THE GREAT CROSSING EPIC 2026
2.155 Km, +40.000m
Start in Munich (Germany)
Finish in Ayegui (Spain)
11.07.2026
Registration from 03.01.2026 (11:00 CET)
From beer steins to the fountain of wine
THE CHALLENGE
THE GREAT CROSSING EPIC is not just another ultracycling challenge. It is the ultimate test of endurance, strategy, and spirit across the very heart of Europe.
It all begins in Munich, Germany, on July 11th, 2026. The riders raise a beer to mark the start, and the clock begins to tick. The journey does not end until their bottles are filled with wine from the legendary fountain of wine in Ayegui, Spain. Between those two moments lies an odyssey of mountains, countries, choices, and glory.
The Route of Legends
The path unfolds in three great parts:
Part I — The Fixed Route.
From Munich, the riders head west, crossing Austria and Switzerland, including iconic climbs like Grosse Scheidegg, Gestelenpass, Col de la Croix or Col de Joux Plane. From there, the fearsome Grand Colombier awaits, the gateway to adventure. This climb is the first of four optional Explorer Points sectors. Conquer it, and earn 20 Explorer Points.
Part II — The Free Route.
From here, strategy takes over. Riders must carve their own path through France, deciding whether to face the mythical Mont Ventoux — a climb that grants 50 Explorer Points to those who dare. The free route ends at the top of the Col d’Agnès, already in the Pyrinees, where destiny awaits.
Part III — The Final Fixed Route.
From the Col d’Agnès, then plunges deep into the Pyrenees. Legendary passes rise one after another: Port de Balès, Col du Tourmalet or Col d’Aubisque, among many others. Here, two more Explorer Points sectors await:
Col du Portet: +25 points
Col de la Pierre Saint Martin: +5 points
From there, riders cross into Spain via the Col d’Orgambide, descending to the ultimate destination: the fountain of wine in Ayegui. The clock does not stop until bottles run red with victory.
Rules of Glory
The time limit: sunset, July 24th, 2026.
Explorer Points are optional and not required to qualify as a finisher
Classification is ranked first by Explorer Points, and then by elapsed time.
What sets TGCE apart is not only its scale, but the sheer diversity of worlds it traverses. the route unites Europe’s two greatest mountain ranges — the Alps and the Pyrenees — with the mythical Mont Ventoux standing as a sentinel in between. Peaks crowned with snow, valleys alive with summer bloom, horizons shifting with every climb — TGCE is a passage through Europe’s natural cathedrals, an encounter with the mountains in all their forms: majestic, unforgiving, and unforgettable.
It starts with a beer.
It ends with wine.
And in between — legends are made.
MAIN RULES
Leave no trace
Riders can participate solo or in team (2, 3 or 4)
Riders must be fully self-supported
Riders must know and follow the local laws and traffic regulations at any time
No drafting allowed at any time
Tracker device must be active during the entire route
No E-BIKES allowed
Riders are required to read and sign the corresponding rider manual and rider agreement
WHAT YOU GET
Being part of to the Ultracycling Challenges’ community, including exclusive ultracycling coaching & mentoring online sessions
Welcome event incl. food and drinks
The full kit of .GPX route files
Publishing of riders’ bike features on dotwatcher.cc
A starter-kit including, at least:
o Ultracycling Challenges’ drawstring bag
o Map of the route
o The tracking device for the duration of the challenge
o The exclusive and individually personalized The Great Crossing Epic cap
o The exclusive Specialized Munich’s water bottle – Ultracycling Challenges’ 2026 special version
o Hoppebräu non-alcoholic beer.
o Ultracycling Challenges’ jelly beans
o Other goodies like gels or energy bars
Real-time tracking for the duration of the challenge
Live media coverage with photo and video (drones to be confirmed)
Coverage of the challenge on social media and dotwatcher.cc
Publishing of individual times on website and media incl. replay functions
Finisher goodies incl. at least:
o The exclusive 3D biodegradable The Great Crossing Epic’s finisher medal
Rider finisher get-together with beer
Album of Images of the challenge to be downloaded
Discounts on the full range of Ultracycling Challenges’ cycling apparel
50% discount for the The Great Crossing Epic’s T-Shirt edition 2026
10% discount for purchasing ultracycling Cyclite equipment
25% discount for renting Apidura equipment at simplybikepacking.com
5% discount on all UC Challenges at 2027
Other goodies from our partners and sponsors
Other discounts to be arranged
With the passion, dedication, and genuine spirit of the Ultracycling Challenges’ team, we will bring you the adventure of a lifetime!
o First 50 riders: 203€ (30% off)
o From 51 to 75: 232€ (20% Off)
o From 76 to 100: 261€ (10% Off)
o From 101 to 120: 290€
ENTRY FEES
ROUTE HIGHLIGHTS
Start from Munich
The journey begins in Munich, Bavaria’s vibrant capital. The city releases you into the adventure through the beautiful and peaceful Bavarian roads.
Pupplinger Au
Across the Pupplinger Au, where the Isar river carves its wild path south of Munich, riders face a landscape both untamed and timeless.
Bavarian Allgäu
Through the hidden Rohrmoostal, deep in the Bavarian Allgäu, the road narrows into a wild gorge where silence and mountain echoes reign.
Grosse Scheidegg
Ascend the spine of the Bernese Alps, where gradients bite and alpine legends stare back. Rising from Meiringen, this climb twists for 16 km with brutal ramps reaching 17%, all the way to 1,962 m. Beauty and suffering share the same road here.
Gestelenpass
A steep, hidden crucible of sweat and resolve. Short, savage and gorgeous, this HC-rated hidden gem climbs nearly 900 m in less than 9 km, with average gradients close to 10% and relentless pitches that demand every ounce of strength.
Col de la Croix
A secret alpine crown between vines and peaks. At 1,779 m, this pass rises from Les Diablerets with an average 7% grade and sections that bite up to 12%, its winding slopes a quiet test of rhythm and will.
Col de Joux Plane
A savage Alpine crux, where cold winds meet blazing ambition. One of the Tour de France’s most feared climbs, Joux Plane is a relentless ascent of nearly 11 km at 8.5%, notorious for breaking champions on its unforgiving slopes.
EP1 Grand Colombier
Climb France’s fiercest sentinel—steep slopes, panoramic dominion, point-earning glory. At 1,501 m, the Col du Grand Colombier punishes with some ramps until 14% before rewarding the brave with sweeping views over the Rhône valley and 20 Explorer Points.
EP2 Mont Ventoux
Ride the Giant of Provence—where Martian summit meets mortal will. A climb carved into legend, 21 km of exposed slopes lead to its barren, lunar peak at 1,909 m. Conquer it, and claim 50 Explorer Points among the gods of cycling.
Col de Peyresourde
A silent sentry of the Pyrenees, keeper of cycling’s ancient duels. Rising to 1,569 m, the Peyresourde’s steady gradients have tested champions for more than a century, a classic finish to Pyrenean suffering.
EP3 Col du Portet
Scale the extra mile of epic—where clouds become the finish line. Higher and harsher than the Tourmalet, the Portet stretches to 2,215 m, with endless switchbacks and gradients near 10%. A summit worthy of 25 Explorer Points.
Col du Tourmalet
The grand dame of climbs—where centuries of heroes echo on the slopes. At 2,115 m, the Tourmalet is the second highest paved pass in the central Pyrenees, a mythical ascent that embodies the soul of cycling itself.
Col d'Aubisque
A Pyrenean gatekeeper carved in stone. Since 1910, the Aubisque has haunted the Tour de France, rising above sheer cliffs and narrow corniches, its gradients and history combining into a crucible of endurance.
EP4 Col de la Pierre St Martin
Hidden grandeur at Pyrenean heights—quiet, steep, unforgettable. This cross-border climb to 1,766 m mixes rugged beauty with relentless ramps, offering 5 Explorer Points to those who do not overlook it.
Finish in Ayegui (Spain)
Where the epic crossing finds its end and triumph flows red. After crossing around 2,150 km and nearly 40,000 m of ascent, riders reach the fabled fountain of wine beside the Monastery of Irache. Here, the clock halts not at the line, but when bottles run crimson with victory. From beer steins to flowing wine, the Great Crossing Epic is complete—and legends are born in every drop.
SUBSCRIBE
Subscribe to our newsletter to always be the first to hear about any update on the challenges
