Flying high: Kiwi breaks top 10 in X-Alps race

Kiwi paraglider Nick Neynens has come from last place to finish 10th in the X-Alps race - an epic adventure endurance race across Europe.

It's the first time Neynens has competed in the event, where paragliders have 10 days to complete the 1038km route via paragliding or on foot.

The race route

The race starts in Salzburg before finishing in Monaco and it goes through nine checkpoints across Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and France.

The cut off time for finishing the race is midday on July 17 (local time) and on average only 12% of racers finish the event.

The numbers of racers finishing this year has already broken the record of 10 set in 2013 and defending champion Christian Maurer (Switzerland) won the race for the fourth time, finishing in eights days, four hours and 37 minutes, 110km ahead of his nearest rival.

Each racer has one supporter and they can race between 5am and 10:30pm but since 2013, racers can access night passes to continue on foot.