Launching at the start of the X-Pyr in 2022. Photo: Marcus King
Launching at the start of the X-Pyr in 2022. Photo: Marcus King

X-Pyr 2024: The Adventure Race Returns

20 June, 2024, by Ed Ewing

The highly-anticipated X-Pyr 2024, one of the world’s premier hike-and-fly adventure races, is set to kick off on Sunday 23 June 2024 drawing pilots from around the globe.

Held every two years, this year the X-Pyr route spans approximately 600km (592.5km), starting from the beach at Hondarribia in the Basque Country in the west and culminating at the Mediterranean Sea at el Port de la Selva, Catalonia.

Pilots will combine hiking and paragliding skills to traverse the Pyrenees from west to east, relying on their physical stamina, flying skills, and tactical acumen to outfox their rivals and the elements.

The route in two minutes…

Race director Íñigo Redín said: “We are thrilled to host the X-Pyr 2024 and to witness the incredible feats of endurance and skill that define this event. The Pyrenees offer a stunning backdrop for this race, and we are committed to ensuring it remains a challenging and memorable experience for all participants.”

This year is a record year for the race, with more than 40 pilot-teams taking part. They include high profile pilots like Maxime Pinot, Tommy Friedrich, Pierre Rémy, Stanislav Mayer and Simon Oberrauner, as well as numerous new faces.

One notable absence is Chrigel Maurer: the multiple Red Bull X-Alps and X-Pyr champion is not taking part this year. Instead he is on a multi-week adventure in the Alps aiming to hike-and-fly all 4,000m peaks in the Alps in one season.

Other high profile names have also withdrawn. Red Bull X-Alps legends Toma Coconea and Pál Takáts, both of whom were expected to take part, have had to step back.

Toma is recovering from surgery after breaking his leg earlier this month, while Pál withdrew following the tragic death of young French pilot Timo Leonetti last week. Posting on social media Pál explained: “After days of battling emotions, I came to the conclusion that I’m simply not in the right headspace for any demanding, high-level flying so therefore I cancel my participation in the X-Pyr.”

Michal Gierlach was also a last-minute withdrawal – the well known pilot has been diagnosed with pneumonia, making it impossible for him to take part.

Organisers said they wished all the pilots who have had to withdraw ahead of the race well.

However, that still leaves more than 40 pilots getting ready to line up at the start on the beach at Hondarribia on Sunday.

Notably, although there are lots of women supporters in this year’s race, there are no female pilots taking part. Organisers said they would have loved to welcome women into the race, but they simply did not have the applications. “We would love to have more women, and we always welcome applications from women. We were extremely sad that we didn’t get any this year, and we hope that will change for the next edition in 2026.”

Maxime Pinot at the race start in 2022. Photo: Marcus King

Race favourite has to be Maxime Pinot. Current world champion and fresh from winning the FAI Paragliding European Championships in Spain he has been on the podium of the X-Alps and the X-Pyr twice, but never won either. With Chrigel Maurer busy in the Alps, this could be Maxime’s moment.

THE ROUTE

Each team consists of a pilot and a supporter. Pilots must tag seven turnpoints which will take them across the main mountain chain and means they have to criss-cross between Spain and France.

This year’s route:

Start: Hondarribia (Spain)
TP1: Larun (France)
TP2: Val d’Azun (France)
TP3: Boí Taull (Spain)
TP4: Monte Perdido (Spain)
TP5: Pic des Trois Seigneurs (France)
TP6: Vall de Núria (Spain)
TP7: Santa Helena de Rodes (Spain)
Goal: El Port de la Selva (Spain)

As in every edition, after leaving the beach at Hondarribia, the pilots need to hike to Larun, a trip of 15km with an altitude gain of 870m. This is the first point where the athletes can take their equipment out of their bags and can finally fly.

The first long leg (the largest in this edition) is the 122.2km leg to Val d’Azun. From there they go southeast into Spain and visit the Parque Nacional de Aigüestortes, the waypoint Boí Taull.

Crossing back to the west, they go to the edge of the Monte Perdido in the Ordesa National Park. Since flying is restricted there, there is a large cylinder (7km) around this turnpoint.

From there the race heads northeast to the Arriege, Pic des Trois Seigneurs, north of Andorra, which may be the most difficult part of the route.

After this more complications await the teams: they will head to a sign-board, where they have to land (or arrive on foot) – there is no turnpoint radius. The special thing about the Vall de Nuria is that it is in a hanging valley at 1,962m which can only be reached by rack and pin railway. Team assistants have a free ticket to ride, as there is no access road to the monastery, which will be the turnpoint.

From there it is 75km as the crow flies to the end-of-race point at Santa Helena de Rodes. Spectators can follow the race action live, as all athletes and supporters carry a live tracking device.

Since its inception in 2012, X-Pyr has grown to become one of the most prestigious hike-and-fly competitions in the world. The race attracts top pilot-athletes who are drawn by the challenge of navigating the Pyrenees’ diverse and demanding landscape.

The X-Pyr is renowned for its combination of physical and mental challenges, requiring competitors to not only be in peak physical condition but also possess exceptional paragliding skills and strategic planning abilities.

Follow the race at x-pyr.com



You may also like