L'Etape Slovenia, Septmeber 8th - Register Now!

Alpen Challenge Lenzerheide

June 23 2024

Graubünden, Switzerland

Date Confirmed

Distances: 119, 193 km

Difficulty: Extreme terrain with frequent steep hills and long sustained climb

Limited to: 1500 Participants

Next in early summer: The Alpen Challenge will start on September 9

Thank you for your patience. The Alpen Challenge Lenzerheide 2023 will take place on Saturday, September 9. We are extremely excited about the fall date and look forward to seeing you!

The organization of a cycling marathon, even more so through two countries, is an extreme challenge. The clash of dates with the Bike World Cup in Lenzerheide, which was moved to "our" June date by the UCI, did not make the planning any easier. In the past weeks and months, we have held countless discussions, set dates, examined options, discarded dates again and started anew. Our goal: to find the "best" date despite all the circumstances and to be able to offer our participants the best service on this date.

For this year, we are now planning with September 9 and will be driving on Saturday for the first time. And as a thank you for your patience, the first 500 starting places for the Alpen Challenge Lenzerheide will be available at the start of registration and until the end of January for the starting price of only CHF 60.00. Be quick and register now.

Short or long? You decide on the go!

Which version are you into? Fast and exciting 119 kilometers on the short version or go full throttle on the long, 194 kilometers route? In case you could not decide yet, you may do this even after the start of the race. The Alpen Challenge is the bicycle marathon where you can decide even during the event, which version you want to go for. As we need to plan the event, we ask you for a decision beforehand, however you may change your mind all the way until the crossing of the short version in Silvaplana at the bottom of the Julier Pass. The timing of your ride will be adapted automatically; it goes without saying that this service is for free. It is for this reason that you do not need to alter your booking in advance in case you want to change the route. There is one thing to be aware of, though: there will be a deadline in Silvaplana after which you will not be allowed on the longer version. This deadline might be adapted depending on the weather conditions. mountain roads in a single race. Further highlights include the ride along the Oberengadiner lakes, the descent down from the Maloja Pass, a most intriguing combination of curves down from the Splügen and – eventually – the Viamala canyon.

More room for cyclists - support vehicles are to stay at home

We want to guarantee the same conditions for every rider. The Alpen Challenge is a bike race, which is why cyclists should have as much room on the road as possible. With an impressive team, we will put a lot of effort into providing you with a perfectly secured route. This is why we want to keep any unnecessary traffic of the route and thus dearly ask the participant not to be accompanied by private support vehicles.

The Alpen Challenge is back

After no more than one year, “Europe’s most beautiful cycling marathon“ has seen a revival with its 2015 edition. With a new organization crew, a new route, yet with a well-approved concept, the Alpen Challenge will even be part of the Swiss Cycling Top Tour, a series of the top ranked and biggest cycling marathons in Switzerland. The Alpen Challenge Lenzerheide takes place on August 14th, 2016.

The departure as well as the finish of the event is located in Lantsch/Lenz, right in the heart of the tourist and cycling area Lenzerheide. Two routes will be available, a 115 km and a 192 km version leading the participants through some of the most astonishing regions of Switzerland. Depending on the riders’ choice, participants will face the Albula and the Julier Pass or the Albula, the Maloja and the Splügen Pass. The longer version thus includes the combination of two of the most challenging mountain roads in a single race. Further highlights include the ride along the Oberengadiner lakes, the descent down from the Maloja Pass, a most intriguing combination of curves down from the Splügen and – eventually – the Viamala canyon.

Routes

The short version of the Alpen Challenge is based upon the well-known and proven route of the last decade. The Albula and the Julier are considered two of the most beautiful Alpine passes that result in a 117.9 kilometers challenge with some 2698 meters of climbing combined with an astonishing experience of the scenery. The short version is demanding and not to be underestimated, yet experienced riders will be able to handle the 115 km distance and the climb up to the Julier Pass. The southern part of it is considered the relatively easier one. Nonetheless, the finale, right before the climb to Lantsch/ Lenz, is spiced up with a demanding extra loop to Salouf.

The long version of the Alpen Challenge sets standards within the biggest and most thrilling cycling marathons in the world, both in terms of sports and as to the landscape it located in.

After a short descent – together with the participants of the short version – that follows the spectacular UNESCO World Heritage railroad “Räthische Bahn” and the romantic Albula valley, the first challenge is right ahead. Even the descent from the Albula Pass is short, yet spectacular. What follows is a series of magnificent cycling highlights: the high mountain valley of the Engadin is followed by riding through the classy village of St. Moritz. The Engadin lakes will be passed just before the next mountain highlight is to come, the Maloja Pass. Having descended from the Bergell and having passed the impressive granite walls of the southern valley there, the route even crosses the Italian border. Whether the participants have some power left will be put to test at the Splügen. After these sports highlights, a veracious symphony of landscape highlights is to follow: after the curves down from the Swiss boarder, the route passes the village of Splügen, the spectacular Viamala canyon towards Thusis and, towards the end, leads the riders to the final climb back to Lantsch/ Lenz. 192.4 kilometers – the Alps at their very best – with impressive 4215 meters of climbing. This makes the route a tough and challenging one indeed, yet not extreme.

Note: All riders that choose the long version will need to have passed the crossing towards the Julier Pass in Silvaplana by 11 am (new time). For safety reasons, the road towards the Maloja Pass will be closed thereafter. Riders who have not passed the checkpoint by then will automatically be lead on the shorter version and eventually will also be classified there.

Alpen Challenge Lenzerheide

Start Located At: 7083 Lantsch/Lenz, Lenzerheide, Graubünden

Strava

+41 78 657 34 85

Included

Electronic timing with transponder technology
Result list
Flower ceremony
Start classification based upon the performance of the previous year
Personal bib number
Team classification
Refreshment stations all along the route and in the finish area
Voucher for the pasta party
Medical support along the route and in the finish area
Signposted and secured route – the route is not closed entirely!
Organization members accompany the race
Bike service in the finish area
Participation present

Packet Pickups

Roland Arena [Biathlon Arena Lantsch/Lenz]

Prize / Race Categories

Men, Master, GrandMaster, Senior GrandMaster, Women, Women Master

Facilities

Parking

Changing Rooms

Registration On the Day

Pre-Packet Pickups

Support for Participants

Route Signposted

Route Card