Alps Divide - ULTRA

Alps Divide - ULTRA – Menton, France

• Date: 4-12 September 2027 / September 2027 (Check official schedule)

• Location: Menton, France to Thonon-les-Bains, France

• Distances: 1,050 km (32,000 m elevation gain)

• Event Type: Self-supported bikepacking challenge

The Alps Divide ULTRA is a self-supported, single-stage bikepacking event linking the Mediterranean Sea to Lake Geneva across France, Italy, and Switzerland. The fixed route covers 1,050 kilometers with approximately 32,000 meters of positive elevation gain. Starting in Menton, France, and finishing at the port in Thonon-les-Bains on Lac Léman, the ride traverses the Western Alps on a mix of 4x4 tracks, quiet paved lanes, narrow footpaths, and singletrack.

The event is not a race, and no prize money is awarded. The core challenge is completing the route within the cut-off times at an average overall pace of at least 5.2 km/h. Long mountain climbs can require up to five hours to reach summits, and riders must navigate technical hike-a-bike sections, exposed balcony roads, and passes reaching altitudes between 2,000 and 3,000 meters. Due to high alpine elevations, participants must carry gear suited for severe weather, including cold fronts, snow, freezing overnight temperatures, lightning storms, and intense heat.

Two mandatory 24-hour checkpoints pace the route: the Clock Tower in Barcelonnette (Checkpoint 1) and Refuge de la Coire (Checkpoint 2). While the Barcelonnette checkpoint provides no dedicated facilities beyond staff to stamp brevet cards, the town offers commercial resupply options. Refuge de la Coire offers cash-only meal service during set hours and limited first-come, first-served dormitory beds, with no charging points for electronic devices. Elsewhere on the route, riders rely on public village fountains, local bakeries, supermarkets, and alpine refuges.

Registration includes GPX route files, satellite tracking integration on a live tracking map, a brevet card, an official numbered cycling cap, luggage transfer for a small bag and bike box to the finish line, and annual membership in the Association Cycliste Alps Divide. Satellite tracking via a SPOT device is mandatory and available to rent if riders do not provide their own compatible tracker. Additional rules, registration waiting lists, and scheduling updates are published on the official event website.