Alaska Divide

The Alaska Divide is a 1,700-kilometre unsupported bikepacking race from Anchorage on the Cook Inlet to Deadhorse on Prudhoe Bay — the northernmost point accessible by road in North America, sitting on the edge of the Arctic Ocean. The route was conceived around 2015 by long-distance cyclist Andy Buchs (who also created the NorthCape-Tarifa, Swiss-Bike Adventure, and Iberica-Traversa events), but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic before finally launching its inaugural edition in August 2022. In the years since, it has established itself as one of the most remote and logistically demanding ultra-endurance events on the planet. The course moves through the entire ecological spectrum of Alaska, from the lush subarctic forests of Southcentral Alaska to the open tundra north of the Arctic Circle, accumulating approximately 18,000 metres of elevation gain along the way. The defining section is the Dalton Highway — originally built as a supply road for the Prudhoe Bay oil fields — which runs more than 350 kilometres from Fairbanks to Deadhorse on remote gravel with only three tiny settlements (Coldfoot, Wiseman, and Deadhorse) and almost no services. In summer, riders experience near-continuous daylight, with the midnight sun turning the tundra gold and eliminating the distinction between day and night riding. Wildlife encounters are a genuine factor: Alaska is home to bears, moose, and wolves in abundance, and riders must carry bear spray and maintain situational awareness throughout. The 2024 edition was described by participants as the wettest on record; the 2023 edition saw a finisher disqualified after accepting help following frostbitten toes. Participation requires passing a detailed vetting questionnaire, and the entry list is kept small to preserve the route's remote character. The Alaska Divide is not an event for riders new to self-supported ultra racing — it is an expedition-level challenge that happens to be contested as a race. The next edition starts August 16, 2026.

Date to be confirmed: TBD (site shows stale 2022 date)