The idea of the Badlands Rally 2024

The Badlands Rally 2024 for women, organized by komoot and Lael Wilcox, will take place from 20 to 27 April 2024. The event marks the seventh edition of the komoot Women’s Rally in four years and aims to encourage more women, trans and non-binary cyclists to explore outstanding bikepacking routes and strengthen the community.

Lael Wilcox, co-founder of the rally, emphasizes the transformative nature of the event: “Our vision was to encourage women, trans and non-binary people to embark on cycling adventures, make friends and support each other. The response has exceeded our expectations. Participants often come with doubts, only to lead the group a week later.”

Originally launched in response to the under-representation of women in cycling, each edition of the rally aims to impart knowledge, gain practical experience and, above all, have fun. Lael adds: “The participants return inspired, organize cycling groups, share their experiences and plan further adventures. These stories are extremely motivating and inspire me to take on new challenges.”

Since the first rally in 2021, komoot and Lael have organized six more events on challenging bikepacking routes in Europe, including the Torino-Nice Rally and the GranGuanche Gravel Route. In November 2023, the first rally outside Europe took place in Arizona, bringing the event closer to a wider North American audience.

Information on the 2024 edition of the komoot Woman’s Rally

The Badlands Rally 2024 starts in Granada and ends in Almería, Spain, and offers participants a 680-kilometer route from the mountains through the desert to the coast. The route leads through impressive landscapes, including the forests of the Sierra de Huétor nature park with views of the majestic Sierra Nevada and the striking Pico Veleta at 3,398 meters. Other highlights include the deserts of Gorafe and Tabernas, the latter of which is home to the only desert climate on the European continent.

After the wild coast of the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, the last section of the route leads through the Sierra de Gádor, a mountain range between the Mediterranean and the Sierra Nevada.

The rally is limited to around 50 participants to ensure an intimate atmosphere and to ensure that small towns along the route are not overcrowded. The application period for the Badlands Rally 2024 runs from February 15 to 22, 2024, 23:59 (CET). Successful applicants will be notified by email by February 27, 2024.

Badlands Rally 2024 – Details of the route:

• Date: April 20 to 27, 2024
• Distance: around 680 kilometers
• Difference in altitude: approx. 12,300 meters
• Terrain: asphalt, unpaved, gravel – perfect for a gravel bike or a hardtail mountain bike.