Pre-registration is now open for the 2028 edition of the solar powered race called The Sun Trip. Recumbent.news has several articles covering past Sun Trip editions, check them out here. The 2028 edition will see participants ride 15,000KM/9,320 miles from Lyon, France to Guangzhou, China.
In 2010, the founder of The Sun Trip, Florian Bailly, completed a 10,000KM/6,210 mile solo ride on a solar powered e-bike and trailer. The route started at the National Institute of Solar Energy (INES) in Le Bourget-du-Lac, Savoie, France and ended in Tokyo, Japan. Florian dubbed this route “On the road to the rising sun”.
Each adventurer is an ambassador for solar power and eco-mobility – Florian Bailly
Florian produced a video of his adventure in 2010 that was celebrated all over France. This fame brought like-minded adventures to share stories with Florian. Soon he was planning the first official Sun Trip race that debuted in 2013. 28 solar powered wheeled vehicles participated that year with a diverse group of people pushing the pedals. The route followed roads leading from France to Kazakhstan, covering more than 8,000KM/4,971 miles.
The last Grand Sun Trip race from France to China took place in 2018. The new route in 2028 will feature many highlights from that route along the Silk Roads. In 2020 a route from France to China was organized. However due to the pandemic, the organizers chose to adjust the route to stay entirely within Europe. In the last few years, they have focused on shorter routes around Europe, Asia, or North Africa. A recumbent bike/trike is now the common choice for these solar adventure races.

Some words from the organizers of The Sun Trip:
Since 2020, the world has been searching for a new equilibrium — often through force, war, violations of international law, or the manipulation of public opinion. In this troubled context, it is up to each of us to continue promoting positive ideas that can open the way toward a more harmonious future.
In this spirit, the Sun Trip is making a bold bet on the future: relaunching the Lyon–Canton adventure in 2028, ten years after the first edition of this now-legendary route.
By re-enchanting the Silk Roads through solar cycling, the daring spirit of our participants, and their ever-present smiles, we pursue a simple yet ambitious goal: to make the world an inspiring, joyful, and sustainable adventure once again.
Pre-registrations for 2028 are now open. A selection of adventures will also take place during the summers of 2026 and 2027. In parallel to them, we are already developing an alternative collective adventure on the China–Europe axis for 2027/2028. Additional information is available at thesuntrip.com.
Other offerings by the organizers for 2026:
Three adventures await you for 2026 — in Morocco, in Auvergne–Rhône–Alpes, and in China — each offering a very different experience depending on your goals and your level of adventure. Places will be limited. It’s up to you to write the next chapter of the Sun Trip legend: visit thesuntrip.com/en/projets-suntrip-2026 for more information.

