The Race across the Alps is the alpine equivalent of the RAAM.It used to be invitation only and really is for the elite.It used to take place around the www.dreilaendergiro.com/,a 175km alpine marathon,starting at nauders ,going over the Stilsfer Joch ,Offen pass,and finishing up ,via scuol ,at Nauders again.Planning to ride this myself again this year.
The http://www.radmarathon.ch/ swiss marathon of 640 km is well worth a go at beginning of july and good training for the london Edinburgh london race;http://www.londonedinburghlondon.co.uk/.You can then finish your racing season with the http://www.oetztaler-radmarathon.com/ at the end of August.

Well those are my plans for next year.Hope you can realise yours and if you get half way around the Race across the Alps it would be an extraordinary achievement.Its way out of my league but if your up to it why not give it a go.
best wishes will

Murray I reckon Dakman only meant an EF version of the event.i.e. just to follow the route..nothing to do with the real race and the elite stuff

Sorry,I overlooked the EF connection.Some great passes to be tackled and if the timing was right i would certainly be interested.
will

Yes, definitely what I meant. There is no way I could handle that all in one day.......I am not yet that crazy or that fit.

Finally, we have drafted our “Hillseeker plan” for cycling through summer 2009… so I will share it here in case any of you would like to join in the fun It always seems to create an instant connection with new acquaintances when you experience (and survive!) a challenge like this together, so the more the merrier. And if you know of others that should be added to the list then please do…

April 19
Ötzi-Alpin Marathon
http://www.oetzi-alpin-marathon.com/

July 5
Maratona dles Dolomites
http://www.maratona.it/de/

July 12
Engadine Radmarathon
http://www.radmarathon.com/show_page.php?pid=329

July 16-19
Travelling to Italy/Dolomites
Mortirolo and Gavia

July 25-26 or Aug 1-2
Mt Ventoux??

August 8
Alpenbrevet
http://www.alpenbrevet.ch/2008/index.php

August 15-16
Some epic climb
TBD

August 22-23
AlpenChallenge
http://www.alpen-challenge.ch/index.php

Plus other "local" epic climbs scattered here and there of course.... I would like to check out Mt Ventoux, but haven't started planning anything there, yet...
I hope you all can especially join us for the Engadine Radmarathon on July 12th - I will be celebrating another year of hillseeking and what better way than with 5.5km per year It would be really fun if we could have a big group of EF'ers for that (and hopefully the weather will turn out better than last year's!).

Thanks...Does that mean you got into the maratona?

I might try to get over for a week, not sure when but the Dolomites trip is a tempting target or the Alpenbrevet.....hmmm

Ah well, I have a couple good friends to thank for the Maratona entry (due to a cancellation)

That would be great if you can get out here for a week! The Dolomites (Mortirolo/Gavia) trip is something we wanted to do last year when our friends were visiting but the weather didn't cooperate, so they're hoping to come out and try again.

Alpenbrevet - Not sure if we'll definitely do that event, since we do those climbs quite often anyway, but we'll see...

I should add that for the Ötzi-Alpin Marathon in April, we are doing the relay option - a team straight from the EF! (me-bike, Buckkitty-run, PTKate-ski)

[quote=hillseeker;429338]Ah well, I have a couple good friends to thank for the Maratona entry (due to a cancellation)


Great post: Assuming weather improves and we actually get some solid training opportunities in, I will be doing the Engadin race, alpen challenge and the alpenbrevet as well, plus I look forward to the Thursday night rides

Well, if August 15-16 is slotted for the epic climbing weekend, then we don't have to worry about rain, sleet, snow, extreme heat, extreme cold, running out of food and water, equipment malfunctions, getting lost, and running out of daylight (before running out of mountain) on any of the other rides. In this way, we "take the bullet" in mid-August to ensure stellar conditions on all of those other rides! Count me in for the list!