ultra500 (500km, 5000hm, 72h limit)

ultra500 is an unsupported gravel brevet branded as ultra500 and presented as a long-distance challenge of approximately 500 km with roughly 5,000 m of elevation, to be completed within a 72-hour limit. The route starts from the Leipzig area (start point at Café Zwischenfisch) and traverses the Harz, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt hinterlands with possible extensions into Hesse, featuring technical off-road sections, meadow tracks, roots and mud. The event is explicitly non-commercial and not a race; riders must be self-sufficient, carry their own equipment and provisions, and expect to spend at least one night on the route. Two staffed checkpoints are announced and passage tracking via participants' internet-enabled phones is planned.

The format emphasises personal responsibility, navigation skill and endurance rather than organised support, and the organisers state a starter cap of 161 places. Registration involves a minimum fee with a non-refundable administration contribution and a donation model where portions of fees are donated to environmental protection and youth work in Saxony. Practical notes and route access guidance (including tracks from Leipzig Hauptbahnhof to the start) are provided, but exact start time, precise checkpoint locations and full GPX route files are not published on the event page. Safety reminders stress compliance with traffic laws (StVO/StVZO), suitable lighting and cold-weather gear, and carrying emergency equipment and provisions for extended solo sections.