I tried to complete the 100km Race Across Switzerland…

Once a fringe pursuit, ultra cycling has steadily gained popularity in recent years as more riders seek quieter challenges set against wilder backdrops, away from crowds and fanfare. Advances in GPS routing and lighter gear have made these long events more accessible, while trailblazers like Lachlan Morton (who cycled 14,200km around Australia in 30 days), Emily Chappell, and the GCN crew have drawn wider interest. Maybe it’s an age thing for me too – the average rider in my event, Race Across Switzerland, a 1,000km cycle from Klosters that must be completed within 84 hours, was in their early 40s; I’m 42. 

There’s an ever-expanding choice of ultra events emerging globally. I’d taken part in long-distance rides like Chasing Cancellara, also in Switzerland, and the fully supported, multi-day RideCymru in Wales, but I craved something tougher. The legendary Transcontinental Race – a 4,000km self-supported race across Europe – was on my radar, but it demands weeks, not days. The Race Across Series runs six ultra events across Europe and North America, ranging from 50km to 2,500km. A halfway base camp – with drop bags, food, showers, and camp beds – plus 24/7 monitoring makes them ideal for first-timers. When I saw that the Swiss edition started in Klosters, where I was planning to be anyway this summer, it felt serendipitous.

I pieced together the right gear: an endurance-oriented Cannondale Synapse LAB71 bike, Restrap bags, a reliable light system, and the mandatory safety kit. My training had been steady, but having rowed the Atlantic, I know events like this hinge more on mindset and problem-solving than peak fitness.

The race began with staggered starts – each of the 55 solo entrants rolling out 30 seconds apart from Klosters, heading south through Grisons towards the Italian lakes. I found a steady rhythm riding in the front third – but in ultra cycling, early position means little. It’s less about racing others, more about managing yourself over the long haul.

Events like this hinge more on mindset and problem-solving than peak fitness

Around 150km in, I felt a faint thud with each wheel rotation – my rear tyre was delaminating (the layers within it coming apart). With no shop open, I pressed on cautiously, limiting my speed to 25km/h in case of sudden failure. With night falling, and the tyre still not fixed, the toughest stretch began: three mountain passes – Tremola San Gottardo’s historic cobbles, then the Furka and Grimsel. There was little time to enjoy the views; my focus narrowed to the beam of my head torch – perhaps a blessing not to see the endless switchbacks. Braking hard on every descent, my hands took a beating from the vibrations, and it was demoralising to watch riders I’d passed on the climbs speed by.

At 4am, after 18 hours and 280km, I was shattered. I curled up in a foil blanket in a patch of roadside grass for two hours’ kip, then pushed on at first light. By mid-morning, I’d ticked off another gruelling section, passing the otherworldly Eiger North Face, and reached Interlaken, where a new tyre and proper breakfast helped restore my pace. The next stretch – along Lake Thun and into the rolling hills of Gantrisch – was a high point.

Another full day in the saddle, and by late afternoon heat soared into the high 30s. The pain was intensifying – numb hands, stiff neck and shoulders, sore feet, a bruised backside – while my fuelling strategy had largely devolved into service station junk. 

After 545km and more than 10,000m of climbing, I finally reached base camp in the village of Champagne. Fed, showered and in clean kit, I set out again at midnight. But just a few kilometres in, the front tyre began failing – another delamination. In disbelief, I turned back to base camp to weigh my options.

I could wait for a shop, replace the tyre and continue 10 hours behind. But why? I’d ridden my furthest ever, despite setbacks. I wasn’t fundraising or riding with a friend, and a three-hour train home was just down the hill. Grasping the misfortune of double tyre failure as justification, I decided this would do for a first attempt.

Nearly half the field scratched, mostly from exhaustion

I wasn’t alone in calling it early; nearly half the field scratched, mostly from exhaustion. Although this wasn’t the ride I’d hoped for, I learned plenty. Ultras aren’t about speed, they’re about judgment and grit, gear and technique. Next time I’ll use clip-on aerobars to relieve the pressure on my hands, neck and shoulders; and invest in tyres that I can really trust, such as the Continental GP5000. I’ll also take daytime naps to avoid the worst of the heat and press on through the cooler, quieter nights and eat less junk food. I would also recommend riding with a friend or for a cause, something that gives a reason to reach the finish line.

My five-year-old daughter’s question – “Why did you choose to do the cycle but not finish it?” – still lingers. I didn’t have a neat answer then. But now I think it’s this: the goal for my first attempt wasn’t simply to finish. It was to find out what I could endure, how I’d respond when things went wrong, and what it would feel like to ride into the unknown.

I’ll be back.

Fergus was a guest of Race Across Series. Prices for the 1,000km ultra start at €319

10 ultra cycling essentials

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Coros Dura Solar GPS Bike Computer

Offering a huge 120 hours run time in full GPS mode, this is the perfect ultra cycling companion. Its large colour touchscreen is perfect for navigating unknown routes and it has solar charging and seamless syncing with the phone app when uploading rides.

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Exposure Lights Six Pack 15

Part of their newly updated 2026 range, this may be expensive, but it’s top quality and built to last. Exposure’s lights are serviceable, made from a high-grade aluminium, have a USB-C chargeable battery (which doubles as a powerbank) and an OLED screen for status check and run time.

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Puresport Ultra Electrolytes

These are essential for long rides in the heat. Empty one of these convenient single-serving sachets into a bidon. With 1,000mg of sodium and other electrolytes, it replaces lost sweat. Available in three subtle flavours. 

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POC Cytal Lite helmet

When riding continuously, I find my neck and shoulders take a beating, so saving precious grams on the helmet offers a touch of relief. At 200g, this is about as light as it gets, plus it offers great ventilation.

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Pirelli P Zero SmarTube Inner Tube

Thanks to their smaller size and weight (just 35g), you can stash around three of these TPU inner tubes in the space of one traditional butyl inner, making you more self-reliant on longer journeys.

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Restrap Race Top Tube Bag

Weighing just 183g, this 1.5l storage bag is perfect for those key items you need to grab whilst riding. It’s waterproof, has handy compartments and is easily strapped securely onto the frame of any bike.

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Specialized S-Works Power with Mirror 

Having clocked up several thousand kilometres on this saddle, I wouldn’t consider anything but 3D printed now. The honeycomb-like construction adds welcome ventilation, and the zoned cushioning makes it as comfortable as possible. 

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SunGod Vulcans

Photochromic lenses adapt to light, so you can ride from dawn to dusk without switching. They have a wide, unobstructed field of view, and full customisability means you can match to your style.

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Le Col ARC Cargo Bib Shorts

Newly updated, these endurance-orientated bibs are built to last, feel great, have a super comfortable chamois pad and four pockets – two on the legs, and two round the back – to stash quick-grab items like a phone, gels and gilet.

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Thermarest NeoAir XLite NXT Regular Sleeping Mat

For self-reliant adventures, this mat blows up to 3in thick and offers great comfort and warmth while still being lightweight (354g) and packing down very small.