years as more riders seek quieter challenges set against wilder backdrops, away from crowds and fanfare. Advances in GPS routing and lighter gear have made these long events more accessible, while trailblazers like Lachlan Morton (who cycled 14,200km around Australia in 30 days), Emily Chappell, and the GCN crew have drawn wider interest. Maybe it’s an age thing for me too – the average rider in my event, Race Across Switzerland, a 1,000km cycle from Klosters that must be completed within 84 hours, was in their early 40s; I’m 42.
There’s an ever-expanding choice of ultra events emerging globally. I’d taken part in long-distance rides like Chasing Cancellara, also in Switzerland, and the fully supported, multi-day RideCymru in Wales, but I craved something tougher. The legendary Transcontinental Race – a 4,000km self-supported race across Europe – was on my radar, but it demands weeks, not days. The Race Across Series runs six ultra events across Europe and North America, ranging from 50km to 2,500km. A halfway base camp – with drop bags, food, showers, and camp beds – plus 24/7 monitoring makes them ideal for first-timers. When I saw that the Swiss edition started in Klosters, where I was planning to be anyway this summer, it felt serendipitous.
