The Hope-1000 is a backpacking challenge over 1000 kilometers and 31000 meters of altitude from Romanshorn to Montreux. The participants are completely on their own, true to the motto: "no entry fee, no outside support, no prizemoney, no excuses, nonstop". Officially, Hope-1000 is an excursion. However, every year there are still some who give their all to be the first to send a selfie in front of the Freddy Mercury statue in Montreux to the race office. The tracker that all participants have with them reveals who is cutting it short.

The organizers did have to make a few coronavirus-related changes. The 150 or so participants cannot be sent out onto the course at Lake Constance at the same time. Instead, they will start every minute in order of birth, with the oldest first. It is pragmatic solutions like this that characterize the bikepacking event, the other being the photo with the bronze Freddie, the crossing of the finish line. The course record from 2018 stands at four days and four hours. The last finishers arrive at the Montreux Lakeside Promonade after more than two weeks. The bad news at the end: Hope-1000 is long since fully booked.Infos: hope1000.ch
Route of the Hope-1000: ride.ch/tours/hope-1000