Race Across Suisse is one of the most demanding alpine events in the Race Across Series, taking riders through the spectacular mountains, valleys, lakes, and vineyards of Switzerland. Designed for endurance cyclists who love long climbs and high-altitude scenery, the event combines the beauty of the Alps with the challenge of ultra-distance road cycling.
The flagship 1000 km route starts in Champagne, Switzerland, and finishes in Klosters, with a basecamp in Crans-Montana. Riders tackle approximately 17,000–18,500 metres of elevation gain, crossing legendary Swiss passes including the Gotthard and Furka, while riding through alpine valleys, forests, lakeshores, and wine-growing regions. The course is predominantly road, with around 95% paved surfaces and only occasional non-technical gravel sections.
Race Across Suisse follows a semi-autonomous format, where riders manage their own effort, navigation, food, and supplies on the road, while receiving support and rest opportunities at designated basecamps. The event also offers shorter distance options, including 200 km, 300 km, and 500 km routes, making it accessible to a wide range of ultra-cycling experience levels.
With its relentless climbing, iconic mountain passes, and postcard-perfect Swiss landscapes, Race Across Suisse is a true alpine epic — a race that rewards endurance, strategy, and a passion for high-mountain cycling.
Based on this event's terrain, difficulty and riding style.
At 1000 km with 17000 m of elevation gain, Race Across Switzerland is roughly the distance of 24 marathons back to back, with climbing that adds up to more than 1.9 times the height of Mount Everest.
For Race Across Switzerland, we'd recommend a Endurance Road Bike — plan on 30-35mm Tubeless tires and a wide-range drivetrain, something like a 46/30T-50/34T (2x) chainring paired with a 10-36T cassette, to handle the terrain comfortably.
We rate Race Across Switzerland as Advanced overall. Riders should be ready for mostly smooth, fast-rolling surfaces, steadily rolling, with a healthy amount of climbing elevation gain, and mild and generally comfortable conditions.
Race Across Switzerland runs on July 16, 2026, placing it firmly in the summer riding season, with long daylight hours, though heat can become a real factor.
Race Across Switzerland's route is road. Plan your tire choice around 30-35mm Tubeless for the best combination of speed and comfort.