The first komoot Women's Rally was a direct response to the underrepresentation of women in cycling. It quickly became clear that Lael and komoot were onto something special. The rallies aim to connect, unite and break down barriers in adventure cycling by making cycling adventures more accessible for women, trans women and non-binary people. With the aim of sharing knowledge, learning and above all: having fun.

"We have organized three successful rallies: two at the Torino Nice Rally in Italy and France and a third on the Montañas Vacías route in Spain. For me, the rallies are some of the best weeks of the whole year. It's incredible to see how women gain more confidence here and support each other," says Lael Wilcox.

The first two rallies in 2023 will take place in Europe; on the Canary Islands and in Slovenia. The third is the first komoot Women's Rally in the USA - in Tucson, Arizona. They are all united by the goal of encouraging more women to discover the world's most beautiful long-distance bikepacking routes for themselves.

The komoot Women's Rallies are limited to 50 participants to preserve the family atmosphere and ensure that small towns and communities are not overloaded during the events. Lael says: "Instead of increasing the number of participants, we would rather have more events - and thus more opportunities to have these experiences in different places around the world. If you identify as a woman, then these events are for you."

The three stops in 2023
The first rally of the 2023 series will follow the GranGuanche Gravel Route designed by Matteo Minelli on the Canary Islands. The event will take place from January 14 to 21 and will ride over 15,000 meters of altitude and a total distance of 700 kilometers. The route rides across five of the islands and offers a unique bikepacking adventure. Each island has its own microclimate; ferries connect them and the landscape offers everything from huge mountains and beaches to deserts and rainforests.

In September 2023, the komoot Women's Rally will be a guest in Slovenia. A route specially explored and created by women for the event will allow participants to experience an unforgettable adventure in Slovenia's diverse terrain.

Not only is it the first komoot Women's Rally in the USA, the Tuscan route is also Lael Wilcox's home bikepacking route. In November 2023, participants will experience Lael's trails through desert landscapes and the Sonoran Desert.

Past rally routes, upcoming events and everything you need to know about participating in future events can be found at the following link

komoot.com/komootwomensrally