In our "most popular episode 4" we are listing the 10 most popular Bikepacking events, based on the browsing behavior of our visitors, just as we explained in our first episode “most popular granfondo in Italy”.
As bikepacking is, just like gravel grinding, gaining in popularity in recent years we thought you would be interested in on overview of the most popular bikepacking events worldwide.
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What exactly is Bikepacking?
Bikepacking is essentially a multi-day bike ride where the cyclist carries his equipment (the bare necessities) on his bike. Bikepacking events typically have a mass start on a pre scheduled date, are generally gps-guided and mostly unsupported. As the route can be entirely paved, completely off-road or on mixed terrain riders have to pick the most suited bike depending on the bikepacking route.
Top 10 most popular Bikepacking events
Would you like to be notified of date changes, add those events to « my Calendar » or of announcements of new editions, add them to « my Bucket List »
10. The Munga MTB (November, South Africa)
The Munga MTB, launched in 2014, is a non-stop single stage, semi-supported ultra-endurance mountain bike race of 1.000 km through the remote Karoo and is predominantly off road. The Munga MTB edition 2023 kicks off on November 29th in the city of Bloemfontein and riders have 120 hours to reach the finish at the Doolhof wine estate in Wellington, a small town in the Cape Winelands.
Entries for “one of the toughest races on earth” close on October 30th … read more
9. Indian Pacific Wheel Ride (March, Australia)
The Indian Pacific Wheel Race is/was a 5,450km unsupported bike race across Australia, starting in Perth and finishing in Sydney? Although it has not been organized since 2018, it is still very popular and we hope this can convince somebody to take care of the revival this epic bikepacking challenge … read more
The Transpyrenees Ultracycling Race is an unsupported ultra-cycling event across the Pyrenees, starting at the Mediterranean village of Llançà, located in the comarca of Alt Empordà in Catalonia, and finishes in the Basque city of San Sebastián, located in the south of the Bay of Biscay.
Edition 2023 is kicking off on June 24th but is already sold out. If you would like to participate once in your life, add the Transpyrenees Ultracycling Race to « my Bucket List » , we will notify you when the next edition is announced ... read more
7. Catalunya Trail (April, Spain)
The Catalunya Trail is a rather small event limited to only 150 participants, and starting in Girona, Catalonia. The titan event presents 750 km with an elevation of 12.000 m offering the perfect blend of challenging terrain and breathtaking views. From the rugged coastline of the Costa Brava to the majestic peaks of the Pyrenees … read more
Registrations for edition 2023, kicking off on April 6th are still open.
6. Basajaun (July, Spain)
Basajaun is the ultradistance cross country race of 760 km through the forests and arid lands in the Basque country, Spain and states to be together with Badlands the ultimate unassisted gravel event in Europe.
The 2023 edition is already sold out, but when you add Basajaun to « my Bucket List » , we will notify you when the next edition is announced ... read more
5. Tour de Hierro (April, Spain)
Still only on the 2nd edition of the bikepacking event Tour de Hierro but already very popular. Besides the original route of approximately 750 km presented in 9 stages, the event is also offering a shorter circular route of 360 km. The Tour de Hierro kicks off on April 21st and registrations are still open … read more
4. Tuscany Trail (June, Italy)
With 3.000 participants, The Tuscany Trail, organized since 2014, claims to be the world’s largest bikepacking event and is definitely, with this 4th place in our ranking, definitely popular. The 10th edition is comes with a completely new and circular route with departure and arrival in Castagneto Carducci, cycling on the famous Strade Bianche and “rolling” hills of Tuscany.
The Tuscany Trail edition 2023 will take place on 1 and 2 June and registrations are still open ... read more
3. The NorthCape4000 (July, Europe)
The NorthCape4000 is by far the longest bikepacking event in this ranking, starting in Turin, Italy and ending on the North Cape on the northern coast of the island of Magerøya in Northern Norway. Participants have to follow the fixed route of 4200 km, crossing 10 countries to reach the finish.
As edition 2023 of the “world’s most attended ultradistance cycling adventure” was quickly sold out, we advise you to add the NorthCape4000 to « my Bucket List » , and we will notify you when the next edition is announced … read more
2. The Traka (April, Spain)
Our silver medallist, The Traka is taking place in Girona, Catalonia, one of the most popular cycling areas in Spain. The Traka’s main challenge is a gps-guided 360K tour with +4500 m of elevation gain which you’ll have to conquer within max. 32 hours.
The Traka edition 2023 is taking place from 29 till 30 April and registrations are still open … read more
1. Badlands Gravel Adventure (September, Spain)
The most popular bikepacking event is Badlands, a recently established (2020) unsupported bikepacking adventure pretending to be the wildest bikepacking off-road challenge in Europe through some of the most remote and challenging places in Europe, starting in Granada, Andalucia. The Badlands Gravel Adventure edition 2023 is taking place in September but is already sold out. If you would like to participate once in your life, add the Badlands Gravel Adventure to « my Bucket List » , and we will notify you when the next edition is announced ... read more
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