Tuesday, 2 June 2026 22:00
~750 km ~20,000 m

Lost Ride

Unsupported bikepacking race
across Central Europe

Registration

Latest update

Archive Rebuild Underway

We are rebuilding the Lost Ride archive so the history of the race is easier to explore.

The last five years are already online, and we will keep adding older editions.

View all news
Lost Ride archive teaser

Race Concept

concept.imageAlt

Continuing the tradition

The idea behind Loudání is enduring.

Picturesque landscapes, forests, hills, cultural landmarks, all in a land made for bikepacking. This is Lost Ride, a race like no other. We took the best from Loudání and created a continuation of the oldest bikepacking race tradition in Europe. Lost Ride is an unsupported race with a previously unknown route through the Central European region.

The clock never stops. And there are no trophies waiting. You will ride forgotten forest tracks and trails. Asphalt is scarce and sometimes you may need to carry your bike. You will resupply on your own, whenever possible. The theme, route, distance, and elevation change every year. What remains is the subtle tension of the unknown and the silence of the night when you hear only your own breath.

Route

You can choose to ride using printed map sheets or the MapCatch app, where you will only see the route 5 km ahead. It’s up to you whether to keep the broader awareness or follow a thin line with the handicap of uncertainty. Either way, expect surprises. The route may not be fully fixed and self-routing might be needed in some places.

We aim to design a route that can generally be ridden, though there will be demanding sections. Most of the route leads through natural and interesting locations. At the finish, accommodation, hot showers, and facilities will be available. We will do our best to allow your family and friends to welcome you at the finish.

~750

kilometres

~20,000

metres of elevation

75

participants from around the world

Race detailed info

You sign up, choose how much uncertainty you want to carry, and then roll into Pilsen for maps, briefing, and a night start. The only clean decision comes by 2 May 2026: paper in your pocket or MapCatch on your bars.

Timeline

1 Registration

Secure your place

Register for the race and lock in your participation. Riders who registered by 11 November 2025 qualify for the bonus climb skip.

2 By 2 May 2026

Confirm your navigation version

One month before the start, every competitor must choose whether to race with printed maps or with the MapCatch app. If no choice is submitted in time, MapCatch becomes the default.

Navigation choice

?
Printed maps
Printed maps Expect roughly 30-60 A4 sheets carried on the bike, depending on the final route.
MapCatch app
MapCatch app The route is shown only 5 km ahead. Our app is available for Android only so far.
3 2 June 2026

Meeting point in Pilsen

Meeting point: 18:00-20:00 in Pilsen. This is where riders get the printed maps, receive the full briefing, sort the final details before departure, and eat before the start. The route is revealed one hour before the start.

4 2 June 2026

Race start

Race start: 22:00.

5 Same weekend, latest by 9 June 22:00

Finish somewhere in Czechia

Estimated arrival is the same weekend, with the latest finish time on 9 June at 22:00. The finish will be somewhere in Czechia with good train access, and accommodation, food, and your transported luggage will be waiting there.

Key stuff

  • Approx. 750 km route with a high proportion of unpaved terrain.
  • Around 20,000 m of elevation gain.
  • MapCatch will include live tracking for all riders, including those using printed maps.
  • The finish location will be in Czechia and revealed one hour before the start and may differ from the start.
  • The nearest train station will be within 20 minutes, and Czech trains take bikes for a very low fee.
  • One bag will be transported from start to finish for each rider.
  • The time limit for results is exactly one week.

Bonus

  • Those who register by 11 November 2025 (any time zone) may skip one designated climb on the route.
  • The same climb may also be skipped by those who send a selfie with their bike and a sign L26 on a hill not reachable by car or cable car, with at least 300 m of elevation gain from the last car-accessible point, anywhere in the world, before the end of the year.

Rules

Some races drown in rulebooks. We keep it lean, adventure and friendship come first, and nature has a way of checking everyone’s motivation on its own.