Red Bull X-Alps

Route revealed: New start for Red Bull X-Alps 2023

Press Release / 17.03.2023

The route of Red Bull X-Alps 2023 has been revealed – and it’s full of challenges, featuring a new start, a via ferrata climb and a crossing of the Aletsch glacier. 

For the first time since 2007 the race starts in a different location. It begins in the Austrian town of Kitzbühel - Kirchberg, famous for its downhill ski race, the Hahnenkamm. The 34 athletes start from the town center before running 900m to the top. Here, they’ll attempt to spread their wings and launch themselves into the air and across the Alps. If the weather is bad, they continue on foot.

The route at a glance: 

• 1,223 km long

• First ever start in Kitzbühel - Kirchberg

• It features a via ferrata climb in the Sexten Dolomites

• Passes five countries: Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France and Italy

• There are 15 mandatory Turnpoints  

• Anti-clockwise loop course

Comments race co-founder Ulrich Grill: “We are really excited to present this year’s route which offers many new challenges for athletes. The first part of the route begins in the mountains of Austria and southern Germany and then dives deep into the Alps, with many options opening up. It will require a lot of strategic thinking from athletes – as well as incredible endurance. With this route, the race once again lives up to its reputation as the ‘world’s toughest adventure race’. It’s also a route that celebrates 20 years of Red Bull X-Alps.”  

After the start, athletes head southeast to Wagrain-Kleinarl, Austria, the host of the 2019 and 2021 Prologues before turning northwest to Chiemgau Achental, Germany. From here the route heads west across southern Germany and Switzerland, passing the Turnpoints of Lermoos in the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena, then to Piz Buin, Switzerland, then Fiesch, in the Aletsch Arena, Switzerland. From here the athletes cross the mighty Aletsch glacier – the longest in Europe – to tag the next Turnpoints of Frutigen and the peak of Niesen, (2,362m) another mountain athletes have to run up. 

This is now the home territory of the two leading Swiss athletes, Chrigel Maurer and Patrick von Känel and they’re guaranteed a hero’s welcome when they pass through. 

From Frutigen the route crosses Mont Blanc. At the Col du Petit Saint-Bernard athletes must stop to take a selfie and send that to the race committee. It’s then a 440km dash eastwards across northern Italy, with three mountain Turnpoints - Dufourspitze, Cima Tosa and 3 Zinnen (Tre Cime). Here, uniquely, the athletes have to get their climbing gear out. The 3 Zinnen Turnpoint is situated on the summit of Paternkofel (2,740m) which athletes can only tag after a via ferrata climb.

The popular climbing destination of Sexten in the Italian Dolomites is the next Turnpoint. The final challenge to cross the Alps one more time to Schmittenhöhe, Austria. It’s then just a short glide to the floating finish line in the beautiful waters of Zell am See. 

Red Bull athlete Patrick von Känel (SUI2) said: “I’m really excited by this year’s route which presents new challenges for athletes. I'm excited we have a new start location. It’s also great that it passes through the Frutigen area which is where I’m from so hopefully I should see some familiar faces willing me on. I’m training hard and can’t wait for the race to begin.”   

The race starts on June 11, 2023, and is preceded by a one-day Prologue on June 8 that takes place in the mountains surrounding Kitzbühel - Kirchberg. Athletes have to hike and fly a 58.6km course around seven Turnpoints – almost double the distance of the 2021 Prologue. It is a thrilling one-day battle before the race, which determines the starting order on Day 2. The winner also receives an additional Night Pass, which allows them to hike through the mandatory rest period.

Stay tuned for more updates as we gear up for Red Bull X-Alps 2023. For a full lineup of athletes and bios, go to redbullxalps.com.