The Alpen Challenge is back: after a year's break, the cycling classic will be restarting in August 2015. With a new team and a new route, "Europe's most beautiful cycling marathon" will be presented in a completely new guise - but the tried-and-tested concept with start and finish in Lantsch/Lenz in the Lenzerheide vacation and cycling region will be retained.

From there, the route first rides ambitious cyclists and "Gümmeler" along the UNESCO World Heritage route of the Rhaetian Railway through the Albula Valley into the Engadin. The long-distance route then takes you via the Maloja Pass and Bergell on a detour to Italy and over the Splügen and through the Viamala Gorge back to Lenzerheide. The short route of the Alpen Challenge leads from the Engadin over the Julier Pass and Salouf back to Lantsch/Lenz. On this lap, the climbs add up to 2665 meters of altitude over 110 kilometers, while the long distance is slightly shorter than before at 186 kilometers, but represents a very special challenge for ambitious cyclists, not least because of the Splügen Pass with its 30-kilometre climb and 1842 meters of altitude in one go.

"We are delighted that the Alpen Challenge is back in our calendar after a break of just one year and are already looking forward to welcoming as many cyclists as possible next summer," says Bruno Fläcklin, Tourism Director of the Lenzerheide vacation region. "This practically calls for combining them in an exciting round," says Flurin Bezzola, who is already responsible for the Engadin Cycle Marathon and will be in charge of organizing the Alpen Challenge in the future.

On August 16, 2015, the Alpen Challenge will also return to the calendar of the Swiss Cycling Top Tour, the series of the best and biggest cycling marathons in Switzerland.

Registration for the Alpen Challenge starts in December. A total of 1500 starting places are available for the event, which will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

www.alpenchallengelenzerheide.ch