Eleven boats and seven nations competing on a course unlike any other in the world: the 54th edition of the BCGE Tour du Léman Rowing Race, which will take place on September 26–27, starting from the Société Nautique de Genève, promises to be another thrilling event.
Geneva, September 9, 2026 – A flagship event on the Lake Geneva calendar, the BCGE Rowing Tour of Lake Geneva is an endurance race unlike any other in the world, bringing together courageous teams each year to test themselves against the lake and their own limits on a demanding and spectacular course.
This year, the Tour du Léman will once again welcome a Turkish team, as well as rowers from Great Britain, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Ireland, and Switzerland. Several teams are co-ed, and we have an all-female crew this year.
Stéphane Trachsler, president of the Organizing Committee, is delighted about this year’s edition of the world’s longest rowing regatta held on a closed body of water. “Our goal and our greatest hope is that all teams will manage to complete the full lap around the lake,” he says. As a reminder, last year only five teams managed to cross the finish line, as the Bise wind played tricks on the rest of the field. And in previous years, between 2022 and 2024, the race was disrupted by unfavorable weather conditions that forced the Organizing Committee to shorten the course. “The weather is always unpredictable, and it’s the biggest unknown in this type of event. But we’re monitoring it closely and doing everything we can to ensure the safety of the participants.” “, concludes Stéphane Trachsler.
The success of the BCGE Tour du Léman Rowing Race depends on the dedication of many volunteers, including the safety teams, who help ensure the event runs smoothly. The active collaboration of the SISL and the Lake Geneva rowing clubs should also be highlighted, as should the dedication of the SNG secretariat and the effective contribution of the club restaurant.
On the athletic front, Stéphane Trachsler points out that, unfortunately, no team has registered under the SNG banner this year. “ However, there will be one team—AVIRON ROMAND ZURICH/LAUSANNE-SPORTS AVIRON—competing in the quadruple sculls, something that hasn’t been seen in about twenty years. Instead of using four oars like all the other teams, they will use only two—one on the port side and one on the starboard side. This is a more difficult technique that requires a high degree of coordination and involves alternating between the port and starboard oars, as it inevitably creates asymmetry. .
It is also worth noting that Team No. 1 is all-female, while Team No. 3 from Bonne will compete in the coxed pair. Finally, Matthias Auer, last year’s winner, will be back on the starting line as part of Team No. 2.
The complete list of teams is available at this link.
Since 2022 and through this year’s edition, the Tour du Léman Rowing Race has benefited from the support of the Banque Cantonale de Genève (BCGE), the event’s title sponsor.