Race Around Austria 2026: Ultracycling World Championship at the RAA again

On 15 August 2026, the world championship titles in ultracycling will once again be awarded as part of the Race Around Austria. The Wuca World Championships will take place for the second time in a row on the extreme distance around Austria. Registration has been open since 15 February. Rainer Steinberger from Germany and Elena Roch from Lower Austria won the 2025 world championship titles on the 2200-kilometre course. Both dominated the race through consistency and race tactics. It remains to be seen whether they will defend their title in 2026. Elena Roch had set a start at the Race Across America as his goal for the season - assuming the financing works out.

Race Around Austria Challenge

The RAA Challenge will introduce a separate 50+ age category in 2026. Scoring will be divided into men's and women's solo and unsupported categories. The Challenge is thus following the World Championships specification, which also awards world championship titles in the 50+ category.

The challenge runs parallel to the RAA and covers 560 kilometres non-stop along the Upper Austrian border. The Unsupported Challenge is aimed at participants without an accompanying vehicle and without support. In the podcast "Sitzfleisch" by Christoph Strasser and Florian Kraschitzer, the Raa Challenge is categorised as a suitable approach to long distances. The race has a safety concept. The Unsupported Challenge is held as part of the Raa and the classic race with support vehicle. Even at night, participants are rarely travelling alone. A depot halfway through the race makes it easier to plan the race.

Race Around Austria Favourites

Simon Harringer from Austria has confirmed his participation. The local hero won the RAA1500 in 2025 and is currently preparing for the season together with Race Across America winner Philipp Kaider in Gran Canaria. Harringer wants to fight for the top World Championship places for the first time in 2026.

Sebastian Trimborn is also making his presence felt at the RAA. The German extreme endurance athlete and YouTuber recently set a 12-hour world record on the Zwift platform. Trimborn announced his victory in the Race Across America 2027 on Instagram. According to him, this goal should lead to participation in the Race Around Austria. Further national and international athletes are expected to take part in the coming months.

Elena Roch on lecture tour

An athlete who is closely associated with the Race Around Austria is going on a lecture tour in spring 2026. Under the title "Ultra - When your head just keeps going", the exceptional athlete Elena Roch will give personal insights into her journey into international ultra cycling. So far, however, only dates in Austria are planned. Roch was the first woman to beat the entire men's field at the Race Around Austria in 2024. In 2025, she was crowned Ultracycling World Champion. In her presentation, she talks about mental strength, borderline experiences and the decisive moments on the way to the top of the world.

On 20 February 2026, Roch will perform at the Nikolaus Harnoncourt Saal in St. Georgen im Attergau. The Stadtsaal in Hollabrunn follows on 14 March 2026. On 20 March 2026, she will speak at the Urania Observatory in Vienna. On 25 March 2026, the last lecture will take place at Die Bäckerei in Innsbruck.

Info:

• Event: Race Around Austria 2026, Wuca World Championships
• Date: 15 August 2026
• Distance: 2200 kilometres
• Additional rankings: Austrian Championships 4-man team, Race Around Austria Challenge (560 kilometres)