Adventure Racing
Red Bull X-Alps – The world's toughest adventure race
Open to the world’s best paraglider and adventure athletes, but uniquely it is a race where women and men compete equally.
01
Race 2027 Hot Facts
What
When
Where
Who
Route Announcement
March 17, 2027
TBD
Prologue
June 12, 2027
TBD
35 athletes
Race Start
June 13, 2027
TBD
35 athletes
Race Finish
June 25, 2027
TBD
Red Bull X-Alps will return for another edition in 2027. Ambitious hike-and-fly athletes from around the world will be able to apply for one of the limited places on the start line from July 15, 2026. The Application Phase will remain open until August 31, 2026. There will be 35 athletes selected. They will be revealed within the Athletes Announcement on October 14, 2026, followed by the Route Announcement on March 17, 2027.
02
Race 2025 Documentary
Battle of legends - The new Red Bull X-Alps 2025 Documentary
© zooom
Red Bull X-Alps 2025 stretched to 1,283km – the longest route in the race’s history, pushing the limits of adventure racing further than ever before. In this edition, 32 male and 1 female athlete set out to hike and fly their way across the Alps by foot and paraglider, fighting for a place on the podium of the world’s toughest adventure race.
That journey is captured in the official documentary 'Red Bull X-Alps 2025: Battle of legends', available to watch for free on YouTube.
03
Red Bull X-Alps 2025: Results
Aaron Durogati (ITA1) is the new champion of the world’s toughest adventure race, having reached the goal after giving it his all for 7 days, 8 hours, 31 minutes, and 33 seconds. Lars Meerstetter (SUI4), Simon Oberrauner (AUT1), and Christian Maurer (SUI1) soon followed. See the full results:
Results 2025
Rank
Athlete
Team
Duration
Finishing Time / Distance to Goal
04
Spirit of Adventure
Red Bull X-Alps is the world’s toughest adventure race. It’s a fiercely contested battle across the Alps lasting almost two weeks in which around 35 athletes run, hike and fly by paraglider up to 150km a day passing set Turnpoints positioned across the highest and most iconic mountains of the Alps as well as in famous resorts. With athletes often hiking up to 4,000m of vertical ascent each day and running as much as 100km on foot, it’s not only an incredible test of physical endurance but also of flying skill.
Red Bull X-Alps is only open to the world’s best paraglider pilots and adventure athletes, but uniquely it is a race where men and women compete equally. Red Bull X-Alps was founded in 2003 by the late adventurer Hannes Arch and Ulrich Grill, race organizer, and has taken place every two years since then. For 20 years, the race had always been won by Swiss athletes, led by Christian “Chrigel” Maurer, as who claimed eight victories. This made the 2025 edition particularly memorable, as Italy’s Aaron Durogati emerged victorious after a fierce battle to the finish.
05
The Concept: From Dawn till Dusk
Every edition of Red Bull X-Alps features a different route over the Alps that crosses remote mountain chains and valleys and passes famous resorts and peaks. Traditionally the race began in Salzburg, Austria and finished in Monaco. However, for the 10th edition of the race in 2021, organizers updated the format to create an out-and-back route from Salzburg to Mont Blanc and back to Zell am See, Austria via 12 Turnpoints in five countries.
Athletes race from 4am to 11pm but they can only fly during daylight hours between 6am to 9pm. Overnight, a mandatory rest period is in place and athletes cannot move from their location. However, each athlete is equipped with a Night Pass, which allows them to break the curfew once. This can help to gain a strategic advantage, but it comes at the cost of additional fatigue. From day four and every 48 hours thereafter, the athlete in last place is eliminated.
06
Athletes: Champions and Challengers
The line-up of the Red Bull X-Alps is always a global mix of veterans and rookies and between female and male athletes. Every edition from 2009 to 2023 has been won by the Swiss athlete Christian Maurer or ‘Chrigel the Eagle’ as he has become known to the race’s legion of fans and followers. This made the 2025 edition particularly memorable, as Italy’s Aaron Durogati emerged victorious after a fierce battle to the finish.
With the sheer number of variables, from the weather to route decisions, Red Bull X-Alps is a race where anything can – and frequently does happen. Every athlete has an official supporter to provide strategic help, weather and route advice, and physical and psychological care, making this truly a team race.
Related
Lars Meerstetter (SUI4) during the via ferrata in the Dolomites, Italy
© zooom / Maximilian Gierl
Aaron Durogati (ITA1) launching on Day 8 of Red Bull X-Alps 2025
© zooom / Maximilian Gierl
07
Race Committee
Ever wondered where decisions are getting done? The Red Bull X-Alps Race Committee is where all the big calls are being made, from athlete selection to deciding the route, from race rules to the day-to-day running of the event.
Red Bull X-Alps 2027 team members
© zooom
Related
08
Route
Will be announced on March 17, 2027.
09
Live Tracking
Red Bull X-Alps is a race tailor made for online followers. At the heart of the adventure lies Live Tracking, which allows fans to follow their favorite athletes in real time thanks to advanced GPS trackers – and even join them in the cockpit for a POV view.
Fans can watch the race unfold in real time and see whether an athlete is hiking or flying, explore their tracks and analyze other metrics such as speed, altitude, distance-to-go and more.
2 min
This is Red Bull X-Alps Live Tracking
Everything you need to know about the Live Tracking
10
Rules
Red Bull X-Alps is a challenging race. To keep it as safe as possible there are certain rules every athlete has to follow. They also make sure that it’s a fair race and all athletes compete equally.
Related
11
FAQs
Is it really the world’s toughest adventure race? Can anyone take part? What sport disciplines are included? Check out our FAQs if you want to know more about Red Bull X-Alps and find the answers to your questions!
