The world’s longest bicycle races and events

CEBU, Philippines - My cycling friends have always been amazed when I told them (after they asked the question, of course!) that I ride between three to five hours on weekends, that’s about 80 to 120km in distance. I would say that these rides are not extreme, they’re just average. I know of a few hard men who’ll ride at least 150km on any given day and do it again the next day. No, they’re not pros, they just enjoy the suffering.

The longest race I did was about 150km, Ormoc-Tacloban but the race went through a longer route going, via Baybay and Mahaplag. It was the hardest race I’ve ever done.

So, if 150km was hard, how hard are the longest bicycle races in the world? Well, read on and feel the pain.

1- Vuelta Sudamericana. This race is not only hard for the riders but also for the organizers that they run this every two to three years. For the 2017 event, there race wills start in Venezuela and end at the most southernmost tip of South America passing through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile. The race is 13,641km long, has 131 riding days and 33 rest days! If you can get enough of racing, this is it!

2- Tour of British Columbia. Billed as the, “Longest ultra-endurance bicycle race on earth”, this is a single stage event that runs for 5100km. Scheduled this coming July 2nd, 2016, this race covers the northern Canadian rocky mountains and the Alaskan Highway.

3- The Race Across America. Started in 1982, this race runs from the US East coast and ends at the East coast. Almost 5000km long, last years winner, Severin Zotter of Austria, won the race in 8 days, 8 hours and 17 minutes. This race can be talked solo or by groups of 2,4,6 and 8 team riders. RAAM is the most popular ultra endurance bicycle race in the world.

4- Red Bull Trans-Siberian Extreme. Raced along the famed Trans-Siberian Highway that runs from Moscow to Vladivostok. This event is divided into 14 stages with stages as long as 300km to 1400km long. All in all, the distance is 9195km! Only 20 applicants will be invited for this years event.

5- Tour de France. The Tour is the most popular bicycle race in the world but it varies in distance and routes every year. The 2015 edition, won by Chris Froome, was “just” 3360km long. The Tour usually run for three weeks and is divided into 21 stages approximately. Each stage is about 160km on average.

6- Paris-Brest-Paris. Started in 1891, PBP is 1200 long and used to be a race for professionals only but in 1931, it was opened to both pros and amateurs. Because of its logistical requirements, this  event is raced every four years. The 2015 winner was Bjorn Lenhard and he made it in 42 hours and 26 minutes.

Finally, I would like to include here the Giro di Luca. I don’t know how to classify the GdL but definitely its not a competition. This is a three-day “sportive” event held in Bohol and totals about 580km. The distance keeps increasing by 10km a year since I heard that it is based on the age of the Dad of ex-Kart racer and now actor Mateo Guadacelli, multiplied by 10. What made this event very successful is the presence of local showbiz personalities and lots of prizes along the route. (FREEMAN)