My experience

We sat down with Maxime and talked about his Red Bull X-Alps 2021. He told us about his highlights and stand-out moments and how the race compared to his previous ones.

 

What was your highlight of the race?
Day 7 going around Mont Blanc because I still felt super strong, both in the air and on the ground. And it was probably the coolest flight of the race. It was nearly normal conditions, something very unusual during this edition.

What was the toughest part for you?
Knowing that it was over for the victory during Day 8. Mentally, it’s probably the worst moment I had in the competition.

What was THE stand-out memory for you?
My 9-hour flight from Locarno to Kronplatz, passing over Pitz Palü and Ortler. Definitely a very challenging flight in strong winds, in which I was struggling to not fall asleep when I was arriving in Merano because of the Night Pass.

How was this race in comparison to your other Red Bull X-Alps races?
Much more demanding in the air, often struggling with strong winds and thunderstorms. From time to time, I felt on the edge of what one can do with a paraglider.

Inside my race

Dive into Maxime's day-to-day experience through the race news and social media updates to see what it takes to complete the world's toughest adventure race!

Final rankings 2021

The clock stopped at 11:30AM on Friday July 2, 2021

RBX21 Final rankings

The Red Bull X-Alps 2021 has finished. The clock stopped at 11:30AM on July 2, 2021 and these are the final rankings.

Congratulations to Christian Maurer (SUI1) who is the champion for an incredible seventh time, and to all our Red Bull X-Alps athletes, supporters and teams for a safe, fair and exciting race.

Thank you for following, but stay tuned. The race may over, but keep an eye on all our channels where we will be publishing new photos and videos, race drone footage, race analysis, athlete statements and interviews. We will be sharing special moments from throughout the race, stories and interviews with the athletes – and of course the 52-minute documentary.

Day 10

Resting – 0 km to finish – 4th place

Maxime's final glide

maxime cockpit

Maxime Pinot (FRA1) has tagged TP12 Schmittenhöhe and has just launched for his last flight of the competition, down to the raft in Zell am See. We can only imagine the elation and relief he met be feeling, as he reaches his goal.

Battle for third place

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Has Maxime Pinot (FRA1) chosen the right route over Simon Oberrauner (AUT2)? He's ahead crossing the valley, but he's low, at 2300m and still needs to cross and climb up. Simon is flying along at 3000m but he has 7km more to go. What an exciting battle for third!

Caught in a storm

FRA1 storm

We caught up with Maxime Pinot (FRA1) and his team when they were hiding from a thunderstorm this morning, at the well-known paragliding take-off of Antholtz. While thunder rolled loud in the background and the rain is just pouring down in buckets, he said: "This storm wasn't forecast, but it's X-Alps, it's never as planned. So we wait until it passes and for the sun to warm the ground. I think it will take some time, we'll see." 

Day 9

Second and third in TP11

Simon Oberrauner (AUT2) and Maxime Pinot (FRA1) have just reached Turnpoint 11 Kronplatz, flying in side by side. They have pulled away from Patrick von Känel (SUI2) and Benoît Outters (FRA2) and are now 155km ahead of the latter. 

Day 8

Maxime is in great shape

FRA1 IMG 0972.MOV snapshot 00.55 2021.06.27 07.32.58

Our race reporter Tarquin Cooper caught up with Maxime Pinot (FRA1) this morning. And that wasn't easy: Maxime was literally running up the mountain leaving the supporters and the reporter gasping for breath. "I'm feeling very good this morning," said Maxime. "If the body tells me you can push, I push. If you have to rest you rest." He said yesterday was just brilliant. "A bit bumpy around Mont Blanc with the west wind, but it was great flying, great landscapes." They are headed to the Simplon pass and into Italy. "That should be better for the forecasted föhn."

Racing up the Simplon pass

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Good morning from Maxime Pinot (FRA1)! He has already hiked up towards the famous Simplon pass that connects Switzerland to Italy. Not hiked really, but he ran. Even his supporters said that he was going fast. Maxime is not resting yet, because he wants to get to the best spot to fly from. He said that the conditions for flying look really good. "I think we can make 200km today."  And he only has 400km to go to Zell am See!

Day 7

The French are on fire

Maxime Pinot (FRA1) has pulled 15km ahead of Chrigel Maurer (SUI1) and now his fellow Frenchman Benoît Outters (FRA2) has almost caught up with Chrigel. Just 6km to go and Chrigel will be in third place! 

'Let's get him'

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FRA2 and FRA1 are flying over the village of Les Gets chasing down Maurer ahead. They are at 2000m

Day 6

SUI1 and FRA1 together

SUI1 FRA1

Chrigel Maurer (SUI1) and Maxime Pinot (FRA1) are together. They have been fighting hard all the way this evening. Now perhaps they have time to talk. The terrain here is very difficult underfoot – they have 50 minutes of flying time left in the day, with a final stop-time of 10:30pm.

Cat and mouse

Maxime Pinot (FRA1) is not letting Maurer (SUI1) away that easily. He relaunched, and surfed a line along the hillside, so low he almost skated along it. His objective is to keep pace with Maurer as they both hike and fly their way to TP8.

Pinot leaps into the lead

FRA1 performs during the Red Bull X-Alps in Fiesch, Switzerland on June 25, 2021.

For the record, Maxime Pinot (FRA1) took the lead again at 4:00pm today. He flew over the head of Chrigel Maurer (SUI1) before landing about 200m ahead. This is now a foot-race towards TP8 Dent D'Oche until the athletes can launch again.

Flying at 1796m altitude – 640.86 km to finish – 4th place

Day 5

Hiking at 1598m – 698.34 km to finish – 5th place

Gliding to catch up

Maxime Pinot (FRA1) has managed a flight towards the ski village of Andermatt. He's catching up fast with Aaron Durogati (ITA1) and Benoît Outters (FRA2) in third and fourth postion, who are walking along the valley floor, Aaron is moving up a bit higher to try and fly if he can. Conditions are not completely prohibiting flying just yet and the athletes are making the most of it.

Day 1

Flying at 1703m altitude – 1130.67 km to finish – 4th place

Maxime will fly again

Maxime Pinot (FRA1) performs during Red Bull X-Alps 2021 prologue in Kleinarl, Austria on August 17, 2021

Race leader Maxime Pinot (FRA1) is currently running up to a take-off just above Wagrain-Kleinarl. His supporter Jérémie Lager said that he might take off as soon as he finds a suitable place and fly down. He is expected at the signboard in Kleinarl within the next half hour. Flying conditions are still fine, said Jérémie, and Maxime will most likely hike up again after the turnpoint and fly again.

Ground Speed

GroundSpeed

Maxime Pinot (FRA1) has led the charge in a direct line towards Turnpoint 2 at Wagrain-Kleinarl. In a straight line the leaders are now about 15km from the TP. When they get there they must land and autograph the TP Signboard. If they stay in the air they should start to arrive sometime after 5pm local time. Check the athletes' 'Ground Speed' to see how fast they are travelling. 

The Red Bull X-Alps is on!

Race Start

And they are off! The start of a 12-day race across the European Alps. From the centre of Salzburg to Mont Blanc and back – a distance of 1238km. Incredible scenes here as just minutes ahead of the start the entire field of athletes sang Happy Birthday for Tom de Dorlodot (BEL). That is the true spirit of the Red Bull X-Alps right there. We look forward to a fast, exciting and safe race over the next two weeks. We are here for the duration – follow Live Tracking and don't miss a second!