Orbit360: Ride Into the
Wild Heart of Germany.

There’s a certain kind of rider who doesn’t need a start gun. Someone who wakes to mist curling over woodland trails, checks the map by starlight, and clips in with the quiet confidence that there’s beauty in getting lost.

The Orbit360 Gravel Series isn’t your average gravel race. It’s a full-body, full-mind adventure: a bikepacking odyssey spun from the wilds of Germany’s remote backroads and stitched together with stories, solitude, and soul. For those of us who seek more than watts and finish lines, Orbit360 offers something deeper: freedom, challenge, and a sense of belonging in the wild unknown.

At the centre of this nomadic universe is Raphael Albrecht, a man who has swapped podiums for purpose. A seasoned ultra-distance athlete and route alchemist, Raphael doesn’t just map kilometres — he curates meaning.

In 2020, as the world shut down, Raphael started Orbit360 with a simple but radical idea: create a race without a race. No mass starts, no hype, no fixed schedules. Just you, a GPS track, and the raw terrain ahead. What began as an improvised project during lockdown has grown into Germany’s most soulful, sustainable gravel series.

What Is the Orbit360 Gravel Series?

The Orbit360 is kicking off in June and is running till October 2025. Here’s how it works:

1 | #LETSORBIT
Head over to the Routes Overview, download a GPX, and choose your adventure.

2 | Donate
Orbit360 is a non-profit project. There’s no entry fee — but riders are encouraged to make a donation, which goes directly to this year’s partner: The Generation Forest, a powerful initiative growing long-term, biodiverse forests in the tropics.

3 | Tag Orbit360
After you’ve crushed your Orbit, tag @orbit360.cc in your ride on Strava or Komoot. Make sure to tag only completed rides (not planned ones), so your effort counts in the official ranking.

4 | Check the ranking
Orbit360 updates its leaderboard every Wednesday.

5 | Drop some love
Each route takes weeks — sometimes months — to scout and shape. The volunteers behind them are as dedicated as they are silent. If a route moved you, tell the scout. It makes a difference.

6 | Meet us
Orbit360 lives far beyond the leaderboard. Join us at GRAVITY FESTIVAL or test your mettle in the high-alpine SNEAK PEAKS ULTRA.

It’s part race, part pilgrimage. Your time counts — but your story counts more.

Each Orbit you ride supports something far beyond the gravel.

This year, Orbit360 has partnered with The Generation Forest, an initiative that goes beyond reforestation. Instead of planting quick-fix monocultures, they build long-term, biodiverse forest ecosystems in Panama — helping stabilize the climate while empowering local communities with sustainable forestry models.

A portion of your participation fee helps fund this work. So every turn of the crank becomes an investment in the planet — and in future generations of riders.

Season Outlook: What’s Coming

Orbit360 is far from done. As the season rolls on, more ambitious events are on the horizon:

• Gravity Festival – A multi-day celebration of gravel, trail, community and creativity. Expect curated routes, storytelling sessions, music, and late-night firelight talks.
• Sneak Peaks Ultra – Still cloaked in mystery, this alpine endurance challenge promises to test even the most seasoned adventurers. Think remote peaks, high altitude, and long hours on the edge.
• Ride Far – join the community rides to experience the greatest tracks together
• Meet TEAM HUNT – we´ll be present at the Gravity Festival and Sneak Peaks with fresh wheels for you to test ride