Extreme cycling along the Trans-Siberian route

7 time zones, 15 laps, 7 teams, 9195 kilometers. The Red Bull Trans-Siberian extreme cycle race runs through the whole of Russia. Participants have a chance to cross the biggest country in the world, observing its greatness, beauty and long, obstacle-ridden routes.

“It’s magical!” says Paola Ghanotti from Italy. “I travel a lot, but have never seen and never even imagined that I could swim in Lake Baikal! I almost broke my neck trying not to miss the moment when the view of Baikal Lake would appear, but I didn’t expect it to be so gorgeous! To be truthful, I don’t know how I will cover the 300 km more to the finish, after the swimming I don’t want to move.” / Perm - Ekaterinburg lap.

The first ultra-marathon cycle race, Red Bull Trans-Siberian Extreme, started on 15th July in Moscow in front of the Bolshoi Theatre. It will finish on 6th August in Vladivostok. / Ekaterinburg - Omsk lap.

The route is divided into 15 stages, ranging from 300 to 1400 km. Participants must overcome 9200 km and cross 5 climate and 7 time zones. / Omsk-Barabinsk lap.

“For two years we were getting ready to hold a transcontinental cycle race in Russia. Red Bull Trans-Siberian Extreme is the most extensive cycle race in the world that will cross Russia along the Trans-Siberian route and will end on the shores of Pacific Ocean,” says Red Bull Trans-Siberian Extreme director Paul Bruk. / Novosibirsk - Krasnoyarsk lap.

There are 10 participants – four racers are going alone and six other athletes divided into teams, two people in each. / Novosibirsk - Krasnoyarsk lap.

“I like the race more and more now,” says Belgian racer Christof Allegart, “At first we were fighting against the traffic, then there was a horrible road, then steep slopes, then the traffic disappeared, but the slopes became steeper and the heat was turned up. After Ulan-Ude we had to contend with forest fires, smoke, zero visibility and a road like a washboard. I envy the organizers’ imagination.” / Novosibirsk - Krasnoyarsk lap.

Mikhail Ignatiev, Russian cycle racer, Olympic champion in Athens 2004 and bronze medalist in Beijing 2008: “Usually for the first 100 km everyone rides and chats at the same time. Everyone knows one another in fact. You’re in one team, then another – and you communicate with most racers. The next 100 km you start riding faster. During the last hundred, no one talks with anyone. Friendship goes out the window: everyone is pushing and trying to come out on top” (citation from 'Soviet Sport'). / Novosibirsk - Krasnoyarsk lap.

“We were told beforehand that the race would get increasingly difficult, but now its almost exponential.” Britain’s Steve Harvy shares his impressions. “Even the water douche doesn’t help in this heat, you’re parched again in a moment because the intense heat is there all along the route, plus a hot wind. By the way, for those who want to lose weight, I highly recommend doing a few stages of this race, and the extra pounds will disappear along with the water!”. / Ekaterinburg - Omsk lap.