Today, the prologue to the twelfth edition of the Red Bull X-Alps takes place in Kitzbühel. Thirty-two men and one woman face the ultimate challenge for body and mind: 32 kilometers across the Alps – within 1.283 days from June 12 to 15.
What is Red Bull X-Alps?
Red Bull X-Alps is a hike-and-fly race in which athletes compete exclusively by paraglider or on foot. They cover up to 150 kilometers a day, often 100 of them on foot, with 4.000 meters of ascent (!).
The adventure race was founded in 2003 by Austrian aerobatic pilot and adventurer Hannes Arch and takes place every two years.
The Route 2025: Harder than ever before
This year’s route leads via 16 turnpoints (checkpoints) in five countries: Austria, Germany, France, Italy, and Switzerland. The route between the turnpoints is freely selectable by the athlete.
As the longest and most challenging route to date, the route goes down in the 22-year history of the event – the main ridge of the Alps is crossed four times along the route, which runs in a figure-eightForm through the Alps with St. Moritz in the Upper Engadine as a central turning point, which must be passed once on the way towards Disentis-Sedrun and once on the way back towards Zugspitze.
The race traditionally starts in Kitzbühel, the first turnpoint is here at the legendary Cockscomb. The finish is in picturesque Zell am See. Given the length and complexity of the route, it remains to be seen whether any of the athletes will complete the entire route by June 27. A detailed route overview with the respective turnpoint requirements can be found here.
New this year: At the Toblinger Knoten, at Meran 2000 and on Mont Blanc, a total of three strength- and, above all, time-intensive ferrata be mastered.
Rules of the Red Bull X-Alps
The detailed rules can be found in their entirety can be accessed here. The most important information summarized:
- Movement only on foot or by paraglider
- Running is permitted from 4am to 23pm, flying from 6am to 21pm
- Between 21 p.m. and 6 a.m., 7 hours of continuous break must be taken, 23 p.m. to 4 a.m. Non-Moving Hours for all athletes
- Every athlete has a Night pass, which allows him to ignore this rule for one night. Anyone who Prolog landed on the podium has an additional Night pass
- Starting on June 18th – and every two days thereafter – the team that is in last place at 8am will be eliminated from the race
- Anyone who misses a turn point, moves during the “restricted times” or disregards other rules will receive time penalties or be disqualified.
- The athlete carries two live tracking devices, which must not be switched off at any time during the race – not even during rest periods.
- The team consists of one athlete and one supporter (the supporter may fly if he or she meets the legal requirements)
Favorites and faces of the race
At the top of the list of favorites is once again the Swiss Chrigel Maurer – also known as the "Eagle of Adelboden." The 42-year-old has dominated the event for over a decade; he has won every Red Bull X-Alps since 2009 and is a living legend of the hike-and-fly sport. In 2025, he will compete for the ninth time, bringing with him not only tremendous experience but also impressive preparation.
He's trained over 2.200 kilometers and climbed nearly 200.000 meters in elevation over the past few months. Maurer emphasizes that Red Bull X-Alps isn't just about speed: "You have to make hundreds of good decisions every day."
Red Bull X-Alps is not just about speed, but above all about strategy, mental strength and teamwork.
Chrigel Maurer
Nevertheless, the competition stronger and hungrier than ever to dethrone the old master of paragliding. The field of top athletes has never been more competitive.
Names to remember:
- Patrick von Känel (SUI2) took second place four years ago
- Damien Lacaze (FRA1) surprisingly landed in second place two years ago
- Aaron Durogati (ITA1) wants to finally make it onto the podium at his sixth Red Bull X-Alps
- Celine Lorenz (GER2) is the only woman in the field and was there two years ago. For her, the race is "an ultimate adventure"
How you can follow the event:
The event can be followed via interactive 3D live tracking on the official website The Red Bull X-Alps can be tracked in real time: where the athletes are, how fast they're traveling, whether they're flying or hiking, and how many meters of elevation they've already covered. A POV view from the paraglider cockpit even makes it possible to virtually fly along.
Insights into the live tracking of the past Red Bull X-Alps 2023 You can get it here.
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Credits Cover photo: ©zooom /Adi Geisegger