Been looking for an XC marathon to target this year and fancy doing something in the alps as last year did a UK based one and was a bit anti-climatic to be honest!

Generally after something that has good local riding to do before/after the race as will make a holiday of it. So far I’ve found these but was wondering if there are any others that you know of? My googlefu seems to be failing me as don’t think there’s only three!

Grand Raid – never ridden here but looks ok

One in Austria. Looks nice area for riding but race all appears to be track from google

Another in switzerland – ridden here before (5 years ago)but was a bit lacking of legal riding, google suggests more now

So what you got!

There’s loads out there but they’re not all so visible on the internet unfortunately.

If you sign up to datasport you can look at the races they have the timing chips for and then research those.

I’ve only got personal experience of the grand raid – there may be better out there but I’m biased towards it as I know the area as have accommodation there but it’s a cracking day out and there is some fantastic riding around elsewhere if you’re happy riding up a couple of hours of fire track! It’s a big one though – recommend starting at heremence for a first go unless you’re really keen. I’m planning on doing it again next year. Don’t expect a race on hours of singletrack though, there’s a lot of fire track.

A weeks riding is easily doable around it, ideally take a couple of bikes and have a few days of lifted riding and a few days xc.

I like the grand raid, not the most technical of courses but a very nice day out in the alps. Obviously as in Switzerland it is expensive but is well organised

Not Alpine but a 6 day XCM event in Feb/March. There’s three of us entered so far from my club. One of the guys has done it before, quite a highly rated event.

http://www.andaluciabikerace.com/?lang=eng

Generally, those races are long fire roads and double tracks long steep climbs and fast descents, sometimes steep and technical. I’ve been twice at the Salzkammergut and 3 times Sellaronda Hero. Beautiful labdscapes and plenty to do around. My recommendation is the MB race, near Chamonix. This is much more technical than the average european races, very well organiced, like Salzk, SH and Grand Raid and very cheap, like Salzk. I’m going to see if I can do this summer MB race abd Salkammegut

MB Race is the only event like this I’ve done – but I really enjoyed it. Didn’t seem that technical apart from some fast descents and some steep climbs (up ski slopes!) but varied and fun with a good atmosphere. Not sure if it’s the same format now, but when I did it you could choose to continue on a longer distance or stop if you’ve had enough.. or if you’d blown up your rear shock like my friend did 😮

There are a few other events that are slightly outside your criteria – not in the Alps or multi-day, like the Transmaurienne, Quebrantahuesos MTB, Lozerienne, Forestiere, or even the Roc d’Azur/Roc des Alpes.

Oh, or the Velo Vert VTT festival at Villard de Lans

Thanks guys, some of those do look interesting, I guess I’m probably after something that doesn’t really exist asking for lots of singletrack on a marathon course.

I have looked at stage races but all a silly money and often need a partner.

MB Race is the only event like this I’ve done – but I really enjoyed it. Didn’t seem that technical apart from some fast descents and some steep climbs (up ski slopes!) but varied and fun with a good atmosphere. Not sure if it’s the same format now, but when I did it you could choose to continue on a longer distance or stop if you’ve had enough.. or if you’d blown up your rear shock like my friend did

There are a few other events that are slightly outside your criteria – not in the Alps or multi-day, like the Transmaurienne, Quebrantahuesos MTB, Lozerienne, Forestiere, or even the Roc d’Azur/Roc des Alpes.

Oh, or the Velo Vert VTT festival at Villard de Lans

Forgot I did the MB race on a rigid carbon fork with a loose headset. Terribly painful.

Sudety is a cheap stage race…easy to get to Poland too and cheap when you’re there…

http://www.mtbchallenge.com/en

Good race too…

Sudety is a cheap stage race…easy to get to Poland too and cheap when you’re there…

http://www.mtbchallenge.com/en

Good race too…

Cheap maybe – but it still will be over £1200 once you add food and getting there! I can do any of the single day racing in the alps for half that!

Any other ideas anyone?

a couple mention by people when in switzerland

http://www.eigerbike.ch

Accueil

MBRace inscriptions opened today…
sat 1st july MBUltra 70>100>140 km (140km is UCI XCM World Cup)
sun 2nd MBClassic 20>35>50 km
(there’s also an Enduro race on the Sunday)

http://mb-race.com/en/home-en/

Theres an article on xc racer at the moment about a bunch of differnet xc marathon / stage races, might be worth a read.

Quoting myself>>

MB Race is the only event like this I’ve done – but I really enjoyed it. Didn’t seem that technical apart from some fast descents and some steep climbs (up ski slopes!)

I think I need to add that I did the “classic” shorter route(s). I was talking to a colleague who’s done the longer “ultra” option and it sounds considerably more technical riding, with sections along ridges and harder descents

Something left field, or ice field even?

https://www.glacier360.is

Just got an email about this: http://www.alpinecup.com/index.php/en/

For those who can’t choose between the Sudtirol Hero, MB Race, Grand Raid or Forestiere… do them all 😆

Just got an email about this: http://www.alpinecup.com/index.php/en/

For those who can’t choose between the Sudtirol Hero, MB Race, Grand Raid or Forestiere… do them all

Don’t think my bank account would thank me for that!

I’m signed up for this in September, not done it before but lots of entry options

http://www.ultraraidlameije.fr/en/