About 15 years ago now Transalp was the multi stage mountain bike race to do. Then came the whole enduro craze, with uplifts which I was never very fond of.

I fancy doing a multi stage race on the continent next year and was looking at the transalp once again. Great to see it’s still going… but are there better/more interesting options?

Can’t believe that the cape epic is now $4000!!!

I’m also interested in this. I’d heard that the Transalp is a lot of fireroads, but never done it so don’t know if that’s true.

Others I was looking at were

Alps Epic – 5 day, Briancon, June

Swiss Epic – 5 day in August around Lenzerheide – trails looks amazing on their marketing videos. Considering it’s Switzerland, price not as high as you might think

Med Epic – 4 day near Valentia in Feb. Supposedly quite techy riding, potentially bad weather that time of year

Despite the names only swiss Epic is run by the Cape Epic company.

The Croatia 4 Islands race always crops up in my ‘targeted advertising’ and the algorithms are doing something right as it looks blooming brilliant. I’d love to do an event like this one day.

Swiss Epic is fantastic. So well organised and some of the hotels (included in the fees) are more luxurious than I would ever consider staying in otherwise.

They also organise similar races in Andorra and Croatia (4 Islands), although I don’t have first-hand experience of these.

In a previous search I also found this in Italy which could be tempting: Appenninica MTB

Slightly biased as I’ve worked on it (and its predecessor, Trans Provence) for 9 years now – but Stoneking Rally?

Some uplift each day, but still a lot of ascent and all the descending you could possibly want in epic, wild, mountain landscapes. Proper adventure riding with a bit of a competitive edge. To me feels like the definition of mountain biking.

Great atmosphere and craic and very well organised (I’m involved in the execution of that, but not the planning, the logisitics of which are mindboggling)

https://stonekingrally.org/

I can confirm the stone king rally is absolutely epic! I’m currently on the tour and each day has too many highlights. The distances you cover each day are massive and will stretch the majority of fit riders, and there’s only a few uplifts each day. Some tough tough climbs – day 3 had a single 3600ft climb in the afternoon, and that was after a long morning!
Oh and it’s the last one next year

I’ve been seeing lots of his ^^^^ pics on insta… looks great!

I’m REALLY toying with doing the 4 islands event with a mate next April… just looking at flights… perfect event for the Epic Evo!

DrP

Watching this! Was considering the stone king for 2025, Superfli do you know why it is stopping?

The others look a bit to much uphill for me. Will have to start getting fitter!

I work on Swiss Epic every year and will be working on the 4Islands in April…. a lot of the same team are on both of these so are well sorted.

The Swiss Epic is spendy but the whole package is good with great hotels and back up support all round. I’ve done 7 years of it now and its fresh areas and trails every time.

I’m looking forward to 4Islands as the trails there are pretty damn amazing too, plus the setting of Krk, Mali Losinj and Rab, plus the sea, a mini journey and of course the backdrop of Croatia.

@rickmeister

Apologies for not googling/looking harder.. but RE flights..
Where would i be best flying into, and out of, for the 4Islands please?

DrP

@DrP

as I thought, Zagreb or better as its closer, Riejka
https://www.epic-series.com/4islands-event-howtogetthere

Prologue is on Krk as is the main first stage. Transfers are by ferry and all this is taken care of in the entry fee for the pair riding.
https://www.epic-series.com/4islands-event-route

The Stone King Rally would be my choice. Everything I’ve seen or heard about it sounds awesome.

Just sitting in a cafe having a gelato and beer after a 6500ft descent. That’s after a 3000ft descent earlier and about to do another 4000ft😆. I’m a bit shagged lol!
Ash said the skr was always going to be a3 year thing. It’s a lot of undertaking for little earnings.

Stone King looks amazing. I’m struggling to find pricing on the website. Am I right in understanding you can purchase a route guide and do it self-supported at other times of the year?

Not too drag this too far off topic but the below answers my question and is a really good read.

At the Speed of a Camel: A Self-Supported Stone King Rally

I did Stoneking touring club in early September. It was unbelievably awesome!! Best riding I’ve ever done & masses of it – I was sure glad I’d trained for it. Stunning scenery, forgotten villages, amazing food, great group of folk, couldn’t be better!! Trouble is, what to do next??

I’m in recovery mode. Body aching and have a cold after possibly over doing it most nights of skr! Stats
6403m ascent
20136m descent
148.79 miles
13835 cal

As @kitebikeski says, I’m worried I’ve set my expectations for future hols too high now!
Met some amazing new friends. Loved every second of it

Bumping this back up as i have just registered for the alps epic 2024.

The transalp is a great event (rode in 2022) while there is a fair chunk of fireroads there was plenty of technical riding and the fireroads were often a welcome break!

Happy to answer any question anout the transalp

Has anyone ridden the transalp or have plans to?

Me and a mate have entered the 4islands…. REALLY looking forward to it!

DrP