Race Through Poland is one of Europe’s toughest self-supported gravel ultras, taking riders deep into the mountain ranges of Central Europe. Each edition explores a different region, with the route changing annually while maintaining the same philosophy: remote gravel roads, relentless climbing, and complete self-sufficiency.
The current route covers approximately 1,500 kilometres with around 22,000 metres of elevation gain, starting in Polanica-Zdrój, Poland. Riders pass through four mandatory checkpoints as they navigate a constantly changing mix of gravel roads, forest tracks, mountain passes, and quiet secondary roads across Poland and its neighbouring countries.
Unlike races that focus on speed alone, Race Through Poland rewards smart decision-making. There is no outside support, meaning every rider must manage navigation, resupply, mechanical repairs, sleep, and changing weather conditions entirely on their own. Success depends as much on strategy as it does on fitness.
The route traverses the rugged landscapes of the Bohemian Massif, where steep climbs, technical descents, and long stretches of remote gravel create a demanding but spectacular riding experience. Riders can expect dense forests, rocky mountain trails, historic villages, and breathtaking views throughout the journey.
With its combination of high elevation, constantly evolving routes, and true self-supported racing, Race Through Poland has established itself as one of the premier ultra-distance gravel events in Europe, attracting riders looking for a serious mountain bikepacking challenge.
Based on this event's terrain, difficulty and riding style.
At 1500 km with 22000 m of elevation gain, Race Through Poland is roughly the distance of 36 marathons back to back, with climbing that adds up to more than 2.5 times the height of Mount Everest.
For Race Through Poland, 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.
Race Through Poland carries an overall difficulty rating of Extreme. The terrain itself is mostly smooth, fast-rolling surfaces, the climbing is consistently demanding, with sustained climbing, and conditions tend to run mild and generally comfortable.
Race Through Poland takes place on May 22, 2027. That puts it in spring, when weather can still be unpredictable, so a flexible kit is worth packing.
Race Through Poland runs primarily on road, and we'd recommend 30-35mm Tubeless tires to handle it comfortably.