Heading East

Heading East – Zalk, Netherlands

• Date: April 23, 2027
• Location: Zalk, Netherlands
• Distances: 600 km
• Event Type: Ultra Bikepacking

Heading East is a 600-kilometre ultra bikepacking race that charts a course from the Netherlands into Germany. Designed as a self-supported adventure, it calls to riders who find their rhythm in solitude and endurance. Participants can enter solo or as a pair, but the journey itself is a personal one. The route is fixed, but the pace is yours to set. There are no feed zones, no support crews, just the quiet hum of tyres on changing surfaces and the landscape unfolding before you.

The event kicks off with a pre-race pasta party and briefing in Zalk, creating a moment of community before the clock starts. From the start on Friday afternoon, riders navigate towards the finish line, which closes on Sunday evening. Along the way, a series of checkpoints must be reached within specific time windows. Each stamp collected in your brevet card marks progress through the varied terrain, a tangible record of the distance covered through day and night.

The spirit of the event is one of pure, unsupported riding. This means carrying your own gear, managing your own nutrition and rest, and solving any mechanical issues that arise. It’s a challenge that tests resourcefulness as much as physical strength. Friends, family, and dot-watchers can follow each rider's journey through a live tracker, watching as participants in this ultra bikepacking race make their way across two countries, a testament to modern endurance cycling.

The route itself promises a journey through some of the beautiful landscapes the region has to offer, crossing from the Netherlands into Germany. While the Netherlands is known for its flat terrain, riders can expect a mix of surfaces and environments, from quiet rural roads to forested tracks and heathlands. The challenge lies not in elevation, but in the relentless distance and the need for steady, consistent effort. There are many other gravel events in Netherlands, but few offer this kind of cross-border, unsupported format.

As the kilometres accumulate, the ride becomes a meditative experience. It’s about more than just reaching the finish line; it’s about the journey inward, the landscapes passed through, and the simple satisfaction of moving under your own power. This is an opportunity to push personal limits and discover a deeper sense of capability and place. To learn more about the entry details, visit the official event website.