One of the world’s toughest feats of endurance, the Race Across The Alps is a non-stop, one-day, ultra-distance cycling race that starts and ends in Nauders on Reschen Pass this June.
Some 50 tough road cyclists will tackle the 20th Race Across The Alps (“RATA”) on June 25 and 26, 2021. The 525K race with an elevation gain of roughly 14,000 meters climbs mountain pass roads in Austria, Italy and Switzerland in 24 hours. The finish closes after 32 hours; the majority of the participants aims to scale the climbs in under 24 hours, the fastest riders complete the route in 21.5 hours. New this year is a team race on the same route, featuring 15 two-man teams.
Starting in the Austrian village of Nauders, the route is epic in every sense, crossing into Italy and Switzerland to scale a host of truly iconic mountains. This route is about equivalent to the Three-Countries-Giro, the Ötztal Cycling Marathon and the Dolomites Marathon taken together. Whatever way you look at it this is one big ride. Covering these climbs in a week is highly commendable, attempting to conquer them in a day verges on utter lunacy.
