Adventure Racing
Details of the 12th edition of Red Bull X-Alps have been unveiled: the longest route in history awaits the athletes - with 1,283km and 16 turnpoints to cover before the finish in Zell am See, Austria.
The cat's out of the bag - the new Red Bull X-Alps 2025 route has been announced and, with no exaggeration, the unique hike-and-fly race looks set to more than live up to its reputation as the toughest adventure race in the world. Covering a total of 1,283km, the longest route in the event's history awaits the athletes.
The route represents a big step forward and… is a fundamentally different and more challenging route
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The headlines
There will be 16 turnpoints spread across five countries: Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland. The race starts on June 15 and is preceded by a one-day prologue on 12 June in Kitzbühel-Kirchberg. The finish will once again be in Zell am See-Kaprun, on the floating raft in the middle of Lake Zell - and for the first time since 2019, the race will lead deep into the French mountains - all the way to Les Deux Alpes.
If that's not enough of a spectacle for you, there's more: the new Red Bull X-Alps 2025 route also has plenty of surprises in store. Several via ferratas, an X-Turnpoint and a route in the shape of a horizontal figure of eight will present the 35 starters from 17 nations with unprecedented challenges.
"We are delighted to present this year's route, which offers many new challenges for the athletes," emphasises Red Bull X-Alps co-founder Ulrich Grill. "It represents a big step forward and, with an X in the centre, is a fundamentally different and more challenging route compared to previous years. The via ferratas add an element of adventure that is in keeping with the spirit and history of Red Bull X-Alps as the toughest adventure race in the world."
The route announcement will even have given established athletes such as Christian 'Chrigel' Maurer, Aaron Durogati, Patrick von Känel, Simon Oberrauner and Thomas Friedrich a sporting headache, because there are some exciting new features. The new route is full of challenges. And the question arises again: can anyone dethrone the perennial champion, Maurer?
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The route to Red Bull X-Alps victory
The Red Bull X-Alps route has never been so complex and difficult
As was the case in 2023, this year's edition will also begin with a prologue and start in Kitzbühel - Kirchberg and the first turnpoint will once again be on the legendary Hahnenkamm. After that, there will be a fundamental change: right at the start, the race will head south and over the main ridge of the Alps. If flying isn't possible due to the weather, then this will represent a big challenge for the athletes.
In the Sesto Dolomites, the athletes have to sign the signboard in the centre of the village of Sesto and then climb the Toblinger Knoten. From there, the route continues towards northern Italy. In the popular paragliding region, there are two turnpoints to conquer in addition to the Heini Holzer via ferrata. One next to the Kuhleitenhütte in Merano 2000 and the second a short flight away in Schenna. The athletes then head west to the X-Turnpoint in the Swiss holiday resort of St Moritz. They will cross challenging terrain with limited landing options. In St Moritz, the athletes cross the main Alpine ridge for the second time. The next turnpoint awaits here between the catchment areas of the Rhone and the Rhine: Disentis Sedrun.
The route then heads west towards Niesen, the home of eight-time winner Maurer, and from there on to the Mont Blanc turnpoint. This turnpoint can only be reached via a via ferrata. So far, this has marked the westernmost point of the race, but this year the athletes will venture another 100km into the heart of the French mountains to pass the turnpoint in the iconic ski resort of Les Deux Alpes. The route to the next turnpoint in Ascona-Locarno promises to be very exciting. Tactics are required here, as athletes are faced with the decision to cross the 250km of flat plain or choose the steep route over the mountains again. The route then continues directly to Bellinzona - the capital of Ticino, famous for its fortress with three medieval castles, which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This long section of the route is followed by a reunion with the X-Turnpoint in St Moritz. Here, the athletes cross the main Alpine ridge for the fourth time in order to make it to Lermoos - Tiroler Zugspitz Arena in Austria, before continuing on to Germany's highest peak, the Zugspitze. In the final sprint, the athletes navigate through the challenging airspace to the Schmittenhöhe and from there, they head for the finish in Zell am See-Kaprun, where they land - ideally dry - on the floating raft in the middle of Lake Zell.
"I think we already know large parts of the route, because we've had races on similar routes in the past, including the last Red Bull X-Alps. It always depends on the weather. If the weather doesn't play ball, it just gets longer and more strenuous - that's part of the race," explains Red Bull X-Alps 2025 starter Thomas Friedrich of Austria. "I'd say that we have a lot of turning points where we have to land in the valley. These could be decisive, depending on when you get there. The most important thing is to have fun and keep spirits high. That's all you need to perform well. Also, to have as much time in the air as possible and, of course, to stay fit and healthy."
Celine Lorenz of Germany is already buzzing: "I'm super excited to finally know the route. Now the planning can begin and I'm delighted that it's time to get started. I learned a lot last time and have adapted my preparations accordingly."
"This is a challenging route for the athletes. They have to cross the main Alpine ridge four times. Strong winds in the valley, difficult airspace and limited landing options don't make it easy for them. It is also an extreme physical challenge with three via ferratas. If the athletes land too early or the weather is bad, there is a lot of walking and running. The route has never been so complex and difficult," comments race director Ferdinand Vogel.
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The athletes taking part
And what a starting field it looks to be… The line-up of world-class athletes for the 12th edition of the Red Bull X-Alps is no joke. Among the 35 starters from 17 nations are 16 veterans of the contest, 18 rookies taking part for the first time and, of course, just the one champion. All but one of them will be pursuing a single goal: to beat record-breaking champion Chrigel Maurer and give him a run for his money as he aims for a ninth consecutive victory.
Find out more about the athletes in the video below:
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Follow Red Bull X-Alps live
No matter who you're rooting for, you can find all the info on the 35 athletes at redbullxalps.com - and you can follow them every step of the way via live tracking from the prologue on June 12, 2025 and the start of the race proper on June 15, 2025. Follow @redbullxalps for exclusive content and regular updates in the lead up to and throughout the contest.
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