RED BULL X-ALPS CHALLENGER MAYRHOFEN

From 28 to 31 May 2026, Mayrhofen will host the first Red Bull X-Alps Challenger. The intense three-day hike & fly event is looking for young talents who want to take on the toughest adventure race in the world.

4 disciplines, 3 days, 2 rankings, 1 goal:

As in the main event, participants will be pushed to their physical limits in four disciplines:

• Trail running

• Hiking

• Mountaineering

• Paragliding

The Challenger will take place over three days within a single destination.

Unlike the main race, the Challenger will have separate rankings for women and men. The best in each classification will advance to the next day, ensuring that both women and men can prove themselves on all three days.

In the Challenger, there is a finish line every day, but only the best woman and the best man on day 3 will win the main prize: a wild card for Red Bull X-Alps 2027. However, the runners-up and third-place finishers will also be able to fulfil a dream, as they will be allowed to participate in the Prologue of the Main Race in 2027.

The Challenger at a glance:

Day 1: 1,250 metres of elevation gain – start in the valley, finish at the summit. The time will be stopped after the first 80 men and 20 women have crossed the finish line.

Day 2: Three rounds of short-distance mountain runs (410 metres of elevation gain each), combined with rapid paragliding flights into the valley. Only the best 35 (28 men, 7 women) qualify for the final day.

Day 3: An 80-kilometre out-and-return hike-and-fly course that passes through Mayrhofen twice.