If you want to ride iconic and spectacular as well as challenging routes, but don’t feel like mass events with starting numbers, racing stress and crowds, then the permanent challenges are the perfect events for you.
These permanent challenges are the self-service version of major cycling events. Instead of starting on a fixed race day, participants are given the freedom to decide when, with whom and at what pace they want to ride. Completely self-determined and without pressure. Sometimes it’s a series of iconic passes in the Pyrenees, the Alps and the Dolomites, like Raid Pyrénéen, Les 7 Majeurs or Supermaratona, sometimes cobblestone and Helling sections, like the Flandrien Challenge.
Or structured routes with checkpoints like the Stoneman Miriquidi and the Distance Rallye Black Forest, or iconic summit tests like the triple climb of Mont Ventoux of the Club des Cinglés du Mont Ventoux or the ascent to the Belchen. Who these
Recognition ranges from an entry and a medal to induction into the Hall of Fame – no show, but a real adventure.
Flandrien Challenge | Flanders
Challenge: Master 59 climbs and cobblestone segments in less than 72 hours
Start-finish: freely selectable
Distance & elevation gain: ~ 400 kilometers & ~ 5000 meters in altitude.
Maximum duration: 72 hours
Period: all year round
This challenge is aimed at anyone who wants to experience the key sections of the spring classics in Flanders for themselves. So the highlights of the Tour of Flanders, the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, the E3-Prijs, etc. The challenge is to ride 59 iconic cobblestone and Hellingen segments within 72 hours. The sections include legendary climbs such as the Muur van Geraardsbergen, the Oude Kwaremont, the Koppenberg and the Paterberg.
The sections are marked on site and tracked digitally via Strava. The focus is on completing all of these segments and not on best times on certain sections. After successful completion, your own name will be immortalized on a cobblestone in the “Wall of Fame” in the Centrum Ronde van Vlaanderen in Oudenaarde.
Club des Cinglés du Mont Ventoux | Provence
Challenge: climb Mont Venoux three times on different routes in one day
Start-finish: Start each from Bédoin, Malaucène and Saul
Distance & elevation gain: ~ 137 km & ~ 4,400 m
Maximum duration: 24 hours
The “Club des Cinglés”, which translates as “Club of the Crazy”, came up with an exciting challenge decades ago. You have to climb Mont Ventoux on one day via three different routes. Via Bédoin, Malaucène and Sault, the participants have to climb the “white giant of Provence” with a height of 1,909 meters. The climbs are between 21 and 26 kilometers long.
Anyone who applies for the stamp card and documents all climbs will be included in the list of “Cinglés”. There are extended versions, such as the “Bicinglette”, in which all three climbs are completed twice in one day. The challenge can be planned individually. The decisive factor is that the specified climbs are completed in full – a classic amateur test on the “Géant de Provence”, where endurance and tactics are more important than speed.
Stoneman Miriquidi | Ore Mountains
Challenge: Complete 13 climbs in the Ore Mountains within three days on a circuit with a length of almost 300 kilometers
Start-finish: freely selectable on the circuit, often Oberwiesenthal
Distance & elevation gain: 290 km & 4,900 m,
Maximum duration: 1 day (Gold), 2 days (Silver), 3 days (Bronze)
Period: April 26 – November 1, 2026
The Stoneman Miriquidi Road is a 290-kilometer road bike tour through the Ore Mountains with 13 climbs and just as many checkpoints. The route connects Germany and the Czech Republic, leads over the Fichtelberg (1,214 m) and the Bärenstein (897 m) and past mines, dams and basalt gorges. The term “Miriquidi” referred to the dense, dark primeval forest in the Ore Mountains in the Middle Ages.
Finishing is rewarded: gold is awarded for the round in one day, silver for two and bronze for three daily stages. This makes the Stoneman suitable for ambitious soloists as well as for connoisseurs who are looking for a clearly structured, scenic long distance for several days. There is also a 162-kilometer route with 4,400 meters of altitude difference for mountain bikers.
Le Raid Pyrénéen | French Pyrenees
Challenge: Master 18 Pyrenean passes within 100 hours or 28 Pyrenean passes within 10 days
Start – Finish: Hendaye ↔ Cerbère (both directions)
Distance & elevation gain: 720 km & ~11,000 m / 800 km & ~ 18,000 m
Maximum duration: 100 hours / 10 days
Period: June 1 – September 30, 2026
The Raid Pyrénéen is a permanent Pyrenean crossing from Hendaye on the Atlantic to Cerbère on the Mediterranean or in the opposite direction. There are two formats to choose from: the randonneur version over 720 km with 18 passes and 11,000 meters of altitude (time limit: 100 hours) and the touring raid over 800 km with 28 passes and 18,000 meters of altitude (maximum ten days).
The ride is individual between June 1 and September 30, with the starting point and direction freely selectable. Anyone who successfully completes the route can have their performance officially registered. It is a classic long distance for endurance athletes without racing stress, but with a high density of passes.
Le Brevet des 7 cols de l’Ubaye | French Alps
Challenge: seven French Alpine passes over a distance of 320 to 400 kilometers
Start-finish: freely selectable
Distance & elevation gain: ~320 – 400 km & ~7,000 m
Maximum duration: no time limit
Period: depending on the opening of the passes
Anyone who faces the Brevet des 7 Cols climbs seven Alpine passes in the Ubaye-Serre-Ponçon region. A total of “over 320 kilometers” and 7,000 meters of ascent await. The seven passes include top-class passes such as the Col de la Cayolle, the Col de Vars and the Col de la Bonette with 2,802 meters as well as beauties such as the Montée de Sainte-Anne.
Completing the Brevet is not subject to any time conditions. The participants determine the speed and sequence themselves. The decisive factor is to complete all passes and have them stamped at machines at the top of the pass. Anyone who succeeds in this will receive recognition in the “Brevet des 7 Cols” club. A long-distance experience in the footsteps of the Tour de France with many meters in altitude, but without the stress of a race.
Les 7 Majeurs | French & Italian Alps
Challenge: high-alpine circuit over 7 Alpine peaks, all of which are over 2000 meters high
Start-finish: freely selectable on the route; often Jausiers or Barcelonnette
Distance & elevation gain: ~360 km & ~12,000 m
Maximum duration: 24 hours / 48 hours / no time limit
Period: depending on the opening of the passes
Les 7 Majeurs is a tribute to the Alps: Seven majestic passes in France and Italy are over 2,000 meters high. They are bundled in a cross-border mountain marathon through the Southern Alps. The passes Vars (2,108 meters), Izoard (2,360 meters), Agnel (2,744 meters), Sampeyre (2,284 meters), Fauniera (2,481 meters), Lombarda (2,350 meters) and Bonette (2,715 meters) must be climbed. Whether you distribute the route over one or several days is up to the “mountain goats” themselves.
The entry into this loop, in which 360 kilometers and 12,000 meters of altitude are in the books at the end, is freely selectable. A self-proclaimed brotherhood – the Confrérie – confirms the coup. Anyone who fulfills the rules and reaches the finish within 24 hours receives the coveted status “Chevalier” – a knighthood for every racing cyclist. This makes the tour more than “just” a collection of passes.
Distance Rallye Black Forest | Black Forest
Challenge: Black Forest crossing with a length of 355 kilometers
Start-finish: e.g. Karlsruhe ↔ Lörrach; entry and exit possible at any time
Distance & elevation gain: 355 kilometers & 7,000 meters in altitude
Maximum duration: within one year
Period: January 1 to December 31
The Distance Rallye is a long-distance ride across the Black Forest with no time limit. The only challenge is to visit all eight checkpoints and have them registered via app. The organizer Hirschsprung Events has selected these according to scenic aspects. For example, the Distance Rallye drivers pass the Titisee and the Hexenlochmühle and climb the Belchen, one of the most beautiful mountains in the Black Forest.
Everyone can determine the order and speed themselves. The direct route with the racing bike on asphalt between Karlsruhe and Lörrach is 355 kilometers with around 7,000 meters in altitude. There are also two other route profiles to choose from: Gravel and Black Forest Cycle Path with distances of approx. 310 and 375 kilometers, respectively.
Belchen³ | Black Forest
Challenge: approx. 320 km · approx. 4,200 m, 3 peaks: Belchen (DE), Belchenflue (CH), Grand Ballon (FR)
Start-finish: Münstertal in the Black Forest
Distance & elevation gain: approx. 320 km & approx. 4,200 m,
Maximum duration: within the season
Period: April 1 – December 31
The “Belchen hoch³” connects three countries and three peaks to an ultra-marathon for racing cyclists. The three Belchen are: The Belchen in the Black Forest is 1,413 meters high and is also called “the gentle one” due to its moderate climbs. The Bölchen in Switzerland. Due to its high-percentage gradients up to the summit at 1,009 meters, it is called “the nasty one”.
The third in the group is the Grand Ballon in French Alsace. It is called the “Mighty One” and has a pass height of 1,423 meters. In 2026 it will be part of the Tour de France. In total, the climbing sections in the border triangle of Switzerland, France and Germany add up to 4,200 meters in altitude.
All these “Belchen” can either be completed on July 6, 2026 as part of a marathon or on your own and without time pressure from April to the end of the year. The organizer Hirsch-Sprung offers a package with track, app and more. Anyone who “storms” all three peaks in the Black Forest, in the Jura and in the Vosges will receive the Belchen³ medal.
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Supermaratona | Dolomites
Challenge: Climb 13 legendary passes in the Dolomites on a circuit with a length of 285 kilometers in one day
Start-finish: Alta Badia – Corvara
Distance & elevation gain: 285 km & 8,500 m
Maximum duration: 1 day to be included in the Hall of Fame
Period: depending on the opening of the passes
The Maratona dles Dolomites always takes place in July in the Dolomites around the Sella massif and is one of the most popular cycling events worldwide. Now, with the Supermaratona, there is a self-challenge that puts all Gran Fondos in the shade. It leads on a circuit over 320 kilometers and 13 passes. In addition to the passes of the Sella Ronda – Campolongo-, Pordoi-, Sella- and Grödner Joch – these are the Fedaiapass, the Duranpass, the Forcella Staulanza, the Giau-Pass, the Tre-Croci-Pass and the Falzaregopass. The climbs add up to 8,500 meters in altitude at the end. Since the Supermaratona is not a race, it can be completed in one, two or three days. Anyone who completes the one-day version exactly according to GPX can be included in the Hall of Fame with Strava proof and receives a Supermaratona cap in a limited edition.
