Rat Race | Trans Andean Coast to Coast

Fitness level

You should be a confident cyclist with experience of back to back days in the saddle.

Pace

This challenge has been designed so that you may travel at your own pace. There will also be some cut-offs, but these will be generous and the team will always look to help you to achieve your goals in finishing this challenge, vs having to pull out. You are given early starts to allow the very best possible window for route completion. But, if you need to stop for whatever reason, the team is there for you. The absolute key is that you enjoy this amazing journey across South America; at your own pace and within your own limits. 

Navigation

You won't be staring at maps or navigational aids any more than you have to!

There is no formal waymarking (i.e. signs) used on this event and for a large part in the mountains and out in the Pampas, there are not really many junctions either! The road will be well defined and is paved throughout, except that exciting part right at the roof of the Andes. You will be provided with a pre-programmed cycle-specific GPS device which will have the route bike uploaded. You will follow this ‘line’ and can use this as a back-up at all times. You may augment this with your own device – such as a GPS watch.

The route will show the stage start and finish locations of the course each day, plus also show you pit stop locations, so you know exactly how far you are from support. Don’t worry – you won’t get lost. But if you do – the support of highly experienced safety crew plus support vehicles is never very far away.

There will also be some marshaled junctions. If you choose to rent a GPS device it will be a high-tech Garmin Edge navaid, designed specifically for cycling and mounted to the handlebars with a special cradle, for optimum visibility when you are on the move.

Terrain

There are some hills! The first two days from sea level up to the roof of South America is going to be tough – there is no doubt about that. You will feel the effects of altitude and it will be a hard innings. But, once you have crested the Andes, it is literally all downhill from there.

Bike type

This is definitely a road biking event. You will need to bring a set of folding treaded tyres to switch on the evening of day 1 and then you can go back to standard road slicks at the end of day 2. These tyres will also be your spare tyres for the whole trip. If you rent a bike make sure to organise the second set of treaded tyres for the event.

Accommodation

A variety of B&B style accommodation will be used throughout and is typically always offered on a double or twin room basis. If you are taking part on your own, you will be paired with another participant of the same sex in a twin room. You will have the opportunity to request to share a room with a fellow racer when filling out your participation form which you will receive 3 months ahead of the event. 

Meals

All meals are included as standard cooked up by the expert catering crew.

Kit list

A comprehensive list with mandatory and recommended kit is available.

Season

• Jan
• Feb
• Mar
• Apr
• May
• Jun
• Jul
• Aug
• Sep
• Oct
• Nov
• Dec

Meeting point

Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport
Armando Cortinez Ote. 1704
Pudahuel
Chile

Itinerary

• Day 1 | Travel

  From Santiago International Airport you'll be transferred by road to the coastal town of Valparaiso, around 90 mins away.

• Day 2 | Registration, briefings, downtime

  After the admin of registration, kit checks and bike checks plus a few briefings, you have the rest of the day to explore the fascinating UNESCO World Heritage City of Valparaiso and enjoy a dinner together in town prior to tomorrow’s adventure.

• Day 3 | Adventure begins

  The starting point is the Plaza Sotomayor at the heart of the historic quarter, a stone’s throw from the Pacific Ocean. The first 20km hugs the coast and give a relatively flat start to this incredible journey. But away from the sea, it’s up and up and up, through the stunning wine growing region of the Central Valley, to end at a height of 1311m and overnight in a mountain hostel.

  

• Day 4 | Over the top

  This is a really challenging day but it will be truly worth all the effort. The night before  spend some time changing tyres as this is the day that heads off the tarmac to reach the statue of Christ the Redeemer of the Andes at 3832m, a symbol of peace between Chile and Argentina for over 100 years. It’s uphill today from the first pedal stroke, with a stunning section of classic mountain pass hairpins to negotiate before reaching the border. Once passed through border control (which could take some time) leave the main road and join the old gravel road up to the statue.

  The road is maintained but still not suitable for slick road tyres, so a touring or gravel-treaded tyre is required for puncture protection and grip on this section. It’s a 10km descent from the statue back to the tarmac before an easy 20km downhill to the hotel with views to Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Americas. Whilst the gravel does add the extra step of the tyre change, it adds a totally unique flavour to this adventure and will be well worth the views from the summit of incredibly high mountain pass.

• Day 5 | Very very very long downhill

  Back on to  road tyres it's all about the reward. The efforts of the previous days are met with 164km of total downhill, heading eventually for the lively city of Mendoza. This vibrant city is famed for great wine and great restaurants and is the hub of the main Argentinian Malbec-producing region.

  

• Days 6-10 | Across the Pampas

  Having left the mountains behind, cross the vast Argentine Pampas famed for its agriculture and notably for its beef cattle – great news for the steak lovers among you as the steaks in these parts are sensational and huge. An ever-changing field-scape that accompanies the (generally) downhill journey may also bring you face to face with the gauchos of the region; and plenty of hearty food and drink to re-energise in the evenings and at well-stocked pit stops as you are fueled across the continent. The challenge of the distance remains, with some big days in the saddle. But the ‘supportive’ nature of the route profile allows you to get those kilometres done, as you make your way gradually eastwards, towards the bright lights of Buenos Aires.

• Day 11 | Journey's end

  The final day. The culmination of a week’s worth of riding brings you to one of South America’s most cherished cities – Buenos Aires: A bustling, multi-cultural colossus of 15 million people. The route keeps to the north of the main hubbub of the city as the group aims for the obligatory dip of a wheel in the Atlantic Ocean; and a chilled beer. That’s it! You’ve crossed a continent using the power of your legs. Chapeau indeed. Time now for a proper celebration with steaks and Malbec, most likely. If the legs will take it, possibly a spot of Flamenco, too! 

  

• Day 12 | Travel

  After the final breakfast together, you will be whisked with kit and bike from the hotel to Buenos Aires International airport for onward journeys. Or choose to stay around in this exciting city and see more of the sights.

Included

• Accommodation

  11 nights hotel, hostel, refuge, B&B.

• Meals

  All meals included.

• Transfers

  Includes airport transfers at the beginning and end and bike transfers.

• Guides and support

  Professional road support vehicles, safety staff, medical, mechanical and welfare

• Safety

  Professional local and UK safety staff, medics, drivers, route safety staff and experts on hand throughout. Audited and accredited to BS8848 expedition safety standard.

• Transfer policy

  Flexible event transfer policy up to 12 weeks before your departure.

• Extras

  High quality medal, rat rag and premium t-shirt for all participants.

Trip leader

Abbi is your leader for this adventure. She's a highly experienced Expeditions Manager with more than 10 years of exploring under her belt.

Environmental pledge

This adventure has made a firm commitment to really elevate its approach to a sustainable and environmentally aware way of working. Each activity has been assessed to improve its environmental impact, including:

• race t-shirts to be collected at the event and not shipped across the world
• wooden medals instead of metal
• phasing out single-use plastics
• local event catering
• tighter recycling activities

This event is on track to achieve carbon-neutral in its day-to-day business activities and is making progress with carbon off-setting for worldwide travel, including ground-breaking ways to make a difference in some of the host locations.

Age

16 and 17 year olds will be considered on an individual basis, if taking part with a responsible adult.

Instalment plan

eg. Pay £195.48 in 20 instalments.

Choose how many months you want to spread the cost over, totally interest free. There is no credit check required to use this facility. When you sign up to the instalment plan a recurring payment will be set up and your card will be debited on the same date each month.

Refund protect

Add Refund Protect to your booking during purchase and receive a full refund of your entry fee if you are unable to attend the event due to a qualifying unforeseen circumstance.

Costs

It’s been a fabulous journey, incredible views, amazing wildlife, I’ve loved the sky, I’ve loved the tree lined avenues, I’ve loved the horses galloping next to us. Louise, 2022

Anyone that’s doing this next year is in for a real treat. It’s not easy…but it is fantastic. Mimi, 2022

I would give the trip a 10. It brought together some incredible cyclists, cycling over the Andes was spectacular. To cross South America in 9 days is an astonishing achievement. Gary, 2023