Grand Raid

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The climb up the Pad de Lona, one of the most difficult sections of the course, takes racers up to 2,788 metres. (Keystone/Jean-Christophe Bott) Keystone

Hike-a-bike: Whether to ride or to carry your bike through certain sections is a game of nerves and strategy. (Keystone/Dominic Favre) Keystone

Snaking up the Pas de Lona, 2007. (Keystone/Dominic Favre) Keystone

More than six hours of suffering for these mountain bikers in 2001. (Keystone/Fabrice Coffrini) Keystone

Just a man and his bike moving through the immensity of the Valais Alps in 2002. (Keystone/Laurent Gillieron) Keystone

Despite the hellish conditions, 2,884 racers left the starting line in 2006. (Keystone/Olivier Maire) Keystone

In 2005, more than 1,800 people had to be turned back from the Pas de Lona because of snow. (Keystone/Olivier Maire) Keystone

Racers roll along Lake Lona, 2008.(Keystone/Jean-Christophe Bott) Keystone

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Twenty years of pain in the Alps.

The Grand Raid counts as one of the pioneering mountain bike marathon races and remains a fat-tire sufferfest. More than 3,000 racers face each year 120-plus kilometres of rocky trails and steep descents as they grind from Verbier to Grimentz. Here is a look back at some of the more recent races. Sometimes contestants even get to ride their bikes.