The Hardest Cyclosportives and Gran Fondos in Europe
By climbing, the hardest cyclosportives in Europe are Swiss Cycling Alpenbrevet (6,800 m), Ötztaler Radmarathon (5,500 m), L’Étape du Tour de France (5,400 m). This list ranks the 15 European events on Cycloscape with the most climbing on their longest route, as the organisers publish it, with each route's distance, its climbing per kilometre and the next edition's date.
Ranked by climbing
The longest route of each event, by the climbing its organiser publishes (events whose organisers publish no climbing figure are not ranked):
- Swiss Cycling Alpenbrevet — Andermatt, Switzerland, date to be confirmed
- Ötztaler Radmarathon — Sölden, Austria, date to be confirmed
- L’Étape du Tour de France — French mountains, a new course every year, 11 July 2027
- La Marmotte Granfondo Alpes — Le Bourg-d'Oisans – Alpe d'Huez, France, 27 June 2027
- Sportful Dolomiti Race — Feltre, Italy, 20 June 2027
- Granfondo Serra da Estrela — Seia, Serra da Estrela, Portugal, date to be confirmed
- La Stelvio Santini — Bormio, Italy, 5–6 June 2027
- L’Ardéchoise — Saint-Félicien, Ardèche, France, 8–12 June 2027
- La Fausto Coppi — Cuneo, Italy, 27 June 2027
- Maratona dles Dolomites — La Villa – Corvara, Alta Badia, Italy, 4 July 2027
- La Purito Andorra — Sant Julià de Lòria, Andorra, date to be confirmed
- L’Ariégeoise — Tarascon-sur-Ariège, Ariège, Occitanie, France, 26 June 2027
- Nove Colli — Cesenatico, Emilia-Romagna, Italy, 23 May 2027
- Dreiländergiro — Nauders, Austria, date to be confirmed
- Dragon Ride — Margam Park, Port Talbot, Wales, United Kingdom, date to be confirmed
| Event | Where | Distance | Climbing | Per km | Next edition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swiss Cycling Alpenbrevet | Andermatt, Switzerland | 267 km | 6,800 m | 25 m/km | date to be confirmed |
| Ötztaler Radmarathon | Sölden, Austria | 227 km | 5,500 m | 24 m/km | date to be confirmed |
| L’Étape du Tour de France | French mountains, a new course every year | 170 km | 5,400 m | 32 m/km | 11 July 2027 |
| La Marmotte Granfondo Alpes | Le Bourg-d'Oisans – Alpe d'Huez, France | 177 km | 5,000 m | 28 m/km | 27 June 2027 |
| Sportful Dolomiti Race | Feltre, Italy | 204 km | 4,900 m | 24 m/km | 20 June 2027 |
| Granfondo Serra da Estrela | Seia, Serra da Estrela, Portugal | 174 km | 4,600 m | 26 m/km | date to be confirmed |
| La Stelvio Santini | Bormio, Italy | 157 km | 4,500 m | 29 m/km | 5–6 June 2027 |
| L’Ardéchoise | Saint-Félicien, Ardèche, France | 232 km | 4,425 m | 19 m/km | 8–12 June 2027 |
| La Fausto Coppi | Cuneo, Italy | 172 km | 4,300 m | 25 m/km | 27 June 2027 |
| Maratona dles Dolomites | La Villa – Corvara, Alta Badia, Italy | 138 km | 4,230 m | 31 m/km | 4 July 2027 |
| La Purito Andorra | Sant Julià de Lòria, Andorra | 116 km | 4,200 m | 36 m/km | date to be confirmed |
| L’Ariégeoise | Tarascon-sur-Ariège, Ariège, Occitanie, France | 182 km | 4,150 m | 23 m/km | 26 June 2027 |
| Nove Colli | Cesenatico, Emilia-Romagna, Italy | 200 km | 3,814 m | 19 m/km | 23 May 2027 |
| Dreiländergiro | Nauders, Austria | 168 km | 3,600 m | 21 m/km | date to be confirmed |
| Dragon Ride | Margam Park, Port Talbot, Wales, United Kingdom | 222 km | 3,583 m | 16 m/km | date to be confirmed |
Climbing is not the whole story
Metres of climbing measure the work, not the difficulty: altitude (the Stelvio and the Galibier top 2,600 m), the steepness of the climbs (the Mortirolo, the Marie-Blanque), the heat of July and the time limits all change the day. Each event's page says what its course asks.
The same preparation serves all of them: long climbs at a steady effort below threshold, long days in the saddle, and eating on a schedule. Event Coach builds it around your event and date.
Frequently asked
What is the hardest cyclosportive in Europe?
By published climbing on the longest route, Swiss Cycling Alpenbrevet (6,800 m), followed by Ötztaler Radmarathon and L’Étape du Tour de France.
How do I train for a mountain gran fondo?
Steady climbing efforts of 30 to 60 minutes below threshold, rides of five to seven hours in the final two months, and practised fuelling and descending.