Alps Divide - The Rally

Alps Divide - The Rally – Menton, France

• Date: 5 July 2027

The Alps Divide - The Rally is a mixed-terrain group bikepacking tour traversing the Western Alps from the Mediterranean coast to Lake Geneva. Departing from Menton, France, and concluding in Thonon-les-Bains, the suggested 1,050-kilometer itinerary incorporates roughly 32,000 meters of elevation gain and weaves across the borders of France, Italy, and Switzerland.

Unlike timed competitive ultras, the Rally is structured as an unsupported group tour with a mass start of up to 100 participants. Riders are permitted to draft, travel together, share equipment, and coordinate lodging or wild camping. Organizers do not provide live GPS tracking, checkpoints, baggage transfers, or on-course media crews. Participants handle their own navigation, pacing, and logistics once leaving the start line, supported by a shared participant messaging group for route intel and safety updates.

The route consists primarily of 4x4 tracks, quiet paved lanes, unpaved military roads such as the Alta Via del Sale and Colle del Sommeiller, and select singletrack sections. Due to high-alpine gradients, riders face multiple demanding hike-a-bike segments, including crossings at Col des Ayes, Col des Rochilles, Col de la Gittaz, Col de Voza, and Col du Jorat. Several lower-elevation bypass variants are provided within the official GPX files for riders seeking to avoid specific hike-a-bike or exposed balcony road sections.

Navigation is distributed across five roughly 200-kilometer GPX files designed for GPS head units, though participants are not required to follow the track strictly. More details, GPX tracks, and registration guidelines can be found on the official event website.