Five Races that push the Limits of Human Endurance

These extreme long-distance, cycling, alpine skiing and adventure races are experiences for the few and brave. In these 5 races below, athletes have to contend with pain and exhaustion, rewarded with a mix of endorphins and the feeling of belonging to an elite of courage and strength.

1. Tor des Géants

The infamous ultra trail race is, as its name suggests, a ‘tour of the giants’, a 330km circular route that passes the foothills of the four legendary peaks of the Alps – Mont Blanc, Gran Paradiso, Monte Rosa and Matterhorn. Athletes have 150 hours to complete the feat, which starts at the alpine resort of Courmayer in the Aosta Valley, with 24,000 m of positive altitude difference, 25 passes over 2,000 meters, and the stunning landscape of the famous valley, with dozens of alpine lakes and picturesque villages. This year’s event will be held from September 8 to 14.

2. Cape Epic

South Africa’s mountain bike race is the only one classified as ‘out of category’ by the UCI, the International Cycling Union, and as Red Bull comments, “looking at the schedule, it’s easy to see why”. This year’s race took place from March 17 to 24, it was 605 kilometers long and had 16,500 meters of positive altitude difference. The route was a seven-stage odyssey through the vineyards, olive groves, forests, mountain trails and rocky slopes of the Western Cape, where the race takes place. Highlight the infamous cliffhanger climb in the Hawequa Mountains, a twisty hairpin path carved into the sides of a canyon.

3. Αdventure Race Croatia

Cycling, rowing, running, rope climbing, caving – and what not, the participants of the 69 Adventure Races held each year around the world. One of the most popular is that of Croatia, which this year will be held from May 13 to 18. The 500km race will last 4 days, taking athletes from islands to inland rivers and mountains by kayak, mountain bike, hike and run. Athletes compete in groups of four and the ability to orient is considered necessary. “Probably one of the most important skills in an adventure race because you may be fast, but if you go the wrong way, speed means nothing,” ARC warns.

4. Patrouille des Glaciers

You need to be superhuman to cope with the demands of the 57.5 km long Swiss Armed Forces ski mountaineering race, also known as the “Grande Patrouille”, as the positive altitude difference reaches 4,386 m. The race is held every two years in April, and skiers set off at dawn in groups of three from the railway station square of cosmopolitan Zermatt, to cross a section of the legendary Haute Route ski mountaineering route, climb legendary Alpine peaks such as Tete Blanche (3650m) and the Col de Riedmatten (2918 m) and finish in the popular ski resort of Verbier.

5. Τranscontinental Race

Founded by the legendary British ultra-endurance cyclist Mike Hall, the TRC is a true 4,000km feat. This year, the race will start from the cycle track of the French city of Roubaix and finish in Istanbul. This is one of the toughest unsupported races, meaning athletes carry only what they can carry and consume only what they find along the way. Cyclists must cover a route that crosses Belgium, Germany, Austria, North Macedonia and Greece within two weeks. They choose their own route, but there are four checkpoints they must pass through in Slovenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo and Turkey. The race is organized by Lost Dot, which is also behind the famous Trans-Pyrenees race.