Race Across Austria
Photos: RACA
More info: RACA
Sleep Deprivation, Alpine Passes, and Clean Calories: Fueling the RACA
There are cycling races that test your speed, and then there are adventures that reshape your definition of human endurance.
The Race Across Austria (RACA) is firmly in the latter category. It stands as one of the ultimate tests of self-supported ultra-distance cycling in Europe. Whether you tackle the north-to-south loop or brave the legendary east-to-west traverse crossing spectacular alpine regions, one thing is guaranteed: the clock never stops, and you are entirely on your own.
No support vehicles. No drafting. No team car handing you bottles through a window. From the moment the clock starts, your success depends completely on your mental grit, your bike, and how effectively you manage your energy.
The RACA Challenge: The Art of Semi-Autonomy
Ultra-cycling events like RACA’s 1,000 km (with a crushing 16,000 meters of elevation gain) or the shorter 500 km route are unique. Because you are unsupported, you must carry your own gear or rely strictly on commercial, publicly available stops—like bakeries, gas stations, or supermarkets.
When you are pushing through severe sleep deprivation, climbing iconic, brutal mountain passes like the Großglockner, and riding for up to 112 hours, your metabolic engine goes through a specialized kind of hell:
- The Calorie Deficit: You can easily burn 8,000 to 10,000 calories a day.
- Gastric Distress: Eating greasy gas station food for days straight causes severe stomach cramps and nausea, often forcing riders to DNF (Did Not Finish).
- The Cognitive Fog: When blood sugar crashes at 3:00 AM on a pitch-black alpine descent, reaction times slow down dramatically.
The Chimpanzee Ultra-Cycling Fueling Blueprint
At Chimpanzee Sports Nutrition, we craft our products from 100% natural, real-food ingredients because your stomach shouldn't have to fight chemical additives while your legs are fighting an alpine pass.
To survive the extreme demands of the Race Across Austria, your nutrition strategy needs to be lightweight, calorie-dense, and highly digestible. Here is how to build your setup:
| Race Stage | Nutrition Strategy | Recommended Chimpanzee Fuel |
|---|---|---|
| The Mountain Passes (High Intensity) | Immediate, easily absorbed carbohydrates to keep your muscles firing on steep gradients. | Energy Gels & Chews (Made with real fruit and agave syrup—no artificial sugar crashes). |
| The Flat Valley Sectors (Steady State) | Solid, complex carbohydrates and natural fats to preserve glycogen stores over hundreds of kilometers. | Chimpanzee Energy Bars (Flavors like Crunchy Peanut or Cashew Caramel provide long-lasting, steady energy). |
| The Night Shift (Mental Sharpness) | Natural stimulants to combat acute sleep deprivation and stave off exhaustion. | Super Bars with Guarana (100mg of natural caffeine to stay sharp on technical night descents). |
| Continuous Liquid Fuel (Every Kilometer) | Replacing critical minerals lost through heavy sweat to completely avoid muscle cramping. | Hydration Drinks / Salt Caps (Keeps your electrolyte balance perfectly stable). |
Pro Bikepacking Tip: Don’t rely solely on sweet flavors. After 24 hours on the bike, "sweet fatigue" is very real. Pack savory snacks alongside your fruit bars to keep your appetite stimulated.
