The Sidetrack E P I C
13-16 June 2024
190 km
5500 m
Ready to push your limits?
The Sidetrack E P I C is a self-sufficient cycling adventure in one of the most beautiful regions of Europe.
Superb roads and mystical scenery; Switzerland is a playground for road cycling enthusiasts.
Head up the mountain to the sounds of your own breath, the wind in the trees and clanging cowbells. Become captivated by the views.
Let the roads take you into the mountains.
This is E P I C.
A personal challenge.
This is not a race, it is an adventure and above all a personal challenge and voyage of discovery. The objective is to finish the event by following a GPX track with 4 checkpoints and be completely self-reliant.
At the end of the event we come together, like-minded cyclists who love adventure, to celebrate our achievement and share epic stories.
Designed for those looking to push themselves or maybe even have a taste of ultra-cycling. The elevation should not scare you, adjust your gearing and enjoy the reward of reaching mystical peaks.
After this adventure you’ll be craving for more…
PS: you can sign up as a pair/duo or individual participant.
Non-cycling companions and partners can also join.
What’s included?
3 nights luxury accommodation in Ski Lodge
Legendary breakfast on all days
3-course dinner on Thursday and Saturday in Brasserie Konrad (sunny outside? We’ll be on the terrace!)
Safe luggage & bike storage incl. Park Tool bike stand and tools
Live state-of-the-art GPS Tracker; dotwatching fans, family and friends can follow along with auto updates
Professional ride nutrition & water bottles
Exclusive GPX of the route including checkpoints
Free parking in front of the hotel, based on “first come, first served”
*Alcohol/beverages are not included in trip pricing, but a cold beer is always waiting at the end of the day!
Travel to and from the destination is not included.
Schedule.
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Welcome to Switzerland!
Riders arrive on Thursday. Check-in at the hotel is from 15:00 in the afternoon. Early bird? You can store your luggage and bicycle safely in the hotel.Go for an optional spin to shake out the legs and explore this beautiful valley!
We have a briefing for the race before diner.
Enjoy a delicious meal before your head hits the pillow for a good night sleep, you’ll need it!
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After a wholesome and delicious breakfast it's time to start your race. Exact start time t.b.d.
Pace yourself, stay hydrated and keep yourself fuelled.Whatever time you finish, you will be welcomed back with open arms, a cold (or warm) drink.
Head for bed or have a lazy night in the bar.Good luck and may the tailwinds be with you!
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Good morning! You’ve just had an E P I C ride. Take it easy today, time to refuel, rest, maybe go for a short recovery ride, hang around town and enjoy the simple mountain life.
Tonight we have a celebratory dinner with all the E P I C riders, time to come together and share stories from the road.
Expect the best food and wine pairings at Brasserie Konrad. Let the chefs surprise you and enjoy. You’ve earned it!
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This is our final morning together before we part our ways. Time to say goodbye, or ‘Auf Wiedersehen’, until we meet again!
You’re more than welcome to enjoy a late check-out, just let us know in advance. Enjoy breakfast and if you like, spin out the legs with an easy recovery ride through Engelberg.
If you’re planning on extending your stay or travels, let us know if we can help with recommendations.
Frequently asked questions.
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The Sidetrack E P I C takes place in Central Switzerland, the region of the Alpine foothills. Geographically it is the heart and historically the origin of Switzerland.
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The start and finish is in Engelberg, a small Alpine village dating back to the 12th century. The hotel we stay at - Ski Lodge - is the best meeting spot for people who love mountains.
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No. It is a self-sufficient cycling adventure. In total autonomy you will go on this journey and face the challenges that come with it. The objective is to finish the event by following the provided GPX track and passing all 4 checkpoints.
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The 4 checkpoints you have to pass will be sent to you one week prior the race, together with the final GPX route. A checkpoint is usually a mountain pass and/or sign when entering a village or town. You’ll need to send a selfie-picture to the organizer as proof that you’ve been there.
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Almost all the roads on the route are quiet, safe and some of them even car-free. Yes, you will be passing a few junctions which are “busier”, but mainly you’ll be surrounded by mountains and lakes.
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No, the E P I C race is open to everyone. However, due to our knowledge of the roads and the intensity of the route, we will ask you to be fit and above all mentally strong. Often it’s not the physically fittest riders that finish, but the ones that have the morale and the will to finish the race. People who turn back at the mere fact of being confronted with the registration stage are somehow not ready for this adventure.
Please reach out to us if you do have any questions. -
Yes, you must be equipped with a GPS (and additional battery pack). The route will be sent to you by email in the form of a GPX track to be loaded into your GPS a week before the start.
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Yes, you can register as a team of two cyclists. As a duo you will have to travel the entire trail together.
Remember, solo riders aren’t allowed to draft, only pairs may do so and only with each other.
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A road bike is the best option. We prefer tires starting from 25mm. However, the final choice of bike and tire width is up to you.
In terms of gears: focus on comfort! Make sure you have a very wide gear range, enough to spin easily up any terrain. We use front chain rings like 50-34 and a cassette of 11-36. Again, this is completely up to you, we just advise on wider=better and more comfortable.
The route has a lot of double digit climbs, you’ll want to keep spinning at a comfortable pace.
Questions about gear? Get in touch. -
Yes! However, it is important that you plan ahead before arriving in Engelberg. You have to be autonomous from the start in order to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Nevertheless, there are enough shops to get supplies. In every town there’s water fountains with clean drinking water. TIP: every church and/or cemetery has a water tap to refill your bottles.
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We use state of the art GPS trackers; dotwatching fans, family and friends of participants can follow along with auto updates. Even the rider can see a live leaderboard from their phone.
The deposit for the tracker is €50,- (or CHF50,-) in cash, you’ll get this back after the race.
Your home base.
Ski Lodge, Engelberg. Simply the best.
A place with mouth-watering cuisine and local wines, a cozy bar for sharing stories and passionate staff who love service as much as they love mountains. Did we mention they serve the best breakfast ever?
In the hotel restaurant, Brasserie Konrad, you'll have dinner and indulge in the region's culinary secrets. The chefs gather inspiration from the Swiss Alps and their Nordic roots and are passionate about using local produce. Switzerland boasts some of the best cheese, meat, and wine in the world – and they'd love to share this with you!
Enjoy a deep, dreamy and blissful sleep in the comfortable beds, ensuring you'll fully recover and be ready for more days of adventurous cycling in the fresh mountain air.
How to get there.
There’s free parking in front of the hotel, based on “first come, first served”. Share a car and make it easier on yourself and the environment.
The drive from our home base Amsterdam to Engelberg, Switzerland is around 8,5-9 hours. The distance is 865 km or 537 miles.
We use Waze as our navigator through Europe. Quick, and easy.
Why drive when you can take the train? It’s just as fast and you can arrive completely relaxed.
We book our tickets through DB Navigator.
There’s a great connection to Engelberg, the train station is literally across the street from the hotel.
You can take your bike in a “soft bag” on the trains.
Prefer flying? You can either land at Basel Euro Airport (short bus ride to the station Basel SBB, bus #50, it's the only going from there) or in Zürich.
Excellent train connections take you about 1,5 hour to your destination: Engelberg.
Plan your train tickets in Switzerland on the SBB website. Look out for the sweet deals called “Super Saver” tickets.
