Pyrenean Rally is a unique self-supported ultra that crosses the Pyrenees twice, combining rugged Spanish gravel with legendary French mountain roads in one unforgettable journey. Starting and finishing in Girona, the route covers approximately 1,850 kilometres with an incredible 43,000 metres of elevation gain, making it one of Europe’s most demanding mixed-terrain bikepacking events.
The rally unfolds in two distinct chapters. The first heads from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic on a 900 km mixed-terrain route, following remote Spanish pistas, forest tracks, and mountain trails. At the halfway point, riders reach a service checkpoint where they can swap their gravel tyres for road tyres before tackling the return journey—950 km of legendary French cols linked by endless paved climbs back to Girona.
Pyrenean Rally follows a strict self-supported philosophy. Riders are responsible for their own navigation, resupply, accommodation, and mechanical repairs, while passing through a series of mandatory checkpoints. The event also introduces the “6 Hours Alliance,” encouraging participants to average at least six hours of rest per day, promoting a more sustainable and enjoyable ultra-distance experience.
With unpredictable mountain weather, long stretches between services, and an almost relentless succession of climbs, the Pyrenean Rally demands careful planning as much as physical strength. Blending gravel adventure, iconic road cycling, and one of Europe’s greatest mountain ranges, it offers a truly distinctive challenge for experienced ultra-distance riders.
Based on this event's terrain, difficulty and riding style.
At 1850 km with 43000 m of elevation gain, Pyrenean Rally is roughly the distance of 44 marathons back to back, with climbing that adds up to more than 4.9 times the height of Mount Everest.
Pyrenean Rally's terrain calls for a Gravel Bike, ideally running 45-50mm Tubeless tires. On the drivetrain side, a 38-40T (1x) chainring matched to a 10-51T cassette gives enough range for the climbing involved.
We rate Pyrenean Rally as Extreme overall. Riders should be ready for rough, technical terrain for a good stretch of the route, relentlessly mountainous, climbing almost the entire way elevation gain, and mild and generally comfortable conditions.
Pyrenean Rally takes place on June 6, 2027. That puts it in summer, with long daylight hours, though heat can become a real factor.
Pyrenean Rally runs primarily on gravel and road, and we'd recommend 45-50mm Tubeless tires to handle it comfortably.