A beginner's guide to ultra-distance racing
Richard Stoodley is heading back for a second pop at the notoriously tough Atlas Mountain Race, that departs from Marrakech on 9th February. Read all about what happened last time around and the strategy for attempt 2
There are no food stops, no organiser's broom wagon, no overnight hotel, no finisher’s medal, no support crew, and you are forbidden to ride with anyone else . So what is the lure of this incredible event? What makes you actually WANT to enter, and why would you set yourself up for probable failure and ridicule? Well for me, you may be surprised to hear, its unfinished business!
To give you an idea of how hard the event is, after the first 25km ‘neutralised’ road section you turn, in the dark, in the freezing cold, off-road into the start of an approx. 6–8 hour climb . The highest point of this is 8,700 ft above sea level, and is followed by a hike-a-bike down the Old Mule Track section, over boulders and rocks. Even an advanced mountain bike rider with no kit and a dropper post would struggle to ride this easily.
I kicked an area next to the track free from the biggest rocks and set up my shelter. I had been told that its best to get out of your cycling kit but it was so bitterly cold I decided to both strip off and get dressed inside my bivvy.
Still determined, I pulled myself together and continued riding again into the night, but this time with the carrot of Imassine which I wrongly assumed was a huge town with hotels and restaurants. That was the point I decided that I would become a hindrance and liability to myself and the organisers. The next 60 miles were going to be desolate. Literally nothing, zero.After a very difficult journey itself via riding my bike and on buses, back to Marrakech and then to the finish in Essaouira, still in my cycling clothes for four days until I was reunited with my bags, I went to the finish hotel and watched the riders trickle in.
As a means to my end, I recognised very early in February 2023 that I had the wrong bike and invested in a fantastic, able, Scott Scale RC Hardtail. I am ready, but I know this is not going to be easy. It's going to be horrific, and if I can reach that finish line before midnight on Saturday 17th February this will be the most amazing physical achievement of my life.
If you’ve enjoyed this article, then please consider subscribing to road.cc from as little as £1.99. Our mission is to bring you all the news that’s relevant to you as a cyclist, independent reviews, impartial buying advice and more. Your subscription will help us to do more. The race has just over a 50% finish rate, and considering that those entering it are by no means a random subset of the population, even coming close is a major accomplishment.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Just one bad packet can bring down a vulnerable DNS server thanks to DNSSEC'You don't have to do more than that to disconnect an entire network' El Reg told as patches emerge
Read more »
Sony should follow Microsoft and bring PlayStation exclusives to XboxMicrosoft has confirmed that four first-party games are heading to PlayStation, and with Sony planning to adapt its own exclusivity plans, we think now is a great time for Sony's first-party games to head to Xbox.
Read more »
Michelle O'Neill urges US government to bring 'peace process' to PalestineThe First Minister told Late Late Show host Patrick Kielty she would be travelling to the US for St Patrick's Day
Read more »
No Plans to Bring Kislev or Grand Cathay to Warhammer: The Old World TabletopFans of Warhammer: The Old World should note that there aren't any current plans to bring Kislev or Grand Cathay to the tabletop for the foreseeable future.
Read more »
Mount Everest: Climbers will need to bring poo back to base campAs complaints of human waste pile up, new rules require climbers to properly dispose of their stools.
Read more »
Storm to bring heavy snow, wind and coastal flooding to southern New England TuesdayA mild Monday ahead of a potent nor'easter that will be bringing heavy snow, wind and coastal flood potential for Tuesday.
Read more »