Red Bull X-Alps, route revealed
The Red Bull X-Alps 2023 course has been revealed and is full of challenges, with a new start, a via ferrata and the crossing of the Aletsch Glacier. For the first time since 2007, the race will start in a different location. In fact, it starts from the Austrian town of Kitzbühel – Kirchberg, famous for its alpine ski race. The 34 athletes will start from the city center before running 900 meters to the top. Here they will try to spread their wings and soar through the Alps in the air. In case of bad weather, they will continue on foot instead.
Red Bull X-Alps the route at a glance
– 1,223 km long
– First ever start in Kitzbühel – Kirchberg
– Presents a via ferrata in the Sesto Dolomites
– Cross five countries: Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France and Italy
– There are 15 mandatory turning points
– Anticlockwise circular route
About that, Red Bull athlete Patrick von Känel (SUI2) said: “I’m really excited about this year’s course, which presents new challenges for the athletes. I’m excited to have a new starting location. It’s also nice that it passes through the Frutigen area, where I’m from; so, I hope to see some familiar faces cheering me on. I’m training hard and can’t wait for the race to start.”
Red Bull X-Alps will see the best paragliders and hikers compete for two weeks
From Frutigen the route will continue towards Mont Blanc. Then, 440km eastward through northern Italy, with three mountain turning points: Dufourspitze, Cima Tosa and 3 Zinnen (Tre Cime). Here, in particular, the athletes will have to get out their climbing gear.
The popular climbing destination of Sesto in the Italian Dolomites is the next stop. The final challenge will be to cross the Alps once again to Schmittenhöhe in Austria. To finish, here’s a short glide to the floating finish line in the beautiful waters of Zell am See.
Ulrich Grill, co-founder of the race, comments: “We are very excited to introduce this year’s course, which offers many new challenges for athletes. The first part of the course starts in the mountains of Austria and southern Germany, and then plunges into the Alps, with many options opening up Athletes will need to think very strategically, as well as having incredible stamina. With this course, the race once again lives up to its reputation as the toughest adventure race in the world. It’s also a course that celebrates 20 years of Red Bull X-Alps”.
After the start, the athletes will head southeast towards Wagrain-Kleinarl, Austria, before turning northwest towards Chiemgau Achental, Germany. From here the route will continue west through southern Germany and Switzerland to the turning points of Lermoos in the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena, Piz Buin, Switzerland, then Fiesch, Aletsch Arena, Switzerland. Before reaching the next points of Frutigen and the Niesen peak (2 362 m), another mountain to climb, here is one of the toughest tests: to overcome the imposing Aletsch glacier, the longest in Europe. This territory will be home to two of the most awaited athletes, the Swiss Chrigel Maurer and Patrick von Känel.
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