When we think about the most established ultracycling events, Transibérica immediately comes to mind. For years, it was the go-to challenge for anyone looking for a challenge to cross the Iberian peninsula by bike, as its name implies. Since last year, the organizers are promoting an international track starting from Bolzano, Italy. After watching the official video of the 2024 edition, we can say that the decision is more than justified.
Last August, 149 riders from 26 nationalities embarked on the seventh edition of the ultracycling challenge, which consisted of an average of 2.680 km and 40,000 meters of elevation gain. Since there was no marked route, every participant decided how to link each of the 10 checkpoints located in some of the most spectacular places in Europe a road bike can take you.
It started with a bang, given that in the earlier part of the first day, riders already had to climb the Passo dello Stelvio. At the top of the highest paved pass in Italy, it was all happy faces, but over the following days everyone went through a mix of emotions while ticking off the remaining checkpoints in Switzerland, France and Spain.
Given the location of the mandatory points, participants avoided the Pyrenees and entered Spain through the Lluis Companys historical landmark, heading south until the top of the Turó de l’Home. From there, reaching Bilbao was the only thing the 78 individual riders and 8 pairs that finished this edition on time could think of.
Among them, Thomas Guncel was the fastest, timed at 6 days, 7 hours and 11 minutes. However, the several penalties that he was given relegated him out of the top places. Georg Walther became the official first-place finisher, followed by Sergio Molinero and Juan Antonio Flecha.
This first edition starting outside the Iberian peninsula was perfectly summarized in the video by Diego Casanovas being launched today. The excitement for a new Italy to Spain edition is clear because there are no more spots for the 2025 edition, but be sure we will let you know about it as we are proud to announce a media partnership with the organizers that will allow us to cover the different events below the Transibérica umbrella first hand.
Starting this May, there will be a Transibérica event each month until the end of summer. The 24h ultracycling, followed by Transpyrenees, Basajaun, and lastly Transibérica, will surely keep all ultracycling passionates entertained.
