The Three Peaks Bike Race is an ultra-distance bike race that has been held yearly since 2018. It starts in Vienna and crosses the Alps and, every other year, the Pyrenees. The finish alternates yearly between Nice and Barcelona.
The participants have to reach three Mountain peaks or passes named by the race organizers. They have to plan and choose their own route between these checkpoints. Riders cover between 2,000 and 2,700 kilometres and climb between 20,000 and 40,000 metres. During the race, the participants ride fully self-supported, carrying their own equipment and obtaining their own food (bikepacking). The leading riders arrive at the finish line in about four days. The finish closes ten days (since 2023: twelve days) after the start of the race but participants that arrive past that point in time are still named in the classification. In 2022, 91 of 243 starters reached the finish; 81 stayed within the time limit.Sören Heim: Mit dem Rad über die Alpen bis Nizza Allgemeine Zeitung, 20. August 2022, S. 16
The 2020 edition of the race is the subject of the documentary Three Peaks & In Between by Stephan Wieser, which follows rider Jana Kesenheimer over the course of the event.
Route and winners +YearFinishMandatory checkpointsFastest riderFastest female rider2018NiceGiau Pass – Furka Pass – Col du GalibierSamuel Thompson–2019BarcelonaStelvio Pass – Colle delle Finestre – Ordino-ArcalísXavier PesnelSonia Barrar2020NiceGrossglockner – Sanetsch Pass – Mont VentouxUlrich BartholmoesFanny Bensussan2021BarcelonaMangart Saddle – Männlichen – Col du TourmaletAdam BialekJana Kesenheimer2022NiceTre Cime di Lavaredo & Giau Pass – Tannalp (at Melchsee-Frutt) – Nivolet Pass (– Mont Ventoux)Justinas LeveikaLuisa Werner2023Barcelona Timmelsjoch, Jaufen Pass & Sella Pass (either direction) – Mounts of Cantal with Puy Mary – Col de la Core, Col de Portet d’Aspet & Col de Menté (either direction) Adam Bialek Fanny Bensussan2024Nice Start parcour out of Vienna - Monte Zoncolan (West to East) - Grimsel Pass (either direction) - La Planche des Belles Filles (either direction) - Finish parcour from Alpe d'Huez to Nice Dominique Schwab Jill Hovekamp2025Nice Start parcour out of Vienna - Monte Grappa (West to East) - Feldberg (Black Forest) & Belchen (fixed route; either direction) - Colle delle Finestre (North to South) - Finish parcour from Puimoisson to Nice Laurens Van Gucht Larissa Unsinn
External links
Website of the Three Peaks Bike Race Stephan Wieser: Three Peaks & In Between (documentation on YouTube)
References