B-HARD  Ultra Race & Brevet

Center for Better Quality of Life

B-HARD Ultra Race & Brevet

14-19th of June, 2024

Preliminary schedule:

12th of June: 80 km promotional ride in Banja Luka county.

13th of June: 90 km promotional ride in Banja Luka county.

14th of June: Warmup ride at 11 AM, obligatory event briefing (around 4 PM).

15th of June: Start at 5 AM CET. Detailed starting schedule is to be posted prior to the event start.

18th of June: The deadline for successfully completing the course is at 11 PM.

19th of June: Finishers ceremony and debriefing at 11 AM.

RQ Logo - V2

Project by:
Center for Better Quality of Life

Route designed by:
Nikica Atlagić cybernck

Social media presence and website by:
indivisual studio

Cover photo by:
Jadran Čilić

Follow us on Facebook:
bhardultrarace

Follow us on Instagram:
@bhardultrarace

Welcome to a spectacular cycling adventure in Bosnia & Herzegovina!

Everything’s ready for the 6th edition of B-HARD Ultra Race & Brevet!

Our event is unique in many ways but primarily as it has been specifically designed to boost positive image and promote tourism of a very understated and beautiful country while at the same time allow you to move your personal limits. The 1215 km route has been carefully crafted to represent Bosnia & Herzegovina “in a nutshell” and passes through National Parks, along rivers, lakes and waterfalls, over 1984 Winter Olympics ski-centers, by UNESCO World Heritage sites and generally over stunning (and hilly) terrain.

Although unsupported in its essence, it’s not a hardcore survival task but a perfect blend of our traditional hospitality, sightseeing and cycling – therefore it is an amazing and unforgettable cycling experience, both for expert and novice endurance riders alike. Why? Because advanced ultra-distance cyclists will be able to focus on riding efficiently while those only getting into this sport will find it a very convenient way to enjoy this discipline, be it in a race or in a brevet ride.

Additionally, the 2024 route is the best iteration of the B-HARD route, with even more nature, climbs and epic views and even less traffic!

Even though the route is far from easy (cue the name B-HARD), it has not just been plotted out to be “extreme” or “epic” for its own sake – though it definitely comes across as both. B-HARD has been created by riders for riders, so you basically won’t get anything that we wouldn’t want for ourselves. On the contrary – a lot of things were taken into account in order to make it the best cycling experience possible.

The event offers a self-supported cycling ultramarathon race (aka ultra race), official LRM1200, BRM600, BRM400, BRM300 and BRM200 brevet/audax rides, promotional road cycling ride for women and an option of a fully supported 4-stage touring ride – so there is something for everyone, although the main focus is on the prestigious race, which is also a Race Across America Qualifier Event.

And the last but not the least – B-HARD is wholeheartedly organised by a non-profit organisation, with the goal of promoting cycling and tourism in the region, so all the resources are passed on to the riders, meaning you get a lot for your money. In fact, we’d go as far to say that B-HARD is the best value event of this kind on the planet!

Explore the different ways to ride B-HARD

B-RACE – Self-supported Ultra Race – SOLO and PAIR

B-RACE is a single-stage non-stop self-supported cycling ultramarathon (or shorter: ultra race), which follows a fixed 1215 km asphalt route on roads not closed for traffic (which assumes following all road traffic rules and regulations, including the use of helmet) with obligatory time controls at designated checkpoints. The type of riding is basically individual time-trial (no drafting allowed, except in pairs category) and no 3rd-party outside assistance is permitted, other than that provided by the organiser and commercially available services. Deviation from the route is allowed for purposes of sightseeing, accommodation and similar but the ride needs to resume from the point where the rider had left the route.

Each of the participants will get the following:

  • race manual, time control card and GPX file of the route
  • lease of GPS tracker for live online tracking of the rider
  • local SIM card with GPRS data plan
  • complimentary refreshments on all checkpoints + more
  • finishers medal for riders that successfully complete the course
  • 20% discount on PACK2RIDE bikepacking equipment
  • 25% discount and 30-day free trial on RideWithGPS Premium subscription
  • 15% discount on Tailfin bikepacking equipment
  • trophy for the winner

Choose B-RACE if you would like to test your mental and physical endurance, have no issues with riding as a “lone ranger” and consider stop-watch your enemy. B-RACE is open to everyone who believes they have an ability to complete the course but some experience in ultra-distance riding is advisable.

Regular pricing until further notice is 205 EUR/person*
Limited amount of entry slots – reserve yours now!
Please only apply when you are ready to follow up with the payment.

*Net price without money transfer fees; Non-refundable but with a name-change possibility at a surcharge, depending on the time of action.

Apply for B-RACE now!

B-1200 – LRM1200 Brevet/Audax

B-1200 is an LRM1200 brevet – an official LRM sanctioned event and it follows a fixed 1215 km asphalt route on roads not closed for traffic (which assumes following all road traffic rules and regulations, including the use of helmet) with obligatory time controls at designated checkpoints. The type of riding complies with all LRM regulations (drafting is allowed) and no 3rd-party outside assistance is permitted, other than that provided by the organiser, commercially available services and between riders themselves. Deviation from the route is allowed for purposes of sightseeing, accommodation and similar but the ride needs to resume from the point where the rider had left the route.

Each of the participants will receive the following:

  • road manual, brevet card and GPX file of the route
  • lease of GPS tracker for live online tracking of the rider
  • local SIM card with GPRS data plan
  • complimentary refreshments on all checkpoints + more
  • finishers medal for riders that successfully complete the course
  • 20% discount on PACK2RIDE bikepacking equipment
  • 25% discount and 30-day free trial on RideWithGPS Premium subscription
  • 15% discount on Tailfin bikepacking equipment
  • homologation of brevet card

Choose B-1200 if you like team spirit, socialising and have a “finishing is winning” mentality. To ensure you are fully up to the spirit of randonneuring, B-1200 requires qualifications in form of successfully completed ACP brevet of at least 200 km or LRM brevet of any kind in the past few years or a start at PBP 2019.

Regular pricing until further notice is 205 EUR/person*
Limited amount of entry slots – reserve yours now!
Please only apply when you are ready to follow up with the payment.

*Net price without money transfer fees; Non-refundable but with a name-change possibility at a surcharge, depending on the time of action.

Apply for B-1200 now!

B-600 – BRM600 Brevet/Audax

B-600 is a BRM600 brevet – an official single-day BRM sanctioned event which follows a fixed 600 km asphalt route on roads not closed for traffic (which assumes following all road traffic rules and regulations, including the use of helmet) with obligatory time controls at designated checkpoints. The type of riding complies with all BRM regulations (drafting is allowed) and no 3rd-party outside assistance is permitted, other than that provided by the organiser, commercially available services and between riders themselves. Deviation from the route is allowed for purposes of sightseeing, refreshment and similar but the ride needs to resume from the point where the rider had left the route.

Each of the participants will receive the following:

  • road manual, brevet card and GPX file of the route
  • lease of GPS tracker for live online tracking of the rider
  • local SIM card with GPRS data plan
  • complimentary refreshments on first four checkpoints + more
  • finishers medal for riders that successfully complete the course
  • 20% discount on PACK2RIDE bikepacking equipment
  • 25% discount and 30-day free trial on RideWithGPS Premium subscription
  • 15% discount on Tailfin bikepacking equipment
  • homologation of brevet card

Choose B-600 if you would like to expand your limits, want to try to complete the route riding round the clock or have an amazing experience of a two-day tour across stunning terrain. You will be a part of the whole B-HARD experience with a common start and a visit to CP1, CP2, CP3, CP4 and then CP11 – with a special CP unique to B-600 thrown into the mix!  This ride doesn’t require any qualifications but at least some experience in riding for more than 4-5 hours is advisable.

Regular pricing until further notice is 179 EUR/person*
Please only apply when you are ready to follow up with the payment.

*Net price without money transfer fees; Non-refundable but with a name-change possibility at a surcharge, depending on the time of action.

Apply for B-600 now!

B-400/300/200 – BRM400/300/200 Brevet/Audax

B-400, B-300 and B-200 are a BRM brevets – official BRM sanctioned events which follows fixed 400, 300 and 200 km asphalt route on roads not closed for traffic (which assumes following all road traffic rules and regulations, including the use of helmet) with obligatory time controls at designated checkpoints. The type of riding complies with all BRM regulations (drafting is allowed) and no 3rd-party outside assistance is permitted, other than that provided by the organiser, commercially available services and between riders themselves. Deviation from the route is allowed for purposes of sightseeing, refreshment and similar but the ride needs to resume from the point where the rider had left the route.

Each of the participants will receive the following:

  • road manual, brevet card and GPX file of the route
  • complimentary refreshments on checkpoints
  • finishers diploma for riders that successfully complete the course
  • homologation of brevet card

Choose B-400, B-300 or B-200 if you would like to expand your limits, have a single-day tour of Banja Luka region and be a part of the whole B-HARD experience with a common start.  This ride doesn’t require any qualifications but at least some experience in riding for more than 4-5 hours is advisable.

Registration will be open shortly.

B-TOUR – Fully Supported Touring Ride

This special fully-supported ride package for individuals and small groups is designed for road cycling enthusiasts who are not really into full-on ultracycling but still want to have an amazing cycling experience and explore our country. This package will be available throughout the season on customised dates but riding as a part of B-HARD will be a special treat!

You will get to tour the whole 1200 km in 4 days and visit all the checkpoints but ride fully supported and in four stages of approx 150 km in length each, riding the most entertaining parts of the route and avoiding riding at night, carrying all your baggage or having super-short sleepovers.

On the contrary, you’d have a designated technical-support vehicle actively following you, carrying your stuff and shuttling you between the stages, with pre-arranged accomodation and food. Basically, you just need to show up at the start ready to ride and the rest is our concern.

More details and pricing on request.

B-WOMEN – Road Cycling Promo Ride

While all the options for riding are equally available to both men and women, we have created a 124 km round-trip asphalt route exclusively for promotion of women’s road cycling and as such it’s designed for female cyclists with any kind of a bicycle, that would like to get out of their comfort zone and expand their limits, while riding together with like-minded women.

This ride is also a part of B-HARD, with a common start and a visit to CP1, with complimentary refreshments, insurance for injuries and tech-support vehicle.

Where the heck is Bosnia & Herzegovina and how can I get there?

There is a number of airports in the region to allow you to reach the start line from virtually anywhere in the World but being located in the heart of Europe – it’s not too long a drive either. Or you could simply cycle down here :). In any case, we stand at your disposal for any transportation or accommodation info you may require.

Never heard of Bosnia & Herzegovina? Take a look at this video!