World’s longest “bike race” got underway on Sunday

July 29th, 2009 by Ron Callahan View Comments

In case you hadn’t heard, while the Tour de France was finishing up on Sunday, the world’s longest “bike race” kicked off in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil the same day.

The Vuelta Sudamericana started Sunday and will continue for 110 stages over 134 days, covering a total of 12,000 kilometers. There are 23 rest days and 1 travel day built into the schedule as well. At the moment, 23 riders from all over the planet are set to embark on the ride, which begins on Sunday and will pass through Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Bolivia, and Peru before ending in Quito, Ecuador four months from now. Along the course they’ll pass by Iguazu Falls, Aconcagua, the tallest mountain in South America, the Atacama Desert, the driest place on Earth, Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable body of water in the world, and the lost Inca city of Machu Picchu.

While some of the riders will ride the entire distance, it’s more of an expedition for the financially independent. For others, the ride is also broken down into nine smaller sections allowing cyclists who can’t do the entire distance to join and leave at a variety of points along the way. The only prize, seemingly, is the satisfaction of knowing that you completed the expedition.

Sounds like something that RAAM competitor Jure Robic would enjoy.

For more information, check out their official web site.

Tags: bike, RAAM, tour d'afrique, vuelta sudamericana, worlds longest bike race