Orbit360: 24 gravel boards in Germany - and now in Switzerland

The name itself - Orbit360 - already resonates with the unearthly distances that the participants in this long-distance gravel series have to cover in order to ride an "orbit": In Germany, the Votec Outer Rim - a tour around Lake Constance with 296 kilometres and 4100 metres of altitude - the biggest challenge. The shortest: Gravity Circuit Schlaubetal with 126 kilometres and 710 metres in altitude.

New to the Orbit360 series this year is the Swiss galaxy. For star cruisers in search of the extremes, it's either in the canton of Schwyz in the Final Flare over a moderate 155 kilometres up to an altitude of 5400 metres. Or you can circumnavigate Votec Velocity with 212 kilometres and 4660 metres in altitude. But all the other orbits in both countries, which can be completed from 4 June to 14 August, also have the potential to reach for the stars or eternal darkness.

Ranking in the gravel tours: complete circumnavigation and fastest times

All routes are distributed as widely as possible in the respective country. The orbits can be started at any point. The only important thing is that the routes are travelled without outside help (unsupported) and exactly according to the GPX track. The rules also means that riders collect points for every orbit they complete. The best 60 times for each orbit receive additional leaderboard points, which are added to the overall ranking.

Another new feature this year: peloton classification. Organiser Raphael Albrecht explains this addition: "All those registered as a peloton can freely choose their group from orbit to orbit, regardless of how many are riding. Drafting is allowed, as well as help and support within the peloton. All names will be listed individually in the ranking list. The reason for this is that in the past, with the duo option, it was too complicated for many to ride several orbits with the same company.

Orbit360: Gravity Bike Festival in Brandenburg

All gravel tours in the Orbit360 series were scouted by local community members. For the current edition, 30 friends and acquaintances of organiser Raphael Albrecht were on the road in Germany and Switzerland. And because they not only want to work together, but also celebrate, Raphael is organising a big party this year: the Gravity Bike Festival in the SchlaubetalBrandenburg.

From 3 to 6 June, i.e. over Whitsun, there will be multi-surface races, bike workshops and campfire stories from people from the world of cycling in a picturesque stream valley. Cinema and yoga, soul food and last but not least: dancing and partying.

Raphael is happy that the festival can go into its second round in 2022 with more revellers: "We had planned to do this in the first few years, but the coronavirus pandemic prevented it. This year is also the first time we're organising a real race there. If you're going to ride the orbits individually, we want to bring people together in one place!"