Launch of 2nd Women’s bike-packing event promotes inclusivity and accessibility for female adventure cyclists
Potsdam 27th April - On the 29th of April 2022, komoot will host its second women’s bike-packing event: the Komoot Women’s Montañas Vacías Rally. Open to 50 women, non-binary and trans riders, the rally follows the newly established Montañas Vacías route – 680 kilometers through Spanish Lapland’s “Empty Mountains” in the Southwestern region of Aragon. Like the inaugural Komoot Women’s Torino Nice Rally last year, this event aims to connect, unite and break down the barriers in adventure cycling: making adventures by bike more accessible to women of all backgrounds.
The brainchild of komoot ambassador Lael Wilcox, twenty-six women lined up at the start line of the komoot Women’s Torino Nice Rally (WTNR) last year. The goal was simple: to ride a challenging route through the mountains from Italy to Nice, carrying everything needed to get from the start to the finish without extra support. Riders don’t race these rally events, instead they ride as companions in a supportive environment with an emphasis on sharing knowledge, learning-by-doing and having fun.
Many of us didn’t know one another before the ride. A week of adventure – riding over mountain passes, finding shelter in storms, camping under the stars, fixing mechanicals – made us lifelong friends. Even before the week was up, we knew we’d have to do it again. Hence the Montañas Vacías edition of 2022!
After the success of the WTNR, komoot is taking the women’s bikepacking rally concept to Spain in 2022. This year’s rally follows the Montañas Vacías route which was devised by local cyclist Ernesto Pastor, and inspired by his own experience of the Torino Nice Rally. With 680 kilometers and 13,000 meters of climbing on mostly dirt roads, Pastor’s aim was to create a route that brings cyclists to the area, and connects the cycling community to locals and places by stashing repair equipment along the route for those who may need it. Women taking part in this year’s rally are encouraged to donate spares too.
Entries for this year’s event are closed, having sold out within days. Check out the route on Lael's profile here. To follow the adventures of the group of women riding in this year’s rally visit the social media profiles of the following riders:
Lael Wilcox: https://www.instagram.com/laelwilcox/
Rue Kaladyte : http://www.instagram.com/rugilekaladyte/
Sami Sauri : https://www.instagram.com/samisauri/
Gaby Thompson : https://www.instagram.com/gofastergaby/
Devin Cowens: https://www.instagram.com/dev_rox/
Josie Fouts: https://www.instagram.com/ms.stubbornness/
Johanna Jahnke: https://www.instagram.com/p/CMIsoQ9F044/
Imagery: dropbox updated daily with images from Rue Kaladyte and Sami Sauri (please credit accordingly)
About Komoot
Komoot is the largest and fastest-growing digital platform for adventurers and outdoor enthusiasts in the world - and it has a simple mission: to make outdoor adventures accessible to all.
Komoot’s mobile apps and digital platform provide advanced route planning and navigation tools. At the same time, a content-rich feed of unique stories inspires its community of over 35 million users to explore and share their outdoor experiences and recommendations.
A group of 6 friends from the Austrian Alps and Germany founded the company in Berlin in 2010. In 2017, komoot pioneered a fully-remote workplace and today - its team of over 100 like-minded adventurers share this goal: to provide you with the best experience possible in the great outdoors.
Join komoot and discover everything you need to make the most out of your experiences outdoors with komoot Maps and Premium.
For more information, visit komoot.com
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