BOHEMIAN BORDER BASH RACE
circumnavigating the ancient borders of Bohemia
RIDE THE RACE AS A
SYMPHONY
A six-part fixed-route, unsupported, single-stage ultra-endurance cycling challenge across the Bohemian borderlands, written like music and ridden like an epic. This course unfolds as a symphony: deceptive openings, rising tension, brief relief, darkening tones, a brutal climax, and a hard‑earned resolution. Ride it with patience, respect the tempo, and remember—every movement matters.
Bohemian Border Bash Race
An Ultra Cycling Symphony Across the Bohemian Borderlands
​​
​
You start at sunrise. The course unfolds slowly, deceptively. What follows is not a single defining climb or moment, but a complete arc of effort — six movements of terrain, fatigue, relief, and resolve. The Bohemian Border Bash Race is an established ultra cycling race, first held in 2022. For the 2026 edition, the course is presented as a Cycling Symphony — a way of understanding how the race truly feels when ridden from start to finish.
​
Start: September 5, 2025 (Sunrise)
Cut‑off: September 12, 2025 (Sunset)
1,420 km · 25,290 m of climbing · Self‑supported
​
What Is the Bohemian Border Bash Race?
The Bohemian Border Bash Race is a fully self‑supported ultra‑distance cycling race through the Bohemian borderlands of Central Europe. Riders navigate a demanding route of gravel roads, forest tracks, forgotten asphalt, and sustained mountain climbs. There is no external support. No team cars. No pacing vehicles. Riders are responsible for navigation, resupply, rest, and risk management throughout the race. This is a race for experienced endurance cyclists who understand that success is measured not only in speed, but injudgment and restraint.
​
A Cycling Symphony
Ultra races are rarely decided by a single moment. They are shaped by how effort accumulates, how relief can be misleading, and how the hardest work often comes when the finish is already in sight. The Bohemian Border Bash Race embraces this reality by structuring the course as a Cycling Symphony — six movements that describe the emotional and physical arc of the race. Each movement has its own character, terrain, and demand. Together, they form one continuous performance.
​
Is This Race for You?
The Bohemian Border Bash Race is not designed to be fast or forgiving. It is designed for riders who: - Have experience with ultra‑distance or multi‑day riding - Are comfortable navigating remote terrain - Can manage fatigue, sleep deprivation, and pacing - Value depth of experience over spectacle. If you are looking for constant support, smooth surfaces, or guaranteed recovery, this race is not for you.
I. Allegro Moderato
Light, flowing, deceptive.
366Km / 6710 ↗︎
​
The race opens at a comfortable tempo. Roads and trails invite rhythm, legs feel responsive, and the kilometers pass easily. Small rises interrupt the flow just enough to demand attention, but nothing yet feels consequential.
This is not a neutral rollout. Overconfidence here will echo later. Ride smoothly, stay controlled, and let the opening bars carry you forward without overspending energy.
​
Character: Fast, fluid, misleading
Key advice: Ride within yourself—this is only the beginning.
Soft Sage Green: Evokes fresh legs, open landscapes, early optimism
II. Crescendo delle Colline
Effort stacks, climbs pile up, and the volume keeps turning up.
413Km / 7040 ↗︎
​
​
The terrain begins to swell. Hills arrive one after another, each adding to the growing demand on legs and lungs. No single climb defines this section—its power lies in accumulation.
​
The pace remains manageable, but fatigue quietly enters the race. Riders who respect the crescendo will stay composed; those who chase the volume will feel it later.
Character: Rolling, relentless, draining
Key advice: Manage effort and fuel early—the crescendo does not peak here.
​
Warm Amber: Feels energetic and rising without danger yet
III. Intermezzo
Long, calmer, a chance to regroup—but not to relax completely.
233Km / 3050 ↗︎
​
The course eases, and the sound softens. Gradients mellow, rhythm returns, and riders find space to reset. Nutrition becomes easier, breathing steadies, and focus can shift from survival back to strategy.
​
But there is no rest. Distance, wind, and lingering fatigue keep pressure on the group. Use this section wisely—it is preparation disguised as relief.
Character: Transitional, controlled, strategic
Key advice: Recover with purpose—don’t drift.
​
Dusty Blue: Calming and expansive
IV. Modulation to Minor
The key changes, the mood darkens, and seriousness returns.
142Km / 2084
Without warning, the tone shifts. The course turns back toward the mountains, and the effort deepens. Climbs lengthen, surfaces grow harsher, and mistakes become costly.
This is where the race becomes personal. Riders retreat inward, managing doubt as much as distance. The symphony has changed key, and there is no easy way back.
Character: Heavy, demanding, mentally taxing
Key advice: Stay focused—small decisions now have big consequences.
​
Deep Forest Green: Suggests entering denser terrain and mental seriousness
V. Fortissimo ⎯
Inferno del Nord
Maximum volume, maximum suffering.
209Km / 4720 ↗︎
​
The brutal climax. Steep, unrelenting climbs dominate the landscape, offering little rhythm and no forgiveness. Traction is scarce, progress is slow, and effort is absolute.
​
This is the section that defines the race. Riders are stripped to essentials: forward motion, steady breathing, relentless resolve. There is no hiding from the volume here.
​
Character: Severe, raw, unforgettable
Key advice: Keep moving—however slowly.
​
Dark Rust: Signals danger, suffering, raw power
VI. The Final Refrain
The end is in sight, but every step drags.
52Km / 1000
​
The finish finally reveals itself, close enough to see—but not yet to reach. Momentum fades as the course demands a decisive hike‑a‑bike. Each step stretches time, turning meters into minutes.
​
This final refrain tests patience more than power. Hold on. Carry forward. The resolution comes only to those who refuse to stop.
​
And then, at last, the music ends.
​
Character: Slow, painful, triumphant
Key advice: Don’t rush—just don’t quit.
​
Charcoal = exhaustion, gravity, time stretching
Ride the tempo. Respect the movements. Finish the symphony.
Images in the gallery by @nils_laengner
Our media partners are:
