Red Bull X-Alps
10 Days to Go to the Red Bull X-Alps
Press Release / 10.06.2021
From New Zealand to the U.S. to Japan, athletes are beginning to converge in the Alps, ready for the world’s toughest – and greatest – adventure race to begin. The Red Bull X-Alps is just days away from kicking-off, and athletes and fans alike cannot wait for the start gun to fire.
This will be an historic Red Bull X-Alps. Not only is it the 10th edition of the iconic race, which has run every two years since 2003. It is also the first time a revolutionary new route – the longest ever – has been unveiled which requires athletes to complete a circular tour of the Alps.
It is also special for being able to take place at a time when so many other sporting events and fixtures have been cancelled or postponed. Thanks to Live Tracking, the race is ideally set-up to follow remotely. The updated GPS tracking system allows fans from all over the world to join athletes on the ground and in the air as they hike and fly across the Alps over 12 days.
The showdown begins in the picturesque mountain resort of Wagrain-Kleinarl, Austria, which for the second year, hosts the Prologue, a 30km one-day battle which sees athletes hike and fly around three Turnpoints, the peaks of Mooskopf, Grafenberg and Hochgründeck.
The prize for the first three athletes is an additional Night Pass which allows them to hike through the night during the main race while the rest of the field is forced to stay where they are. It’s a valuable strategic tool to have in the back pocket. The results also impact the starting order of day two, which has a staggered start, with athletes setting off according to the time they finished behind the Prologue winner.
Two days later, on Saturday June 19th, at 10.30am there is a press conference in Salzburg’s Hangar-7, in which athletes will talk through their goals and ambitions. It will also be broadcast live on redbullxalps.com. Among those present will be the six-time champion Chrigel ‘the Eagle’ Maurer, looking to cement his name in sporting history with a seventh successive win.
This year there is no shortage of candidates who could dethrone the Swiss champion. They include Maxime Pinot (FRA1) who came 2nd in 2019 but who beat him in a recent hike and fly race in France, Benoît Outters, who came 2nd in 2017, and many in his own Swiss team who have learnt from the master and are now ready to challenge him for the throne.
“This year is like no other,” said race co-founder UIrich Grill. “We have an inspiring new route, it’s the 10th edition and it promises to be one of the most exciting races to date. Fans have been longing to watch this highly competitive adventure race across the Alps. Now is the time to sit back, set your browser to Live Tracking and let the adventure begin. I wish all athletes the best of luck and a safe race.”
Get ready for the showdown. Follow all the action via Live Tracking on redbullxalps.com.
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