Rigs of the 2025 Atlas Mountain Race

Founded by Nelson Trees, the Mountain Races series is a trio of challenging, self-supported yearly bikepacking events following routes through some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the world. The series includes the Atlas Mountain Race, Hellenic Mountain Race, and Silk Road Mountain Race—each set on a different continent and full of unique challenges and unexpected turns.

First up for 2025 is the Atlas Mountain Race, a 1,300-kilometer bikepacking race from Marrakesh to the Atlantic coast in Morocco. The route follows gravel, singletrack, doubletrack, and old colonial pistes that have long been forgotten and fallen into disrepair. Last year’s event was packed with surprises, including a 24-hour delayed start due to heavy rain. Justinas Leveika took first place with a time of 3 days, 19 hours, and 27 minutes, and Cynthia Carson was the first woman to finish with a time of 4 days, 19 hours, and 3 minutes.

There are nearly 300 riders registered for this year’s event, which starts tomorrow evening at 6 p.m. local time. There are some recognizable names on the tracking page, including Josh Ibbett, Meaghan Hackinen, Alex Kowalski, and Alex McCormack. As always, between the rough terrain, weather, mechanicals, and a competitive field, it’s impossible to predict who will be among the fastest riders. With help from the race organizers and riders, we collected details on over 120 rigs that will be out tackling the route. Scroll through and get a good look at everyone’s rig, and then head over to the 2025 Atlas Mountain Race event tracker to follow along live and find the updates we’ll be posting during the event.

Kirsty Aitken

Age 58 / Aberdeen (Scotland)

BIKE: I’ll be on my old 2017 Whyte 805. It’s been through a lot as have I and so in need of new parts. Now feeling spritely with a new RockShox Recon fork and rocking up with a 11-48T microShift cassette, 32T chainring, and Shimano Cue shifter to blissfully roll away on a set of Hunt wheels with Vittoria Mezcals. Sadly there was not enough cash left for new parts for the rider!
BAGS: Tailfin on the rear for day stuff and Jack the Rack up front for bivvy and other sleep stuff. Various pods and junk in between.
LUXURY ITEM: Alpkit Pipedream sleeping bag (question is how much time can I spend in it!)

Dirk Robert Albanus

Age 37 / Gutersloh, Northrhine-Westfalia (Germany)

BIKE: Canyon GRIZL 8 Carbon, Size M, Shimano GRX 12-speed 800-SERIES, 40 tooth chainring, 11-52 Gabaruk Cassette, Zipp 303 XPLR S wheels with Vittoria Mezcal 2.1” tyres, standard GRX brakes and handlebars with Deda Jet One extensions, Redshift suspension stem.
BAGS & GEAR: Cyclite Bags for Toptube, Frame, Handlebar, aero bar (with water bladder), 2x foodpouch, Ortlieb Seat-Pack 16,5L, USWE Race 2.0 Hydration Pack 2L, Pajac Radical 8Z Sleeping Bag with comfort temperature of -4°C, thin Therm-a-Rest mattress, 2 square meters of Tyvek Textile, Assos Bibshort with winter leg warmers, Gore Baselayer, unnamed longsleeve, Club jersey Trispeed Marienfeld, Pajak Downjacket, Berghaus MTN Guide Hyper LT rain jacket, Scott MTB Shoes with orthopaedic inlays, 3mm Raincovers, Gore thin gloves and winter gloves, Bontrager Ballista Helmet and Oakley Sunglasses.
LUXURY ITEM: DJI Osmo Pocket 2 with Clip-to-Backpack.

Omare Alvarado

Age 48 / Fannrem (Norway)

BIKE: I will be racing the 2025 AMR on my XC bike, an aluminum Giant XTC, changed and upgraded components for comfort, 10-51T cassette, SRAM AXS X01 electronic gear shifting, 30T chainring, Maxxis Rekkon Race EXO 2.25″, Redshift Rockshock PRO suspension seat post, Ergon SR Allroad core saddle, 680mm wide Ergotec handlebars 30mm rise 14º back sweep, Ergon GP3 grips and SQlab innerbarends. Undecided about the Pro missil aero bars with risers kit (Aluminum), must probably won’t use them they are heavy and I still do not feel confident on them. It’s a solid and comfortable bike, meticulously serviced before the race, new bottom bracket, disc rotors and brake pads.
BAGS & GEAR: Miss Grape Il Coso Handlebars cradle with a Mountain Laurel Designs handlebars dry bag for sleeping system, Restrap race top tube bar (Long) for easy access, Restarap race saddle bag for clothes, Revelate Designs Ranger full frame bag mainly for food. Apidura down tube bag, Tailfin suspension clamps and cargo cages for water bottles and topeak tools bottle, Evoc hydration vest plus water bottles, 4.25L total water capacity, Fenix light system BC26R front, BC06R tail, and HM50R headlamp, Fenix extra batteries and 30,000 mAh on Nitecore power banks, Wahoo Elemnt Roam for navigation and route downloaded to MapOut on my phone, Mountain Laurel Designs bivy and Therm-a-Rest sleeping pad.

Ana Alves

Age 41 / Penalva do Castelo (Portugal)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my trusty (although old) Trek Procaliber 9.8 SL 27.5″, size small, with a Fox 32 stepcast 100m fork. The drivetrain is Shimano XT 12-speed (32T x 10-51T). Tires will be 2.25″ Vittoria Mezcal. I’ve added Spirgrips type inner bar ends.
BAGS: Apidura top tube bag and 12L saddle bag with my sleeping kit: Cumulus 0°C quilt and Sea to Summit insulated sleeping mat. A 4L frame bag from Kicking Donkey with my repair kit, food and electronics. In my Givi 14L handlebar bag I’ll carry my warm layers for easy access (down and waterproof jacket, merino leg warmers and socks) and have space for extra food. In the cockpit I have a Zefal and Apidura bottle bag for extra water capacity. On the down tube I have a custom prototype of aluminum strap anchors that I can use to mount an ordinary 1.5L water bottle. I’m also wearing a Camelbak 4L hydration bag with a 2.5L bladder. Bike lights are Lezyne Macro Drive 1400 as front light, Exposure Joystick MK13 on the helmet, Knog blinder on the rear. I carry two fast-charging battery packs for a total of 30,000mAh in about 500g.
LUXURY ITEMS: An inflatable pillow, extra bib shorts and pistachio and almonds butter that I expect to mix with some chocolate (it really makes me feel better).

TAIB ARSALANE

Age 53 / Rabat (Morocco)

BIKE: I’ll be racing on my Hardtail SCOTT Scale 930, size medium. Components include Shimano XTR, 10-51T cassette, 32T Shimano chainring and DEORE cranks. Wheels are DT SWISS X1900 rear rim, DT SWISS M421 front rim laced with a SON dynamo hub, and DT SWISS 370 hub in the rear, wrapped in 2.20” Maxxis IKON EXO TR tires and filled with STANS Tire Sealant. Fork is a Fox 32 Stepcast. I’m running Deore brakes. Cockpit is built around a SIMPLON RISER carbon handle bar, with Profile Designs aero bars, with Merida sponge grips. Saddle is a SQ Labs 60X paired with a FSA K-Force carbon seat post.
BAGS & GEAR: I’m running nearly all Revelate Designs bags. The handlebar bags contains my food (electrolyte and caffeine), while the 10L saddle bag has items I’ll need for sleeping and hot clothing (sleeping bag, bivvy, warm layers and other clothes). Electronics, Water and spare parts/repair kit are in a
the frame bag. Top tube bags for more snacks and necessities such as emergency kit and sunscreen. I have an Endura MT500 insulate and rain jacket. I’m also wearing a Decathlon KIPRUN 5L vest for water, snacks and miscellaneous items.
LUXURY ITEM: A super Busch+Muller IQ-X bright light for night riding.

Carlos Azevedo

Age 35 / Famalicao (Portugal)

BIKE: I will take my faithful TREK Procaliber 9.7. The bike itself is pretty much as standard as it comes from the factory, but I will be using the aerobars Deda Parabolica Uno and ERGON GA3 grips for comfort. I will mount a pair of fresh tires and my choice always go to the Continental RACEKING 29 x 2.2″. As for gear ratio it will be a 32T chainring and 11-54T cassette. Easy gears, easy living! I will mount two bottle cages on my fork for extra water capacity.
BAGS & GEAR: For the bags I will take a mix of Apidura and Topeak. The saddle bag is a Backloader 10l from Topeak. I really like it because inside it has a drybag compression bag with valve which allows me to take a lot of stuff in a very small space. Inside I will carry my bivy, sleeping bag, mattress, extra bib shorts and a down jacket. On the downtube I will carry a 1L tool bottle from topeak with stuff to hopefully solve all the problems that I may find on the track. On the smaller tool bottle I will carry my “pharmacy” (first aid kit, pain killers, creams, salt caps, caffeine pills, etc.). Frame bag is the Apidura Backcountry and I will carry mostly quick clothing layers (leg warmers, arm warmers, buff, gloves, etc.). Top tube bag from Apidura and will take my electronics and all my personal hygiene stuff (toothpaste and toothbrush, hand sanitizer, sunscreen, baby wipes, etc.). On my handlebar I will carry two food pouches from Decathlon completely filled with my favorite snacks, energy gummies and bars. On my back I will carry a Camelbak Chase vest for food and water, and for the most remote sections I will take a really cheap, compact and lightweight 10L backpack from Decathlon. It’s very handy and allows me to take some extra stuff if needed! My front light will be the Lezyne super drive 1600 XXL with a smaller spare one and two really lightweight lights Nitecore NU25 UL to use on my helmet.
LUXURY ITEM: Well, I don’t carry anything that could be considered as luxury item, but I carry some fancy stuff: I love my Klymit Inertia Xlite 130gr mattress and my 10,000mAh carbon fiber powerbanks from Nitecore.

Cristian Batista

Age 32 / Cadiz (Spain)

BIKE: Canyon Lux CF7 equipped with full XT, 32T chainring, Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge tyres, and a pair of Reynolds carbon wheels. Toro, Zenith and TraceR exposure lights for the long nights. Wahoo Elemnt Roam for navigation.
BAGS: Set of Apidura saddle (sleeping bag and down), frame (sleeping pad, first aid kit, food and pump) and pouch bags (bidons), a Tailfin downtube bag (tools) and a light Silva 10L vest (extra liquids and food).
LUXURY ITEMS: An extra pair of bibs and a waterproof trousers in case it is cold.

Frederic BERNARD

Age 49 / Ploemeur, Brittany (France)

BIKE: I’ll ride AMR 2025 on my PechTregon, French handmade frame. It’s playful with its zero-offset geometry but robust with its perimeter frame and TrussFork. It is assembled with many European parts like HOPE brakes, rear hub, and crankset. The wheels are hand-assembled in Brittany by Tregoride Cycles using Palindrom carbon rims with Hope and Son Deluxe hubs. Hutchinson Kraken 29 × 2.3″ in the rear and Wyrm 29 × 2.4″ up front. I’m using a 1×12 Shimano drivetrain with a 30T HOPE chainring. For lighting and charging, I use a SON deluxe dynamo hub with a Sinewave Beacon lamp, complete with a Stoots headlamp and 20,000mah power bank. Spirgrips and mega fat paw cam grips for the comfort.
BAGS: The waterproof bags were custom made in France by Studio Ricochet; full frame bag, dry bag on the front rack with my bivouac setup, two small bags on the handlebar for electronics and snack. I use a compact Oveja Negra saddle bag for my change of clothes. I’ll be using a hydration bag in addition to the water bottles on the bike (5L at most)
LUXURY ITEM: A small marmot cuddy toy that stays on the back of my stem. If I get bored I can talk to him!

Tobias Bienasch

Age 38 / Bad Nauheim, Hessen (Germany)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my Specialized Chisel, a lightweight and capable hardtail, perfect for long distances and rough terrain. My drivetrain is a SRAM 12-speed setup (10-52T cassette, 32T chainring). The Vittoria Mezcal 2.25” tires provide a great balance of speed and grip. My cockpit is optimized for comfort and efficiency, featuring Ergon GA3 grips, SQLab Innerbarends, Profile Design Sonic Ergo 39A aero bars mounted on 40mm risers, and a 76 Projects TT Mount 3.0 (thanks to Chris Hall). The aero bar bottle cage mount gives me additional hydration capacity. The SQLab Ergowave saddle ensures long-distance comfort. For lighting, I’m running a Lupine SL Mono + Lupine Blika setup with batteries, keeping me prepared for night rides.
BAGS & GEAR: Mostly Tailfin, with a Restrap Food Pouch and Restrap Bar Bag completing the setup. The Tailfin Aeropack holds my gels, food, and spare clothing. The Tailfin Downtube Bag is dedicated to spares, medical supplies, and hygiene items. My Tailfin Toptube 1.1L (rear) is packed to the brim with Maurten gels, while the 1.8L Toptube Bag carries my power bank for iPhone, Wahoo, and Lupine, along with other quick-access essentials. The Tailfin Frame Bag stores tools, nutrition, and electronics. My Restrap Bar Bag carries my Sea to Summit sleeping pad, Alpin Loacker Ultralight bivy, and Decathlon MT900 0° sleeping bag. Together with my Diamondback hydration pack, I can carry up to 5.5L of water, ensuring I stay hydrated even on long stretches without resupply.
LUXURY ITEM: A hand-crocheted band from my daughter under the seat post on the frame as a personal lucky charm.

Gokay Biyik

Age 40 / Giresun (Turkey)

BIKE: I’ll be riding Cinelli Hobootleg Geo, Columbus steel frame with a rigid carbon fork. GRX 812 rear derailleur with 11-46T cassette and Deore front derailleur with 26-36T chainring. Bike will roll on a pair of 29 x 2.40″ Vittoria Peyote XC Race tires for more cushion and a bit less rolling resistance.
BAGS: Bags are mixed of local brand Pack2Ride, and a top tube bag from Cyclite. A dry handlebar bag for sleep system, a saddlebag for spare clothes and food (plenty space for a pizza), easy access top tube bag is full of nuts and sweets. And frame bag for electronics and supplements. I have 5L of water capacity, just in case.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I’ll use 24K Anker 737 power bank, which recharge itself in 40 mins. I am carrying very light massage roller, tight muscles needs a good treatment.

Benedek Borsos

Age 28 / Budapest (Hungary)

BIKE: Specialized Epic World Cup Pro, medium size. SRAM AXS groupset with 10-50T cassette, 38T chainring with Quarq powermeter. XTR pedals. SRAM Level Silver brakes. Roval Control Carbon wheelset with 2.35″ Specialized Renegade tyres, GRID casing. Specialized S-Works Romin EVO with Mirror saddle on a Roval Control SL seatpost. Handlebars cut down to 71cm with a 100mm -17 stem.
BAGS: Custom frame bag from @Horizont_makes (Handmade in Hungary). Tailfin Aeropack and Long Top Tube Bag.
LUXURY ITEMS: Spare headphones and 2kg drinkmix, KLND sticker pack.

Thomas Boury

Age 33 / Lyon (France)

BIKE: Epsilon Bikes, Steel frame, handmade in Lyon, FR. fork Rockshox SID SL Ultimate 3positions 100mm, Shimano XTR 1×12 drivetrain Hope parts, 34T crankset, bottombraket, headset, seat clamp, Ritchey handlebar and stem, seatpost Canecreek eesilk, saddle brooks C13 carved, handbuild wheels by les Roues de l’Ecureuil in Lyon with berd spokes, carbon rims from Lilienthal bike and Erase hubs, tires are Hutchinson Skeleton 2.3″, GPS Wahoo Roam V2 and Bolt V2 as backup, Fenix light (battery), Garmin power pedals.
BAGS & GEAR: All bags are made by Restrap. The kit include a custom made frame bag down tube bag and top tube bag. Sleep system: bivy, mat, pillow in the down tube bag. Frame bag: Downjacket, rain jacket, buff arms/legs warmer, gloves, repair kit, and an hydration jacket.

PHILIPPE BREMS

Age 39 / Mortsel, Antwerp (Belgium)

BIKE: I’m riding my 2022 Specialized Epic Hardtail setup for comfort and reliability with comfort bars with 70mm risers and Ergon grips/bar ends, SRAM AXS upgrade, 32T / 10-50, Hunt wheels with SON dynamo and Mezcal XC trail 2.25″ tyres TL, Rockshox 100mm SID SL fork. Stock saddle with Redshift suspension seat post.
BAGS & GEAR: A mix of bags. From Restrap front bag, Fjallraven x Specialized saddle bag for sleep kit (Therm-a-Rest sleeping bag, Mummy liner, Sea To Summit mat, Bivvy escape light), Rapha food pouches and TNF backpack with 3L camelback.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: For light and power management, I’m using a Sinewave Beacon and 2x Nitecore powerbanks. For navigation, a Hammerhead Karoo.

Daan van den Broek

Age 48 / Heemstede (The Netherlands)

BIKE: I am racing my 2024 steel Mason RAW XL in blue with a Shimano XT DEORE set-up and HUNT wheels including a SON dynamo. I will be racing on 2.35″ Schwalbe Racing Ralph and Racing Ray tires.
BAGS: I am running a mix of bags from GRAMM, Fjallraven, and Revelate Designs to accommodate my gear and a backpack from USWE with a 3L water bag. A lightweight sleeping system with a bivy, Cumulus quilt, and Therm-a-Rest sleeping mat should provide me with a good sleep. Part of the space is taken by some extra food, which adds some weight, but this will disappear during the race.
LUXURY ITEMS: Apart from the bike itself, I am quite happy with my SON Dynamo lightning setup with a Supernova E3 pro2 to keep on going in the dark.

Alec Brunson

Age 38 / Belgrade (Serbia)

BIKE: Cassandra is a Cotic Cascade, size medium, colour Lichen. Getting things spinning are Cane Creek eeWings cranks because treats are nice, and power gets to the wheels via a 32T oval chainring from Unite Components, Shimano GRX clicky things, and a gigantic Sunrace cassette. Hoops are Hunt x Mason Search with a SON dynamo hub taking care of charging duties, shod in Vittoria Mezcal 2.35” tyres and filled with whatever gunk I had in the garage. I shall perch upon a Brooks Cambium Carved saddle (colour matched, naturally), attached to an eeSilk seatpost. The cockpit consists of a short PNW stem holding onto a Dajia Farbar wrapped in the chunkiest tape I could find, and up front is the SON Edelux II headlight, with all the cables stealth-routed inside the Profile Design aero bars. I’m quite pleased with that last part so I will tell everyone who will listen. A 3D printed rear light mount helps keep me visible from all angles.
BAGS & GEAR: All my stuff goes in a collection of Restrap luggage; some old, some new, one is borrowed, non are blue. Clothes, toiletries and less-needed things go in the seatpack, while a gas stove and as many Firepot meals that fit will be in the custom frame bag. Sure, I could travel lighter, but a 30 minute warm food stop is the height of luxury, and who am I to deny myself such a thing? Electronics and mini snacks live in the top tube bag, as well as a small pouch mounted on the aerobars. Finally, sleeping equipment is mounted up front in a custom harness made by fellow racer Steve Moatt, with its handy pocket containing emergency tools and spares. I’ll also be carrying an Evoc hydration hip pack, and a couple of bidons are mounted on the fork legs. Oh, and the first aid kit is kept handy in a tennis ball tube mounted under the downtube.
LUXURY ITEMS: I guess the stove counts as luxury, but definitely the inflatable pillow. If I can fit my camera in, I will pack it as well.

Sandro Buttel

Baar (Switzerland)

BIKE: I will racing my Specialized Epic World Cup (L) with a dynamo hub from SON and a K-Lite front light and charging system, SRAM Transmission GX setnwith a 32t chainring and 10-52 casette. Carbon Roval wheels 29″ with 2.2″ Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge Endurance tires. Darimo stem and handlebar with inner bar ends and grips from Sqlab, Parabolica aerobars from Deda with a Quadlock mount for the Iphone and a mount for my Wahoo Elemnt Roam Gps. Rockshox Axs electronic seat post with a Infinity saddle. Lezyne Strip Drive rear light. Fork mount from Tailfin wit 2x 1l bottles. Tailfin Aero Pack and toptube bag. Custom frame bag from Capricorn bags. Apidura Backcountry Backpack.
BAGS & GEAR: Tailfin Aeropack: X-Lite 300 sleeping bag from Cumulus, Exped Ultra 3r matt, Sol Bivy, Inflatable pillow, Food and supplements, Bathroom and first aid kid. Tailfin Toptube bag: Electronics, USB plug (K-lite system), Emergency powerbank, Tool/chain cleaning and wax, Snacks, Buff, Gloves, Passport/Cash/Cards. Capricorn Framebag: Rain. jacket, Insulated jacker, Vest, Food, Repair. Apidura Backcountry Hydration Backpack: Spare clothes, Puff jacket, Bars, Sunscreen, 2l Water bladder.

Rob Roy Cameron

Age 40

BIKE: I’m riding a 2023 Scott Scale size medium. I’ve got a FSA Powerboat carbon cranks with a 34T oval chainring and a 10-52T cassette. Wheels are Stayer with a Hope hub on the rear and dynamo on the front. Tyres are 2.25″ Vittoria Mezcals. For the lights I have a KLite headlight and an exposure rear light. For navigation I have the Coros Dura so hopefully I won’t need to charge it the whole race.
BAGS: I am using all Apidura bags again. In the 10L Rear pack I have my sleep system and down Jacket. In the frame bag cloths and food and to-tube to electronics. I’ll also be running a hydration vest so I can carry about 3L of water.
LUXURY ITEM: My packable Albion Insulated Zoa Jacket.

Sherry Cardona

Age 30 / Amsterdam (The Netherlands)

BIKE: Bike Ahead Composites HT Frame and BITURBO RSX wheelset. Components include SRAM Eagle XX Transmission, SRAM Force Levers, Bike Ahead Composites Race drop bar and straight seatpost, Rockshox Ultimate SID SL suspension fork, Kogel Ceramic bottom bracket and Kolossos Oversized derailleur cage, Control Tech Sirocco aerobars, Continental Race King Tires 2.2″ filled with Silca sealant, Shimano XTR pedals, Silca Sicuro bottle cage and Supernova B54 Max Light.
BAGS & GEAR: I am using the Apidura Backcountry series bags. In my 1L top tube bag, I carry batteries, a mini lock, chamois cream, and sunscreen. Inside the 6L saddle bag, I pack my Albion Zoa Jacket, Albion Rain Jacket, Sea to Summit sleeping bag, and bivvy. In the 1.8L downtube pack, I store a Cycplus electric pump, repair kit, first aid kit, and a spare tube. Finally, in my frame bag, I carry an Anker power bank, charger and cables, spare helmet and front light, hygiene kit, Albion Burner, Silca pump, and multitool. I also use an Albion Cargo best with an Apidura Hydration Bladder for extra capacity.
LUXURY ITEMS: An extra pair of Albion Cargo shorts and my two insta360 action cameras.

Elliott Carr

Age 28 / Anchorage, Alaska (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding an Otso Fenrir stainless, size large, in a drop bar configuration. The build is mostly stock with a few upgrades to the rear cassette for climbing efficiency. I also swapped out my Schwalbe Ice Spiker tires for a set of Schwalbe Racing Ralph 29 x 2.35″ Super Ground tires, which I think will serve me better through Morocco.
BAGS: My rear rack is the Aeoro Spider Pannier Rack with an Aeoro dry bag which will house my rain gear and sleep system; Sea to Summit Spark Down 15F sleeping bag, Nemo tensor pad, Cocoon inflatable pillow and an Outdoor Research Helium Bivy. The rest of the bags are a hodgepodge of different folks. My handlebar bag is the Swift Industries Catalyst Pack which will hold the majority of my food. I have two feed pouches from Nittany Mountain Works, a local company from my home state of Pennsylvania, which will hold food, drink and whatever else gets dumped there. The little top tube bag comes from Pack Northwest and will house my phone, camera, sunscreen, multitool, chain lube etc. And last but not least my frame pack is from a local gal here in Anchorage, Alaska. It is a Camp Robber LLC custom bag. This will hold a 2.5L water bladder, extra layers, my stove and cup, water filter, battery pack and whatever small items I can stuff in there. For navigation I’m choosing the Coros Dura, which is new to me. We’ll see how it goes.
LUXURY ITEMS: My Sony camera and a stove with a titanium mug for (instant) coffee in the mornings.

Valerio Cecchini

Age 34 / Rome, Lazio (Italy)

BIKE: I’ll be racing on my Chiru Highlander, Penelope, a titanium size M bike with a SRAM GX Eagle 1×12 drivetrain (10-52T cassette, 28T chainring) and DT Swiss M1900 wheels. It features a SON28 dynamo hub, Pirelli Scorpion Trail 2.4″ tubeless tires with Tannus Armour Inserts, and a Manitou Mattoc PRO 120mm fork. Braking is handled by Shimano XT M8120 dual-piston brakes with 180mm rotors. The cockpit includes a CEC titanium handlebar, Vision Clip-On aerobars, SQlab inner bar ends, and Ergon GS2 grips. I ride a Fizik Antares R3 Adaptive saddle with Shimano PD 500 pedals.
BAGS & GEAR: Storage: 57.6L total, including Apidura Expedition Saddlebag (14L), Restrap Handlebar Bag (14L), Tailfin fork bags (2x5L), and a 7L CYCLITE back bag. Water: 5.5L, with bottles, a 2L bladder, a Sawyer filter, and purification pills. Sleep: Alpkit Hunka bivvy, Marmot Hydrogen (-3°C), Sea to Summit ExtremeReactor liner, DoctorGear R=5.4 mat, Emergency bivvy by SOL. Lights: Sinewave Beacon 2, Lezyne 1600 XXL & PRO 1000+, Cerberus rear. Tech: Garmin Edge 850, Fenix 7, InReach Mini 2, iPhone 13, 2×10,000mAh power banks, Anker 45W charger. Weather Protection: ENDURA MT500 II, Specialized Down Jacket, Black Diamond Fleece, and merino wool base layers.

Frederic Chambosse

Age 43 / Lille, Nord (France)

BIKE: I’ll be racing on my Santa Cruz Highball 2019 edition. Bike tested and proven at the 2019 Silk Road Mountain Race. SRAM XO1 Eagle 34T crankset x 10-50T cassette, Race Face Arc rear wheel with a Maxxis Ikon 29 x 2.2″ tyre, Duke Lucky Star HD rear wheel with SON28 dynamo hub and a Maxxis Ikon 29 x 2.2″ tyre. FOX Step-Cast 32 Performance Elite fork, Santa Cruz XC Flat Bar Carbon 31.8 x 750mm with Ergon GA3 grips and Spirgrips, Hope Tech 3 E4 brakes, Bontrager Montrose Elite saddle.
BAGS: Rockgeist seat pack to store Firepot dehydrated food, MSR Pocket Rocket Gas stove, inner tubes, Noronna Trollvegen down jacket, Norrona Fjora dri Pants, Noronna Lyngen Gore-tex Jacket, Zefal Top tube pack for snacks and tools, Camelbak 710 ml Bottles, Miss Grape Ilcoso handlebar bag mount with Trunk 16 WP bag which contains Outdoor Research Helium Bivy, Therm-a-rest Neo Air Xlite Large sleeping pad, Cumulus X Lite 200 sleeping bag (0-4°C), craft thermal underwear in merino wool, Garmin 1040 Solar GPS, Supernova MY99 Pro lighht, E3 Tail light 2, K-Werk Busch and Muller power bank. I’m also bringing a Restrap Race hydration vest containing a first aid kit, two Katadyn water bottles, 1 2L water bag, 1 reflective harness. I’ll wear a Pedaled jersey, shorts and shoes (Odyssey Edition).
LUXURY ITEMS: Hollow fiber inner bag for extra thermal comfort and Muc-off chamois cream to protect my bottom.

Guillaume Chaumont

Age 36 / Brussels (Belgium)

BIKE: I’ll be racing on my Isaac Baryon, a lightweight hardtail equipped with a mechanical SRAM GX groupset, a 32T chainring, and a 10-52T cassette. The wheels are DT Swiss 1700, fitted with 2.25” tubeless Vittoria Mezcal tyres. The fork is a Suntour Raidon. TT bars are from Controltech.
BAGS: I’ll be riding exclusively with Restrap bags: TT bars, canister bag, food pouch, top tube, frame, and saddle bag (Race series, except for the saddle bag, which is a 14L). In total, I’ll have roughly 30L of storage, and I prefer to ride with multiple bags, which allows me to easily access everything. To stay hydrated, I’ll rely on two CamelBaks (one on my back and one in the frame bag) and one bottle, an important water capacity essential for the long stretches without resupply. Regarding gear, in addition to my summer kit, Smith helmet, and sunglasses, I’ll bring all the necessary winter items: a hat, buff, warm jacket, thermal bib, and socks. For sleeping, I’ll rely on my Therm-a-Rest Hyperion 20/-6, a Sea to Summit mattress, and a small pillow. On the electronics side, I’ll navigate with my Wahoo Roam and will rely on an 18,000mAh power bank, along with Lezyne front and rear lights.
LUXURY ITEMS: I’ll carry four pairs of gloves (ranging from summer to extreme winter ones) to ensure maximum comfort and versatility. I’ll also bring an extra pair of transparent sunglasses for night riding, as well as some classic Belgian snacks to remind me of home during tough moments. And finally, I’ll carry a special item made by my daughters!

Miroslav Chrapka

Age 43 / London (UK)

BIKE: I’m riding my Specialized Epic with a RockShox fork and shock, Roval wheels with Race King tyres, SRAM Transmision 30T-52T.
BAGS: My usual mix of Tailfin and Apidura bags, Wahoo Roam to stay on track, Exposure and Nitecore lights for the night, Sea to Summit sleeping bag, Therm-a-Rest pad and MSR bivy for the sleeping, along with plenty of essentials to keep me rolling.
LUXURY ITEMS: Aero bars, to sleep on.

Stefan Cooremans

Age 52 / Flanders, Opwijk (Belgium)

BIKE: Canyon Neuron 7, Shimano XT 1×12, cassette 10-51T, front 30T, DT Swiss wheels, Schwalbe Racing Ray, Rear Racing Ralph, Fox 34 Float Performance 140mm, Fox Float DPS Performance, bar extender for light and GPS.
BAGS: Aeroe Spider Rear Rack, Aeroe Spider Handle bar Cradle, 2x Rhinowalk.
LUXURY ITEM: Inflatable pillow.

Niel Copeland

Age 50 / West Sussex (UK)

BIKE: My companion for this race is the awesome Allied BC40. A full on, full sus, speed machine. She’s called Alice and her claim to fame is that she holds the KoM for the north side descent of Kegity. Drivetrain is Sramano with AXS gears, 10-51T cassette and some new Rotor 160mm cranks. Stopping duties are looked after by SLX brakes. 2 piston at the back and 4 piston up front for those late braking manoeuvres. Wheels courtesy of Salt Carbon Parts shod with Race King 2.2″ tyres. Bouncing parts from Fox. Dropper from Wolf Tooth and a saddle from Reform
BAGS & GEAR: This is a full Tailfin setup with a custom R&D frame bag, race Aeropack, 2.2l long top tube bag and the best part; the handlebar bag. I’ve gone full hotel on this one with a Big Agnes Copper Spur tent, Cumulus sleeping bag, Neoair mat and a Sea to Summit inflatable pillow. This will allow me to get some amazing sleep deep in the Moroccan desert during the cold nights.
LUXURY ITEM: I think an inflatable pillow is a necessity now rather than a luxury so the luxury item is my tent and my proper camera. My goal is to capture the beauty of the experience.

Andres Cordoba

Age 27 / Cuenca, Azuay (Ecuador)

BIKE: I will be riding the bike that used to be my uncle’s. Titanium frame with Shimano Deore brakes and SRAM GX groupset.
BAGS & GEAR: Revelate Designs bags (handlebar, frame and saddle bag). I will take a Garmin Enduro 2 and a Coros Dura for navigation. An emergency blanket and a warm sleeping bag. I will also take two power banks (40k mHa each one). A warm jacket and a waterproof one.
LUXURY ITEM: Condensed milk as energy reserves!

ANIRUDH DAGAR

Age 27 / GHAZIABAD, U.P. (INDIA)

BIKE: I’ll be racing on my 2024 Rose PDQ 2 hardtail (medium). Components include SRAM GX Eagle AXS (10-52T, 32T chainring), RockShox SID 120mm fork and e*thirteen Infinite dropper. I’m running out of the box Newmen Evolution A 30 29″ wheels rocking Maxxis Rekon Race, EXO TR, Dual, 29×2.4 tyres. Cockpit hosts the Deda Parabolica Uno Aerobars on 55mm spacers, trusty SQ labs inner bar ends and Ergon GP3 grips to maximise hand positions. Pedals: Cube All Mountain Flat.
BAGS & GEAR: All storage is Tailfin with the exception of an AGU stem bag for quick snacks. The 14L bar bag holds my sleeping kit; SOL Bivy Bag, Aegis Max Nano2 sleeping bag (5°C comfort, packs small) paired with a sleeping bag liner, and a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite sleeping mat. The AeroPack has spare clothing, food (tactical foodpack, more gels, gummy) and a first aid kit. Half Frame and Top Tube bags carry food, powerbank, camera, and toiletries. DownTube Bag for all repair kit. I also have a Deteur Race16 backpack with enough space for on the go resupplies, a 3L water bladder, Katadyn BeFree Filter 0.6L and electronics. In total, I’ll have upwards of 5L water carrying capacity for long stretches.
LUXURY ITEMS: I have a spare pair of bib shorts and two action cameras.

Federico Damiani

Age 33 / Bassano Del Grappa (Italy)

BIKE: I’ll be using on my Lee Cougan Rampage Innova in the new Enough “Natural reflection” colorway. 10-50T cassette, 34T with Ceramic Speed upgrades for the bottom bracket and oversized pulley. It’s a hard tail with a patented rear system to ensure 30mm travel, the most comfortable system I ever used for long distance off-road races. I’ll be using a Fizik adaptive saddle and aerobars for comfort, while a Supernova B54 Pro is attached to a custom 3d-printed mount I created.
BAGS: I trust my Miss Grape set up, featuring a full frame customized bag, a Cluster 7 saddlebag and a prototype Il Coso handlebar bag. I will also wear a Pas Normal x Salomon vest.
LUXURY ITEMS: Cigars from Tuscany for a nice break during the ride.

VINCENT DROUET

Age 38 / Nantes (France)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my Origine Theoreme Hardtail with Rockshox SID SL SELECT fork. The drivetrain is a mix of SRAM AXS XX1 and X01 (32Tx10-52T). Shimano XTR Brakes. Mavic Crossmax SL rear wheel and a Duke rim with a SON 28 dynamo hub up front. Vittoria Mezcal 2.25″ tyres. My cockpit is fitted with Ergon grips and Pro Missile aerobars with 50mm spacers, offering me multiple hand position options.
BAGS & GEAR: Apidura Expedition 9L saddle bag to carry my sleep kit. Small bag attached to the aerobars for the bivy. Two Apidura Expedition food pouches: one for electronics, the other dedicated to snacks. Revelate Designs full frame bag for clothes, and everything else I probably won’t need but will carry anyway “just in case”. 2x950ml bottles fixed to the fork and a 1.5L bladder inside my Salomon ADV Skin 12 trail backpack. A Klite system will light my way through long nights and charge my electronics during the day. I will use a lightweight sleep system with a Pajak ULZ 5°C comfort sleeping bag, combined with a warm down jacket, a SOL Escape Lite bivy, a Klymit Inertia X Frame mattress, and a Sea to Summit Ultralight Aero pillow. Garmin 1040 for navigation.
LUXURY ITEM: I managed to free up space inside the frame bag for takeaway omelettes.

Stuart Dun

Age 33 / Scotland

BIKE: I’m riding my Trek 920 Touring bike again for my second participation in the Atlas Mountain Race. Shod with my favourite tyre, the 2.25″ Vitoria Mezcal, it coasted over the rocks last time so hopefully the same this year! Gearing is still 2×10 SRAM with disc brakes.
BAGS & GEAR: Since my last AMR I’ve always used the racks with dry bags so keeping them on for the extra stability and flexibility than over filling a seat pack. Rack also allows my Exposure lights to be positioned on a much more secure location. Bags have been collected over time so sticking with my front and rear dry bag for my Alpkit Soloist tent, mat and sleeping bag, Blackburn tail pack for clothing, my trusty Ortlieb front box and Apidura frame bag for tools and everything else. The latest addition is a Apidura top tube bag and Saloman running vest for food drinks and snacks.
LUXURY ITEM: My luxury item is a pair of warm fluffy bed socks and a waterproof notepad velco’d to the front box so I can right down the plan for the next kilometres of the route as well as any thoughts, ideas and cool things that I saw without having to get my phone out.

Felipe Duque

Age 42 / Vienna (Austria)

BIKE: I’ll be racing the Atlas Mountain Race 2025 with Caramba, my beloved Revel Wayward made of titanium paired with a SID Ultimate 120mm travel fork. The wheelset is made up of Duke Racing carbon rims, a Son Dynamo hub up front for powering lights and charging devices, and the silent Onyx Racing hub on the rear. As for the drivetrain, I will shift with Sram Eagle Transmission XX with a 10-52 cassette matched with Ingrid Pop cranks with a 30T chainring. I went down from 2.8″ to 2.4″ tyres for Atlas, so I’ll be racing with Vittoria Mezcal XC Race. The cockpit is Enve M6, Enve carbon seat post, Sram Code Ultimate 4 piston brakes, and the most comfortable grips I have ever used: the SQ Labs 710 with inner bar ends. The saddle is the classic Brooks C15 carved: more comfy, impossible! I won’t be using aero bars. As for lights, I mounted a K-Lite Adventure lamp with a USB charger for peace of mind, and a Fenix HM65R on the helmet for extra support in the dark hours. And finally, to navigate, I have a Garmin 840 and a Karoo 2 as a backup.
BAGS: As for bags, I have a mix of different brands. Neza, from What Happened, did the frame and hip bags, and a fantastic garment: a customised bikepacking vest—all this gear for easy access to water, snacks and a lightweight jacket. Tailfin on both front and rear for carrying a Katabatic sleeping system, extra clothes and more food, and on the down tube, another Tailfin bag for tools and spare parts (I hope I don’t have to open it!). Gramm top tube bag for electronics, and la pièce de résistance are the candy bags my girl made and filled with Haribos.
LUXURY ITEM: A small Sony RX100-III digital camera.

RENE EBERHART

Age 40 / OBERURSEL (GERMANY)

BIKE: I’ll be racing (travelling…) on my new 2025 Cube Reaction C:62 Hardtail. Full XT Lineup with 203mm rotor to accommodate my weight. Got Newmen Rims with SON Dynamo Hub and trustworthy Vittoria Mezcal 2.35″ tires. Cockpit with small Aerobars, mostly used to tightly fix the Bar Bag.
BAGS & GEAR: As usual Tailfin is my choice, except Bar Bag with Ortlieb. Sleep Kit with Rab 400 Down and Rab Ride Raider Bivy, S2S Ultralight Insulated, Pillow and Liner all packed in the Bar Bag. Tools in Small Downtube Bag and Clothing and Hygiene in the Aeropack. Food and drink will be in my Evoc Vest and FrameBag. Top Tube Bag holds my electronic stuff.
LUXURY ITEMS: I’ll bring my Insta360 X4, hopefully resulting in some nice images. And I’ll bring my MP3 player still with some tracks from the inaugural HMR to give me motivation.

Jonathan Elliot

Age 48 / West Hobart, Tasmania (Australia)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my Muru Innaminka Ti with a Hope headset, BB, V4 brakes, and Evo crankset, paired with a Rohloff hub and Gates belt drive. My DT Swiss XM421 wheels, laced with 32 spokes roll on Vittoria Mezcal (rear) and Barzo (front) 2.35” tyres, with Air Liner Light cores and Joe’s sealant for puncture protection. A SON28 dynamo hub powers KLite front and rear lights. I’m running a Redshift Endurance Pro Seatpost, WTB Volt Ti saddle, Salsa 17° sweep bars, Ergon GS2 grips, and a Fox 34 fork.
BAGS: A Protostudia Ti rear rack holds Mount Laurel Designs panniers with clothes and gear, and an MLD front roll will hold my sleep system: Western Mountaineering Summerlite bag, MLD liner, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite pad, Exped pillow and SOL Lite bivvy. My Apidura 6L frame bag carries two USWE 2L water bladders, food, sunscreen, chamois creme, a Blackburn core mini-pump, and 2 x Maxxis welterweight tubes. One Rockgeist feedbag holding gels. My custom top tube bag (by Paul Jager) stores electronics, KLite connector, Nitecore NU53 headlamp, Soundcore X20 earbuds, and a Nitecore Summit 20,000mAh cache battery, keeping my Garmin 1040 Solar, phone and other electronics topped up. I’ll be wearing MAAP Alt Road bibs and jersey, KUIU buff, Endura aerogel short gloves, Rapha brevet socks, Specialized Rime 2 shoes, and an Evoc Hip Pack Pro 3 with a bladder giving me 6L+ water capacity for the long stretches.
LUXURY ITEM: an inflatable pillow and two pairs of earbuds for entertainment endurance during the long nights.

Mark Fenwick

Age 45 / Dorset (UK)

BIKE: My second attempt at Atlas see’s me return with my very much “broken in” 2023 Santa Cruz Blur XX SL AXS TR RSV. Opting this year for Maxxis Aspen 2.25″ tyres on Reserve 29er carbon wheels. Zipp Carbon aero bars upfront on an SQLabs bar with some added SQLabs carbon 411R Innerbarends to vary the comfort. Old Man Mountain Axle Pack attached to the Fox 34 SC forks for my hydration. Exposure Race light system will cover off the dark nights.
BAGS: Huge shout out to Steve at Moatt sails who made me a custom frame and top tube bag. They are sublime. Upfront, I’m making use of the new Tailfin bar bag system finished off with an Apidura Backcountry 10L saddle bag. These are complemented by Restrap stem bags for food and snacks on the go. Tools and spares are taken care of in the underside bottle cage, which doubles up as an extra bottle if needed.
LUXURY ITEM: I’ve saved over a decent sized slab of Christmas Cake for when the going gets tough.

Michael Gaffey

Age 49 / Boston, Massachusetts (USA)

BIKE: Seven Sola S hardtail mostly XTR with Fox 32 step-cast suspension fork, Envy flat bar, Whisky No.9 36w Rims with Mezcal XC trail tires 29 x 2.35″, SON Dynamo hub, rear DT Swiss hub 180, 1×12, 30T chainring, 11-51T cassette, Redshift suspension seat post, Selle Italia SLR Superflow saddle and Exposure Revo light.
BAGS: CamelBak Chase 8 Vest (2L bladder), Topeak frontloader handlebar bag, Bontrager top tube bag (Sinewave Revolution charger), Moosetreks stem feed bags, Ortlieb frame 6L (3L bladder, pump) and 16.5L seat bag (sleeping kit).
LUXURY ITEM: Ti frame.

Raphael Gassmann

Age 35 / Lucerne (Switzerland)

BIKE: Specialized Epic World Cup, modified parts are: 30T chainring paired with SRAM Eagle 10-52T cassette, carbon crankset, SQlab inner barends, Ergon grips, PRO aerobars with SRAM Satellite shifters, Supernova front and rear lights, Klite switch paired with Sinewave Cycles USB charger, SON dynamo hub, Vittoria Mezcal tubeless 2.35″ tires.
BAGS: Dispersed handlebar roll, Choike Jumbo stem bags, Restrap top tube (long 2L), Bicicaja custom frame bag ‘The Hermit’, Apidura saddle bag 7L and down tube bag 1.2L. Dynafit trail running vest with 2L bladder.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: A larger titanium spoon to get the last bit of peanut butter out of the bottom of every jar.

MARIE GEST

Age 41 / THOUARS, DEUX-SEVRES (FRANCE)

BIKE: I’ll be riding a CHIRU Kegeti, equipped with a FOX 32 Float SC 29 Performance fork with 100mm travel. The braking system consists of SHIMANO XT 8100 brakes with 160 mm rotors. The drivetrain is a SHIMANO GRX 12-speed mechanical setup, paired with a 10-51T cassette. The crankset is a ROTOR model, featuring a 30T oval chainring and 170mm aluminum Kapic crank arms. The cockpit includes a 42cm ERGOTEC gravel drop bar and an SMP gel saddle for optimal comfort. The wheels are SCOPE R2.O off-road, fitted with Vittoria Mezcal 2.25″ tires. Lastly, a CHIRU titanium seat post completes this setup, designed for both performance and endurance.
BAGS & GEAR: I’m using a carefully selected bag setup to maximize functionality and storage. At the rear, an Ortlieb saddle bag carries my sleep system, which includes a Sea to Summit sleeping bag a mat Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite as well as a Millet bivy. Up front, a handlebar bag holds my rain gear; a Salewa rain jacket and Gore rain pants, along with warm layers, including a Specialized down jacket and IceBreaker merino tights. Inside the frame, a Miss Grape Internode 5L frame bag stores electronics and food, while a second Miss Grape bag mounted underneath the down tube carries my repair kit. Two food pouches provide easy access to snacks throughout the ride. For hydration, I rely on a hydration pack, complemented by two water bottles mounted on the fork for extra carrying capacity.
LUXURY ITEMS: Black Diamond mittens and Verjari socks to face the cold nights of the Atlas!

Tom Gibbs

Age 40 / Bristol (UK)

BIKE: I’ll be riding a Team Marin 2 XC Aluminium hardtail with a 100mm Rockshox Reba Fork. Groupset is XT mech, XT crank, SLX shifter and brakes. I’ll be using Redshift aero bars with Profil Design 70mm risers to get the position nice and high. I’m running an SP Dynamo on Halo Vapour rims with Klite MTB light, rear blinkers and for power bank charging. Navigation is the awesome latest Hammerhead Karoo with super-long battery capacity.
BAGS: I’m using a mix of Tailfin, Ortlieb, and Brooks bags to give me fully waterproof and super stable carrying capacity. I don’t like wearing a hydration vest so I’m carrying 2 x 1L water bottles on the sides of the down tube. I’m particularly pleased with how using Tailfin straps enabled mounting the bottle cages directly to the down tube without eyelets. The Tailfin bags and especially the aero pack are without doubt the best bags I’ve used. I’m using a Sea to Summit Spark 2 which is good for down to -1 degree Celsius. I’ll be sleeping on a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir with Snugpack Bivi.
LUXURY ITEMS: My luxury item is the combination of a Redshift Suspension Seatpost with a 3D printed Specialized Power Mirror Saddle. Ultimate comfort!

Miron Golfman

Age 32 / Anchorage, Alaska (USA)

BIKE: Trek, Supercaliber Gen 1. Drivetrain: Sram GX mechanical – shifter, derailleur, cassette, chain. Cranks: Hope carbon 170. Chainring: Hope Spiderless 34. Brakes: Hope Tech 4 X2. Rotors: Hope Floating 160 F&R. Fork: Fox 38 stepcast. Shock: IsoStrut. Stem: Redshift Suspension Stem 70mm. Bars: Hope carbon. Grips: ESI Extra Chunky. Saddle: SWorks. Seatpost: Hope carbon. Wheels: Hunt Proven Carbon XC Dynamo. Tires Maxxis Aspen F&R
BAGS: Tailfin 3L extended top tube bag, Tailfin custom frame bag, Tailfin mini aero pack, Salomon 12L hydration vest.
LUXURY ITEM: Sea to Summit Ether Lite sleeping pad.

Sebastian Golisch

Age 35 / Cologne (Germany)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my Sour Pasta Party with 120mm Fox 34 Fork, Hope brakes, 1×12 Sram X01 Drive train with 32T chainring and 10-50T cassette, Vittoria Mezcal tires.
BAGS & GEAR: The framebag is made by a good friend and I just love it. In the Tailfin Aeropack I carry my comfy sleep system consisting of Cumulus Lite Line 300, Therm-a-Rest NeoAir and Outdoor Research Helium Bivy. All my electronics are in my Tailfin top tube bag. Lighting system is from Fenix. I will also use a supply vest from Carrie Gere to carry all my snacks.
LUXURY ITEM: second bibshort.

MEAGHAN HACKINEN

Age 40 / KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA (CANADA)

BIKE: I’ll be racing on my brand new Salsa Cutthroat C Force CO AXS Transmission with a 10-52T cassette and 34T chainring. I’ve opted for super wide Light Bicycle WG44 carbon rims, laced with a SON dynamo hub in the front and Hope Pro 5 rear hub. The dynamo is paired with my dependable kLite, and I’m running 2.2” Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge tires filled with Rene Herse sealant. To amplify comfort, I’m using Redshift Sports Cruise Control Under-Tape Grips and ShockStop suspension stem, as well a heat-molded Reform saddle, plus aerobars.
BAGS & GEAR: I’m using Apidura Backcountry Series packs: my electronics and hygiene items are stored in the 2L long top tube bag; 7mesh Mission jacket, warmer layers, and sleep kit (RAB Mythic sleeping bag paired with SOL bivy and a homemade mat) are packed in the 6L seat post pack; the 4L full-frame pack holds my 3L water reservoir, first aid kit, and small clothing items; my tools, repair kit, and spare parts are in the 1L down tube pack; resupply is stored in a 1.2L feed sack (plus my pockets). I’m also bringing Apidura’s super tiny 13L packable backpack for end-of-day or bulky resupply.
LUXURY ITEM: Downloaded playlist of my fav Detours podcast episodes.

Lars Henning

Age 44 / South Oxfordshire (UK)

BIKE: Santa Cruz Highball C Frame, SID Ultimate SL Fork, Hunt XC Wheels, 11-Speed Shimano.
BAGS: My bags are Mostly Apidura Backcountry except the frame bag is by Alpamayo. This will be my first time riding with aero bars more than a short ride. I figure it’s worth a try to minimize numb hands. I’ve used some PVC pipe to hack some mounts for the GPS, headlight and camera. I really hope it doesn’t fall apart or try to kill me!
LUXURY ITEMS: No one will know I am carrying an inflatable pillow.

Jeppe Hjort

Age 48 / Copenhagen (Denmark)

BIKE: I’ll be racing a homemade bike, based on a used frame and fork (2017 FOX SC), that I sanded down and refreshed with some new paint. Components include SRAM AXS Transmission, 10-52T cassette, 36T oval chainring, Wheels are handbuilt with carbon rims on a DT Swiss 240 rear hub and a SON dynamo in the front, wrapped in 2.25″ Vittoria Mezcal Trail tires. Up front I have a carbon riser bar with inner barends and a Profile design aerobar with 3d printed extensions for my long arms. Saddle is a Fizik Terra Argo X3 and lastly, I am running a full Klite Light and USB charger system connected to the dynamo. Navigation is with a Garmin 1040 Solar.
BAGS: Centerpiece is a custom frame bag from 7Roads (Ukraine) with space for a 3L Apidura water bladder in the bottom and food + gear on the top, on the bag, I have a 10L Revelate Spinelock saddlebag, containing my down sleeping bag, NeoAir mat, Alpkit Hunka XL bivy and pillow. Toptube bag is a large Tailfin bag for food and charging and I have two food pouches up front from Apidura containing more water and food. Repair kit will be in an old bottle below the downtube.
LUXURY ITEMS: My 5″ thick mat and a inflatable pillow. It takes up a lot of space, but I sleep like an angel!

Dimitri Hoebreckx

Age 45 / Zoutleeuw, Flanders (Belgium)

BIKE: Scott Scale drop-bar custom build, SRAM GX AXS Eagle transmission, 32T chainring, 52x10T cassette. Rival shifters with SRAM Level brakes, RockShox SID front suspension, KLite front light with usb connection to charge electronics connected to a SON dynamo hub, Pirelli Scorpion 2.2″ tires, Garmin Edge 1040 solar.
BAGS: Aeroe spider rear rack with 7L Ortlieb dry bag to keep Sea to Summit spark down sleeping bag and sleeping mat. Possibility to strap additional water bottles if needed. Blackburn 6L framebag for clothes and additional space for food. Zefal large 2L top tube bag for electronics, Ortlieb accessory pack for small items and food. Agu foodpouch. Repair kit bag strapped under the saddle with SKG strap anywhere bottle holder. Go’Lum headlight strapped to the helmet. 3L water bladder in a Salomon backpack with 2 x 50ml flasks.
LUXURY ITEMS: The unmatched playlist of Flemisch shlager music.

John Holtschneider

Age 49 / Medford, Oregon (USA)

BIKE: My Tanglefoot Hardtack is gearing up for another adventure! After everything it’s gotten me out of and through, leaving it behind just wouldn’t feel right (also, I have one bike, so there’s that). I tried to choose components that echo the Hardtack’s durability and resilience: Soma Uno bar-end shifter (1×12), Velocity Cliffhanger rims, Paul Component Klampers, and White Industries hubs and crank. A huge thanks to James at Analog Cycles for offering some setup suggestions for what I’m mistakenly calling “fun.”
BAGS: My giant Rockgeist half-frame bag will be doing the heavy lifting, with help from a Salsa EXP Anything setup on the bars, a Revelate Designs Terrapin bag in the back, and a Dirtbags feedbag for the odds and ends.
LUXURY ITEM: I’m bringing a couple of Kleen Kanteen water bottles. There is no bigger luxury than not having to drink out of warm plastic.

Eric House

Age 36 / Conroe, Texas (USA)

BIKE: Surly tried and true Karate Monkey (eggplant) Single Speed 32x18T.
BAGS & GEAR: Custom South City Stitchworks’ colorful bags comfortably hug the frame, Old Man Mountain’s Elkhorn rack, and the hand-crafted titanium Doom Bars. The sleep set consists of the Big Agnes 30 degree bag wrapped by the Outdoor Research bivy. Klite’s system keeps the roads bright and my electronics charged.
LUXURY ITEMS: The monkey is equipped with my Arkansas Doom gremlin bell and my ghostly buddy, Bella Boo. Also, my duel bell keeps the wolves at bay (all bikes deserve a good bell).

Josh Ibbett

Age 36 / Cambridgeshire (UK)

BIKE: The bike is the same bike as I used for the 2024 edition of the Atlas Mountain Race. This is one of the first unpainted samples of the brand new Mason Macro mountain bike. I was hoping for a production frame, but they won’t quite arrive in time for the race, so I’m riding the original frame again. I’ve fitted a new SID Ultimate fork and a pair of the new HUNT Proven XC Dynamo wheels but aside from that the bike is pretty much identical. I’ve fitted a fresh set of tyres, opting for Hutchinson Skeleton 2.3″ this year. Lighting is provided by the KLite system and I’ve also managed to get my hands on the new KLite Pro charging system.
BAGS: Bags are provided by Tailfin. I’m part of the Tailfin R&D team so am lucky enough to be fitted out with some prototype and custom bags. Sleeping gear is a PHD sleeping bag with a custom RAB bivvi bag and a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir mattress. Clothing is supplied by Albion, with various layers depending on temperature and conditions. I will decide my final kit list the day before the race when I’ve seen the local forecast.
LUXURY ITEMS: A titanium spoon and a packet of freeze dry porridge.

Niels Ihrman

Age 39 / Knegsel, Noord-Brabant (The Netherlands)

BIKE: Specialized Epic HT, SRAM GX/NX 12-speed. The tyres are Maxxis Ikon Race, 2.35″ wide, set up tubeless with Orange Seal Endurance sealant. The bike is roughly the same as for AMR 2024, with some tweaks. I’ve updated the aerobars to Profile Design T4+, where the elbow pads can be adjusted independently. Other upgrades include a brand new Hunt wheelset with dynamo hub, powering a Klite ultra v2 and a new set of Shimano M8120 platform pedals, I’ve heard too many horror stories of exploding pedals lately.
BAGS & GEAR: Tailfin Aeropack and toptube bag. Apidura backcountry full frame pack (4L) and downtube pack. My sleep kit fits in the front roll. (not pictured) This year I’ve switched from a fixed roll to a Revelate Designs harness, so I packing up after a too short sleep should be somewhat faster. 2×750 ml bottles on the fork, and a Camelback Chase with 2l bladder. I’m also carrying a 1L spare bladder for a little extra capacity in the most remote sections.
LUXURY ITEMS: Cane Creek suspension seat post and a full size Exped inflatable sleeping mat.

Erik Jensen

Age 65 / Caledon, Ontario (Canada)

BIKE: 2022 CUBE Elite C:68X SLT Carbon Hardtail Cross-country race. Fork: RockShox SID RL. Gearing: Sram’s wireless AXS Eagle 1×12 transmission front 30T cassette 10-52T. Brakes: Magura MT8 SL hydraulic. Mix: Garmin 1040 backup Wahoo element. Ego grip, redshift Suspension seat-post, Salomon ACTIVE SKIN 8 backpack. Wheels: front wheel, one composite out of Kamloops, British Columbia rear wheel Newmen Advanced SL X.A.25 Carbon, 28/28. Tires: 2.35 Maxxis Rekon Race. Lights: Dynamo SON 28 front hub to power lights kLite Ultra Adventure lamp and charge electronics. Combined with Exposure Diablo 14.
BAGS & GEAR: Revelate Designs Ripio Bike Frame Bag and 10L Spinelock seat post bag. Top tube bar Cyclite. Therm-a-rest 1/2 sleeping pad.
LUXURY ITEMS: Down pants.

Eric Kampherbeek

Age 45 / Utrecht (The Netherlands)

BIKE: A Kona Honzo with a 12-speed SLX groupset. 30T chainring and 10-51T cassette. Very happy with my HUNT/SON dynamo wheel and KLite front light and USB-charger. I’m running Schwalbe 2.35″ inch Racing Ray and Ralph tubeless tires. Hope my bottom enjoys the Redshift Shockpost suspension seat post.
BAGS & GEAR: Mostly Tailfin bags. Really love them. For the rest: Lightweight and tiny tent Nordisk Lofoten, Sea to summit -1 degrees down sleeping bag, Garmin 840 for navigation. Including my Camelbag I can carry up to 6L of water.
LUXURY ITEM: A tent instead of a bivy bag is quite luxurious.

Don Keller

Age 68 / Hailey, Idaho (USA)

BIKE: I will be riding my XL Scott Spark RC with a Shimano XLT 10-52T build kit. The only modification to the original build is Egron GP3 Grips and Vittoria Mezcal XC-race 29 x 2.25″ tires.
BAGS: My main bags will be Revelate Designs Terrapin 14L Seat Bag, a Ranger Frame Bag and 2 Mountain Feedbags. In addition, I have a Rogue Panda Dark Sky XL Alamo top tube bag.
LUXURY ITEMS: Listerine (Cool Mint) and my wool Long Johns PJs.

Marcin Kepka

Age 43 / Gdansk (Poland)

BIKE: I’ll be racing the Atlas Mountain Race on a Specialized Epic Evo, equipped with Continental Race King Protection tires and a 1×12 SRAM GX AXS drivetrain. A SON dynamo hub will power my kLite light up front and keep my electronics charged.
BAGS & GEAR: Tailfin Aeropack in the back and a Restrap top tube bag. I’ve kept the cockpit clean again this time, so we’ll see how aero it feels. My shelter setup includes an SOL Emergency bivy, a Cumulus X-Lite 200 sleeping bag, and a Camp sleeping pad. For navigation, I’ll be using a Garmin 1040.
LUXURY ITEM: A pair of Bluetooth earbuds, for an occasional music boost or a podcast while grinding up a climb.

Bryan Kevan

Berkeley, California (USA)

BIKE: This is my parts bin Surly Lowside, ‘Herodirtus’, in Dream Tangerine. Its natural state is a singlespeed, but it does have a hanger below its sliding dropouts, so I have temporarily slapped on a derailleur and an 11-42T 11-speed cassette, upgrading it to ‘Herodirtus Maximus’. The geometry is charming. The fork is a very weathered, last-gen MRP Baxter with 40mm of travel. 27.5″ Carbon rims because, on an oversized Surly BMX bike, why not? A Schmidt dynamo and a bright blue Sinewave Beacon 2 to match the PNW grips. I absolutely adore it.
BAGS: Revelate Designs all around, Swift in the rear. A nifty metal seat loop made by Carradice keeps things extra stable. I don’t like jostling bags or bottles hanging off the tubes, so everything is tied down pretty tight.
LUXURY ITEM: Multiple pairs of gloves.

Eoghan Kieran

Age 50 / Galway (Ireland)

BIKE: My trusty and well travelled 2022 Specialized Epic Evo, full suspension, stock Shimano XTR components, Rovel carbon wheels, Son hub and Klite lighting. Maxxis Rekon on the front and Rekon Race on the rear. Profile design aero bars for cockpit and resting hands.
BAGS & GEAR: Well worn Ortlieb seat pack QR, for emergency stuff, sleep equipment and down jacket, never leave home without it. Apidura top tube bag for cables, battery pack, phone, sun cream and small maintenance stuff. This year, I will be using the 14.L Tailfin bar bag for clothes. I won’t need anything like all 14L but it will be nice to have the option. I’m hoping it is more stable than my former self made, dry bag, strap system. Lastly, are two water bottles and tool kit. Food in Decathlon food pouch and small hydration vest.
LUXURY ITEM: Rab inflatable pillow. Squashes down to nothing but it is nice to have.

Michael Kneip

Age 41 / Berlin (Germany)

BIKE: For my first AMR race, I will be using the KOCMO MCM Titanium MTB with a TI stem, TI bar, TI seatpost, DT Swiss XRC 1501 wheelset, a DT Swiss 110 mm fork, and a SRAM XX EAGLE transmission with a 32T chainring, complemented by SCHWALBE Racing Ralph 2.25″ tires.
BAGS: My gear includes a TAILFIN Bar Bag (M), a long top tube bag, and an AeroPack for storage, along with lighting provided by a SON Dynamo, Ladelux, LUPINE Piko, and Rotlicht. I’ll have a PEAK DESIGN mobile mount for my phone, a USWE Hydration Vest Rush 8 for hydration, and sleeping gear consisting of a Sea to Summit Spark SP1 and a Therm-a-Rest Uberlite, while navigation will be managed by my HAMMERHEAD Karoo 3.
LUXURY ITEMS: As a luxury item, I’ll be bringing my DIY custom carbon aerobar and foot warmer to enhance my racing experience. I’m excited and ready to go!

Jami Koukku

Age 48 / Finland

BIKE: Racing on my adventure/gravel bike Curve GMX+ titanium with 550mm Walmer bars. Mainly SRAM components including Apex 12-speed derailleur, 11-50T back and 34T front, Apex brake levers with Level stealth 4-piston calipers. Wheels are aluminium 29″ DT Swiss EX1501 rims wrapped in Vittoria Mezcal 2.35″ tires. Son hub dynamo at front to power KLite lights back and front.
BAGS: Tailfin top tube flip bag, Rockgeist mountain tour 52Hz XL waterproof frame bag, Revelate Designs saddle bag and Ortlieb handlebar bag. Tailfin fork cage bags hold my food storage, starting with 7K kcal. I won’t be carrying a backpack so all food and water (max 4.7L) will be on the bike.
LUXURY ITEM: Haribo candies to keep wheels turning.

ALEX KOWALSKI

Age 31 / Fayetteville, Arkansas (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be taking on the Atlas Mountain Race aboard my Black Sheep 29er hardtail. Singlespeed setup with a mix of SQlabs, Thomson and Profile Designs components making up the cockpit. Paul Klampers will be stopping this train. Rolling on a conti cross king and race king combo.
BAGS: Rocking some super rad prototype harness/dry bag setups for the Mica Rat Tail rear rack and aero bar from South City Stitchworks. I’m really happy with how these turned out and excited to get them dirty. Sleep kit and layers will be split between the two SCSW bags while the Dispersed Bikepacking frame bag and full top tube bag will house all the calories, repair kit, electronics and hygiene kit.
LUXURY ITEM: I always ride with a speaker. Music keeps me sane and alert on loooooong rides.

MARK KOWALSKI

Age 38 / LONDON (UK)

BIKE: My first MTB, a full-sus brainless 2023 Specialized Epic Evo Expert. A choice inspired by other riders. It was Alexander Kopp who I first noticed on an Epic (during TARno1). I was chatting with Adrien Lechti on TCRno10 who quoted Alex as saying something along the lines of, “If you want to keep riding these races, you need to survive them”. Stock components, but for: 2.2” Continental RaceKings, AbsoluteBlack 30t oval chainring (w/ 10-52), 31.8mm bore 20mm rise Sixpack Racing Millenium 805 bars, Profile Design 43A aerobars with homemade Aero Bread Basket netting, SQLabs 410 2.0 innerbarends, Ergon GA3 grips, Exposure Six Pack Mk14 & Diablo (front), Lezyne 150 Strip & Cateye Tight Kinetic (rear), 3M 680 black reflective tape, Lezyne Power Cages (thanks bicycle_factory).
BAGS & GEAR: I will be flying the Palestinian and Ukrainian flags via a custom framebag handmade by YeahNahThreadworks. Ty is a master. I reached out to him with this idea and asked if he could do it only using offcuts. When he didn’t have white, only grey, he found some red fabric with a white underside. It came together perfectly—we were both super stoked. If I am saying anything it’s that we need to talk about these things. The world is hurting so much right now. You can’t be silent. As for the rest, thank you to my coach, Niel Copeland (Turn Cycling), for lending me his Tailfin (and for his constant support and answering a bazillion questions these last 3 months). Josie Allchin (Apidura) for finding me a haul of bags to borrow, from which I chose a Backcountry handlebar pack (7L). Tim Owen, who lent me his Apidura top tube bag (for TCRno10, which I need to return! Thanks Tim!). And Nick Hulse, who parted with his unused Therm-a-Rest NeoAir to help ward off my freezing to death. I will start the race with ~10,000kcal of food (trail mix, Luchos, porridge, Party Rings, bars, and 600g of Malto/Fructose/MCT/Kool-Aid powder), and 3.4L of water storage + 1L Platypus + Tailfin AP Mount to strap a 1L bottle to.
LUXURY ITEM: I forgot it at home. Normally I take a little face cloth for sponge baths.

Jonas Kretschmer

Age 25 / Villingen-Schwenningen, Baden-Württemberg (Germany)

BIKE: Right before the AMR I enrolled in a framebuilding course by “Big Forest Framework” in Potsdam. There I built this steel frame which I will use for the race. I built it up with a RockShox SID Ultimate 120mm fork, Shimano XT 1×12 drivetrain, and Shimano XT brakes. I will use aerobars and innerbarends.
BAGS & GEAR: In a last minute sewing project I made the framebag with a 3L bladder inside. I hope my sewing skills were good enough and the framebag will survive the race. The rest is a mix of Revelate Designs, Ortlieb, Tailfin and Acepac.
LUXURY ITEM: Nothing special, maybe just my Sony camera.

Vic Lagu

Age 28 / Caen, Normandie (France)

BIKE: My bike is a handmade hardtail by Cycle Soca. I’m using a mix of Shimano, Deore rear derrailleur and cassette, SLX crankset and an XTR lever. I have built my wheels with DTswiss EX471 rims, SON28 Dynamo hub to the front and aive rear hub. Vittoria Mezcal tires on both. I have a Redshift Shockstop seat post under my BBB saddle. For my cockpit, I have Spirgrips, Deda parabolica aero bars, and Ergon grips. My dynamo wheel powers a Sinawave Beacon.
BAGS & GEAR: my favourite piece is my framebag from Compackt bags, totally custom bag with TZip, water compartment, ect. I have the classic and robust Ortlieb saddle bag were I put my sleeping stuff (wilsa ultra down, bivy, silk liner and Sea to Summit mattress). To the front I have a little Rapha bag I don’t know if I’ll bring it for the race.
LUXURY ITEM: I’m bringing a chicken toy on my saddle bag! I hope it appreciate the view! I need to choose a name for him/her!

Enrico Lionello

Age 54 / Galway (Ireland)

BIKE: Titus Silk Road titanium size XL. SRAM GX Eagle 12-speed with twist shifter. Magura MT5 (ebike version) brakes. Cannondale Lefty Ocho 100. Vittoria ATLAS tires 2.6″. SQ Lab 30x flat bars. Genius front rack Racktime. Fenix lights x3: one on the bars, one on the camelbag shoulder, one the helmet (rear). Shimano 50/50 pedals. Secret weapon 26T front chainring. Secret weapon no.2 family picture on the handlebar. Deda aero bars.
BAGS: Blackburn Large frame bag, Blackburn seat bag, Decathlon top tube bag. On-one / Decathlon feed bags on the bars.
LUXURY ITEMS: Mini phone tripod. Hopefully I can take ten good pictures.

Matthias Ludwig

Age 40 / Munich (Germany)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my Basic Bikes Monster Gravel, an all-carbon drop-bar mountain bike. Drivetrain includes SRAM XX1 cranks with a 36T chainring and a SRAM X01 derailleur combined with a super wide ZTTO 9-50T cassette. For stopping I trust the unbeaten Hope RX4 4-piston brakes, operated by SRAM Force levers. The Rock Shox SID Ultimate 100mm suspension fork makes riding off-road very enjoyable and the super bright Supernova M99 (powered from a SP hub dynamo) brightens the long nights. Finally a pair of Profile Design Aerobars relieves my hands on the few flat sections.
BAGS: I’m running a wild mix of bags that I started loving over time. Main storage is in a Tailfin AeroPack. In the upper half of my bike frame I use a custom made bag (thanks Mum!) and below the aero bar the awesome Handle Bar Aero Bag by Cyclite. Beside two bottles in the frame, I’m wearing the Hydration Vest by Pedaled.
LUXURY ITEM: a black roll massage ball.

Simon Ludwig

Age 38 / Osnabrueck (Germany)

BIKE: I will be riding the Atlas Mountain Race on a custom MTB I got last minute from a passionate biker. It’s built on a no-name carbon frame and has a SRAM GX Eagle 1×12 drivetrain with 11-52T cassette and a 34T chainring. The wheelset is a Crankbrothers Cobalt 3 with twin-pair spokes. I will change the tyres to Vittoria Mezcal 29 x 2.25”.
BAGS: I made the framebag myself. In it I’ll carry a lot of food (mainly porridge and couscous meals, that are delicious even when cold soaked) + repair kit and other small stuff. In the big saddle bag from Topeak is all of my sleep kit, which consists of a DIY down quilt, silk liner, NeoAir Xlite, a groundsheet and a DIY transparent polycryo tarp to watch the stars and enjoy better protection against the elements. DIY carbon stakes (2g each). Under the aerobars, I’ll add a small bag for clothes. Two candy bags (Rhinowalk) are for water, snacks and a roasted onions container to coldsoak the meals. The top tube bag contains 2x 10,000mAh Powerbanks, cables and fast charger. For hydration I’ll use my Aonijie Trailrunning Vest with 2 x 600ml soft flasks + 1.6l on the fork + 800ml mixed with electrolytes in the food pouch.
LUXURY ITEMS: Padpal pump (9g) for the NeoAir to save some breaths for the long ascents.

Alex MacLean

Age 28 / Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my Salsa Timberjack XT, size large, mostly with stock components. Drivetrain and brakes are all Shimano, and a mixture of SLX and XT. I’ve got a 12-speed 10-51T cassette in the back, and a 30T chainring upfront. Wheels are both DT Swiss XM481 with a DT Swiss 240 EXP hub in the back and a SON 28 dynamo hub in the front, connected to a Sinewave Beacon 2 for lights and charging. As for tires, I’m running a set of 2.25″ Maxxis with an Aspen on the rear and a Rekon Race on the front. As for bars, I have a 780mm purple Chromag OSX MTB bar with Profile Design aerobars on 60mm risers, SQ Lab inner bar ends, and Ergon GP2 grips. Saddle is from my 2011 Specialized Allez. I have no idea what model it is, but it’s worked well for me in the past. I’m pairing it with a REDshift Shockstop Pro Endurance Suspension Seatpost for added comfort.
BAGS: I’m running a variety of different bags on my bike: a small 2.5L Decathlon seatpost bag, a 6.0L Apidura frame bag, a 3.0L Tailfin downtube bag, a small (~0.5L) Evoc top tube bag at the back of my top tube, a 1.4L Revelate Designs Mag-Tank 2000 at the front of my top tube, two Decathlon feed pouches on either side of my stem, a 12.0L ADV Skin Salomon trail running vest, and the crown jewel, a custom aerobag harness by my friend Phil at Thrill Supply Company holding an 8.0L Sea to Summit dry bag. I’m storing my water in a 3.0L Apidura bladder in my frame bag, as well as two flasks on the vest. My sleep kit will be in the aerobar bag. I opted to use the vest to hold my layers instead of water to keep the extra weight on my sit bones to a minimum. I’ll keep some emergency base layers in the seat pack as well. Easy access stuff such as electronics, sunscreen, and snacks will be in the front top tube bag and feed pouches. The rear top tube bag will hold my pharmacy. The downtube bag will hold heavy, rarely accessed items such as my repair kit, and maybe a few spare calories.
LUXURY ITEMS: I guess I’d have to go with my sleeping bag liner, though I’m toying with the idea of leaving it behind in Marrakech. If it doesn’t come with me, then my luxury items are probably a few hand and toe warmers.

Patrick Majerle

Age 38 / Ravensburg (Germany)

BIKE: SCOTT Scale RC Team Issue with a SRAM X01 AXS EAGLE 1×12 Drivetrain (32T chainring and a 10-52T cassette), and Shimano XT pedals. Front tire: Maxxis Rekon, back tire: Maxxis Rekon Race as tubeless set-up on DT Swiss wheels. SON Dynamo Hub, front light Edelux II and Bumm e-werk for charging electronic devices like my Wahoo Elmnt Bolt. A Lupine Blika so I can turn the night into day thanks to my friends from the Saikls-Team! ZIPP Vuka Aerobars.
BAGS & GEAR: OR bivy, Sea to Summit Spark sleeping bag, and Therm-a-Rest air mattress. Bags and Hydration vest from Apidura. Clothing by Platzangst.
LUXURY ITEM: A dropper post for shredding some mule paths.

David Malfliet

Age 34 / Waasmunster, Flanders (Belgium)

BIKE: I’ll be racing my ORBEA ALMA HT MTB wit a FOX 32 100mm suspension fork. My drivetrain is a mix. The chainring is an ABSOLUTE BLACK 32T, cassette is a 10-52T XX1 from SRAM just like the chain. Rear derailleur is a SRAM GX AXS. My cranks are SHIMANO XT with a 4iiii power meter and my brakes are also Shimano XT. The rear wheel is an OQUO carbon rim with a DT-SWISS 350 hub that includes a 54T ratchet, in the front I’ll have a DUKE aluminum rim with a SON dynamo hub to wake up my K-LITE and charge my electronics. The tires are VITTORIA MEZCAL 2.35″ with VITTORIA XC LIGHT liners and CAFELATTEX sealant.
BAGS: I’ll carry all my gear in Tailfin bags and two Revelate Designs food pouches. I’ll also have a race vest on my back, the OSPREY DURO 6.
LUXURY ITEM: My overpriced carbon bike.

Valentina Mancera

Mexico City (Mexico)

BIKE: Riding IBIS Cycles DV9, completely new bike sponsored by IBIS for this 2025 season.
BAGS: I’m using Apidura Expedition Handlebar Bag, Race Seatpost Bag and Chaak Gear top tube bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: As a luxury item I’ll be taking many many tamales, a Mexican corn meal. Really good with lots of carbs but a little heavy each.

Omar Martinello

Age 30 / Padova (Italy)

BIKE: I’ll be racing on my size M Chiru Highlander, a titanium downcountry bike specifically designed for rough bikepacking races. Transmission is a Sram T-Type GX Eagle 1×12 drivetrain (10-52T cassette, 34T chainring), and Fir-Ruote Fusion Lite wheels will be rolling on this Chassis. Tyres are Maxxis Rekon Race 2.2″ tubeless, and I’m running a a Rock Shox Reba 120mm fork. Braking is handled by Shimano XT M8120 dual-piston brakes with 180mm rotors. The cockpit is all Switch Components: Stem, Carbon handlebar, Grips + Elite Clip-On aerobars. I ride an Smp saddle with Shimano XT pedals.

BAGS & GEAR: Storage is provided by Rusjan Workshop : 1 saddle bag + 2 frame bags. 2x 1L Bidon on the bike + water bladder in the Backpack. Water purification pills. Sleep: Alpkit Hunka bivvy, Marmot Hydrogen (-3°C), DoctorGear R=5.4 mat, Emergency bivvy by SOL. Lights: USE SIX Pack MK14. Tech: WAHOO GPS.

LUXURY ITEMS: My Squadraodio long sleeve T shirt to protect me from sunburns!

Kevin Massicotte

Age 33 / Toronto, Ontario (Canada)

BIKE: The same Revel Ranger that I used in the Silk Road Mountain Race last summer, with a few changes. As I expect the average speed to be higher, I’m now running a larger 36T chainring, Continental Race King 2.2″ Protection tires and a freshly waxed chain to keep the sand and dust away.
BAGS & GEAR: A mix of Miss Grape, Ortlieb, and Apidura bags, including an Apidura Backcountry hydration backpack with 2L bladder. Sleep system is a SOL emergency Bivy, Big Agnes Zoom UL Insulated sleeping pad, custom Cumulus X-Lite 300 sleeping bag, and a small inflatable pillow. Patagonia down sweater and Arc’teryx rain jacket and rain pants for the cold nights.
LUXURY ITEMS: Seiko watch that my partner gifted to me, to remind me that the clock won’t stop until the race is over.

Ernesta Meintjes

Age 50’s / Cape Town (South Africa)

BIKE: Curve Uprock MTB, Fox 32 Step Cast 29 Factory 100mm suspension fork, Fabric saddle, Profile Design aero bars and 70mm spacers, SRAM GX AXS mtb shifter and rear derailleur, 10-52T SRAM Eagle cassette, 30T chainring, Son dynamo hub, Klite front and rear dynamo lights, tyres for the race will be 2.35” Vittoria Mezcal tyres (Cape Cobra edition).
BAGS: Tailfin rack, trunk bag and panniers, Apidura frame bag, top tube bag and down tube bag, and a 30L Camelbak Mule backpack.

Riaan Meintjes

Age 50’s / Cape Town (South Africa)

BIKE: Curve GMX gravel bike, Rockshox Reba 100mm suspension fork, Fabric saddle, Profile Design aero bars and 70mm spacers, SRAM GX AXS shifters and rear derailleur, 10-52T SRAM Eagle cassette, 30T chainring, Son dynamo hub, Klite front and rear dynamo lights, 2.35” Vittoria Mezcal tyres (Cape Cobra edition).
BAGS: Tailfin rack, trunk bag and panniers, Apidura frame bag, 30L Deuter backpack.
LUXURY ITEM: Canon R6 camera body, 24-105mm RF lens and 16mm RF lens (just as important as the bike!).

James Milne

Age 52 / Aberdeen (UK)

BIKE: It’s always about the bike isn’t it! You always want to talk about him! Well since you asked, ‘Alan’ is a mass produced cheap and cheerful Boardman MHT8.9 in size XL. Golly, he does look gooood! So rugged! We’ve had a few trips out together where he has proven to be a very capable friend always making me smile. I feel so safe and secure with him. Unfortunately our relationship has been strained of late, I haven’t been paying him the attention I should have, dare I say, I’ve been with other bikes. Feeling guilty, I did what most people do. I lavished him with presents, mostly jewellery including XT brake levers, SLX callipers, XT rear mech, a Redshift seat post and a new pair of shoes. Hunt with Mezcals.
BAGS & GEAR: In a moment of money madness I bought a Tailfin rack. That didn’t leave much money for the rest of the kit. Jack the Rack is holding my sleep system (Hunka XL, down bag, and decathlon 3/4 inflatable mat.) Restrap top tube takes the electronics. RockBros small frame bag for tools and repairs. Decathlon lights. Small back pack for easily access to food.
LUXURY ITEM: The finest 21-year-old Dalmore Scotch Whisky.

Emma Missale

Age 27 / Copenhagen (Denmark)

BIKE: I’ll be racing with my Orbea Alma H30 Digital Lavander size S with FOX 32 suspension fork. Wheelset is self-laced Wizard Wheels carbon rims with Hope pro5 rear hub and Son Dynamo front hub connected to k-Lite lights and prototype charging kit. Tire choice is Maxxis Ikon 2.2″. Brakes are Hope Tech 4×2 and transmission is a SRAM AXS XO 12-speed 11-52T with Leonardi Capo 165mm crankset and Aarn 32T direct mount chainring. Time Atac carbon pedals. For the cockpit I have a beloved Brooks C13 (158mm) carved saddle with carbon rails sitting on a Redshift PRO-Race sus seatpost, OC carbon handlebar bar MP10 with Redshift aero bars, SQLab grips and bar ends.
BAGS: Bags are mainly Brooks scape; saddle bag, long top tube, a small saddlebag placed next to the BB and two feed pouches. The frame bag is a custom handmade one from THLP, so that it fits my tiny frame.
LUXURY ITEMS: Looseend fast dry L/S and Klymit half size custom Inertia X Frame mat.

Steven Moatt

Age 55 / Portland, Dorset (UK)

BIKE: Trek Supercaliber size large with SID Ultimate Comp forks. Components include Sram NX 12-speed 11/50T. SRAM carbon XO1 700 mm cranks. Reform saddle. Bontrager carbon 29er wheels with tubless Maxxis Ikon 2.2″ tyres. Hope pro 4 brakes. SQ Lab 16 degree sweep alloy handle bars with profile design aerobars on home made risers. Love mud grips. Main light is magic shine Monteer 6500s v2.0. Also exposure joystick and spare head torch. Moatt sails anything cages on front forks.
BAGS: Steel Pushpit rack made by Smithy bike works. All bags made at Moatt Sails. This includes rear stuff pack for the Pushpit wrack, frame bag, top tube bag, two handle bar pouches, areo bar bag and handle bar cradle.
LUXURY ITEMS: Headphones and pillow.

MAREI MOLDENHAUER

Age 29 / FREIBURG (Germany)

BIKE: I’ll be racing on my Trek Supercaliber Gen 2, size small. Components include SRAM XX Transmission with a 10-52T cassette. My wheels are the HUNT Proven Carbon XC Dynamo Wheelset, paired with a SON dynamo hub. I’m running Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge 55mm tires for a mix of speed and comfort. Braking power comes from Shimano XTR brakes. My cockpit setup features Profile Design aerobars with 25mm risers for better aerodynamics and comfort.
BAGS & GEAR: I’m running a full Cyclite bag setup. My custom-made frame bag is one of my favorite pieces of gear. I also have the Top Tube Bag Large 01, Saddle Bag 01, and Aerobar Bag with a 2L water bladder. The Saddle Bag carries my sleeping kit, warm layers, and gloves, while the Top Tube Bag is reserved for snacks, electronics, and sunscreen—everything I need quick access to. My Frame Bag holds my repair kit, first aid kit, extra electronics, and hygiene items. The Aerobar Bag is dedicated to my 2L water bladder. Additionally, I’ll be wearing the Albion Visibility Ultra Vest, which allows me to carry another 2.5L water bladder along with extra snacks.
LUXURY ITEMS: A sleeping mask and earplugs—makes me sleep like a baby!

Romain MONTAMAT

Age 26 / Castres (France)

BIKE: I’m taking my new entry-level Specialized Chisel, with a few strategic upgrades. I’ve added a RockShox Sid Ultimate fork with 120mm of travel and Elite carbon wheels fitted with Ultradynamico MARS JFF tan wall tires for extra speed! The only other modification is a GX 10-50T cassette for compatibility with the SX Eagle rear derailleur.
BAGS: For the bags, I’m using what I already have from previous trips and road races. I’ve got an Apidura Race long top tube bag, an old Rapha bar bag up front paired with a Decathlon food pouch, and a Zefal 15L saddle bag. I’m also taking a Salomon 5L trail running vest for extra water and food.
LUXURY ITEMS: I’m bringing my Kodak H35, a half-frame film camera. I’m new to film photography but excited to try capturing some fun moments from the race.

Luca Montoya

Age 26 / Cycling around the World

BIKE: For the Atlas Mountain Race and Silk Road Mountain Race, I’ll be riding my GHOST LECTOR WORLD CUP 2025 full-suspension bike. It’s equipped with a SRAM XX Eagle Transmission 12-speed drivetrain featuring a 10-52T cassette, DT Swiss XRC wheels, and Maxxis tires: a 2.25″ IKON in the rear and a 2.35″ Rekon in the front. Braking is powered by SRAM Level Ultimate brakes, and the RockShox Reverb AXS dropper post ensures versatility across all terrains.
BAGS & GEAR: I’m packed and ready with Tailfin bags; 14L handlebar bag: Holds all my sleeping gear, two top tube bags: One for electronics, the other for mechanical tools. Aero pack on the rear, perfect for clothes. For hydration, snacks, and random finds along the way, I’m wearing a Salomon ADV Skin 15L vest.
LUXURY ITEM: I’m carrying my cherished Thai inhalers to keep my nose and throat clear, a super-warm down jacket because I can’t stand the cold, and an old Canon digital camera to capture the journey.

Ian Morrison

Age 42 / Sydney (Australia)

BIKE: Flanders Berg XL, XX1 cranks and 10-52T cassette paired with a 32T Absolute Black oval chainring. Level Ultimate brakes. Wheels are Light Bicycle rims with DT 240 hubs and Maxxis Aspen ST Team 2.4″ front and Conti Race King 2.2″ rear with Vittoria Air-liners. Squishy front end provided by Fox 34 Kashima 130mm. SQlab FL-X 16° sweep bars and inner bar-ends, Revgrips Pro grips, Deda Parabolica aero-bars. Cane Creek eeSilk+ suspension seat post with SQlab saddle.
BAGS & GEAR: Apidura bags for the most part plus a Tailfin 3l downtube pack. Sleeping gear is Sea to Summit Spark bag with Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite pad and SOL Escape bivy. A 20,000mah battery powers a Garmin 1030, Ravemen PR800 light, AXS charger and phone.
LUXURY ITEMS: All of the above! Plus headphones, which I always bring but never use.

Tom Moschitz

Age 53 / Blue Mountains (Australia)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my well-traveled Canyon Exceed, making its fourth start in a Mountain Race. My setup has been slightly refined since last year and now features a Ritchey 2X Carbon WCS handlebar paired with Ergon GP3 grips, creating a minimalist and ultralight cockpit. I’ve added Tailfin Carbon Suspension Fork Mounts to carry an extra 2 liters of water. A Canyon VCLS 2.0 CF Seatpost for the fast and fun downhills this race has on offer, and a 30T front ring and Vittoria Peyote XC Race tubeless 2.4″ tires for the long and arduous climbs.
BAGS & GEAR: I’m racing with a mix of bags including two Revelate Designs Mountain Feed Bags, a Revelate Designs Jerry Can, and a Mag Tank for all my smaller items. Larger essentials are being carried in my Tailfin Aeropack and Treadlite Australia Framebag. To handle the long nights I’ll be relying on a Knog Blinder E 900 Headlight, which offers a 16-hour runtime and recharges in just 3 hours.
LUXURY ITEM: Nothing embodies luxury quite like lying in the dirt in my Mont Adventure Equipment Zero Ultralite Sleeping Bag.

Vincent Muehlethaler

Age 53 / Delemont, Jura (Switzerland)

BIKE: I will be riding a 2023 Trek Supercaliber with SRAM XTR, Quark oval 36T chainring, Garbaruk 10-52T cassette, ceramic speed pulley. Wheelset is Stan’s Crest MK4 mounted with 29 Maxxis Aspen ST 2.25 and a SON28 dynamo hub at the front. Zipp aluminium aero bars.
BAGS: Mainly Restrap top frame large model, 8L saddle bag, 12L bar bag will be holding my night setup. Restrap downtube tool pouch. Garmin 840 and iPhone as backup.
LUXURY ITEMS: My butt, can’t do without it.

Anatole Naimi

Age 24 / Liège (Belgium)

BIKE: Origine Théorème (hardtail) carbon, 1×12 Shimano XT
dynamo with a Sinewave light, Prymahl wheels with Hutchinson tyres skeleton and kraken TT bars.
BAGS & GEAR: custom frame and saddlebag from ena-bags with sleeping bag, bivy, gloves, socks, down jacket, Petzl front light (not strong enough), hydration bag made by ena-bag, legs and arm warmers.
LUXURY ITEM: tooth brush (for the cassette or my teeth, I don’t know yet.

Shona Oldfield and Richard Naylar

Age 56 & 57 / Manchester (UK)

BIKE: The mighty Salsa Powderkeg, veteran of the SRMR and HT550. No surprises there. Medium/small with S&S couplers so it fits in one bikebag for travel. SP dynamo hub up front, DT SWISS hybrid rear laced to Halo rims. Sinewave Beacon headlight/charger and the new rear light too. Middleburn RS7 tandem cranks on square taper bottom brackets with triple rings 44/34/24T and a 11-40T cassette. Deore brakes, 203mm rotors. Salsa carbon flat bars, SQ labs inner bar ends and a CaneCreek eeSilk stem. Ergon grips and our fave Maxxis Ikon tyres in a 2.2” with Vittoria inserts and Stans tubeless. King stainless cages naturally.
BAGS & GEAR: It’s probably the last big run out for our old faithful Salsa framebag used for many years holding warm layers and food, the Salsa Anything cradle still rocks the front bars holding the SOL bivy bag and PHD sleeping bag systems. Wildcat custom lower triangle bag for Therm-a-rest mat, super light groundsheet for avoiding punctures and room for more food. Tailfin Aeropack out back for spare, waterproof clothing, first aid bits and excess toiletries (sunscreen) plus a couple of their top tube bags for batteries, camera, tooth brush, seriously we should rent out space on that rear top tube.
LUXURY ITEM: The down socks for night time comfort and toasty toes.

Jamie Nicholson

Age 38 / San Francisco, California (USA)

BIKE: I’ll be riding a Santa Cruz Highball with a GX Transmission groupset (10-52 with a 32T chainring) and 100mm Rockshox Sid Select SL+ fork. Wheels are Reserve 28 XC with some 2.35″ Maxxis Rekon race tires for some fast rolling on all the dirt. The cockpit is the stock bar with some SQ Labs 710 grips and inner bands, I’m also using a profile designs aero bars. Saddle is a Fizik Vento Argo R3 Adaptive.
BAGS: I’m using a mix of bags with a Tailfin Aeropack on the back, Tailfin long top tube bag, Apidura Backcountry Framebag and a Relevate Designs Pronghorn on the front. I’ll also be using a Salomon ADV 12 vest to carry extra water and the various snacks that Morocco offers. Inside these bags I’ll have an MLD Bivy, Therm-a-Rest X-Lite and a TBD sleeping bag depending on temperature as my sleep kit along with a mix of clothing to keep me at the right temperature during the varying climates of the race, beyond that a lot of the space will be taken up with food that I find along the way.
LUXURY ITEMS: Down pants, a spork, and a spare pair of bibs.

Tero Niemela

Age 35 / Ilmajoki (Finland)

BIKE: I’ll be racing the AMR on a 2020 Salsa Cutthroat. The bike features a new pair of Continental Race King 29 x 2.2” tires, a 1×12 drivetrain with a 32T chainring, RockShox SID 100mm and DT Swiss wheels with a SP Dynamo hub up front.
BAGS: Seatbag is modified Revelate Designs Terrapin 14 and top tube bag Revelate Designs Mag-Tank 2000. I made the other bags myself from Ultra 200 fabric.
LUXURY ITEMS: Tent. Like always!

Rachel Nolan

Age 39 / Ballina, Co. Mayo (Ireland)

BIKE: Orbea Alma Pro, Oquo wheels, Maxxis Recon Race EXO 29 x 2.25″ tyres. Profile design aero tri-bars on 70mm risers. Infinity seat.
BAGS: Apidura long tube bag, food pouches x2, handlebar bag, frame bag with 3L bladder, Ortlieb saddlebag. Front fork cages x2.
LUXURY ITEMS: Super warm insulated Columbia Omni-heat down jacket, Columbia ski leggings, 4x heat patches, 3 pairs of gloves.

Louis Olmi

Age 31 / Lausanne (Switzerland)

BIKE: The frame has been hand-welded by myself over the past month, expressly for this bike race. It’s inspired by an xc marathon geometry and is equipped with 29″ wheels. The steel tubes chosen are a mix between Reynolds and Deddacai and Paragon machine fittings. I spoked the rear wheel with a Specialized rim and a Bontrager hub, the front wheel is a hunt with a dynamo SON hub. Front tire: Pirelli Scorpion 2.4″. Rear tire: Continental Raceking 2.2″. Front disk: Hope 203mm. Rear disk: Maguira 180mm. Fork: Fox 32 serviced by Comforme Garage. The groupset is a SRAM GX mechanical 1x12s 10-52 / 32t. The handlebars and stem are from Thomson and my aerobars are Deda. I chose a Sinewave headlight that I’ve been riding for several years. The brakes are a special combination of Magura and Shimano, more commonly known as “shigura” with XTR levers and MT7 calipers. The whole bike was welded, painted and assembled by me, as I’m a bike mechanic.
BAGS: I chose to ride with Apidura frame bags and a Tailfin rear bag. The handlebar bag is from Brooks. I’ll also have a Black Diamond backpack (8L) for the CamelBak and food.
LUXURY ITEM: My favorite beanie with pink flames printed on it.

Kasimir Orlowski

Age 34 / Laveno (Italy)

BIKE: Mosaic MT-2 with SRAM Transmission XX SL, Redshift suspension seatpost, and BEAST XC30 wheels with SON dynamo.
BAGS & GEAR: All bags are from Tailfin. In the Aeropack I carry my sleep system (sleeping pad, sleeping bag and bivy) and cloths. Frame bag is for food and electronics, medicine, spare tubes and chain lube. Top tube bag is for more food, charger, AXS batteries.
LUXURY ITEM: Second bib.

Mattia Orru

Age 36 / Lucca, Tuscany (Italy)

BIKE: My bike is a LEE COUGAN CROSSFIRE 428, a full-suspension MTB because comfort matters in a long race! I’m running a SRAM XX1 Eagle electronic groupset with a 34T chainring and 10-52T cassette, plus Crank Brothers Candy pedals for better support. Suspension comes from Fox Float Factory Kashima, smooth and lockable for tarmac. Magura MT8 brakes keep things light yet powerful. I’m rolling on Fulcrum Red Zone Carbon wheels with Vittoria Mezcal 2.25” tires, great for mixed terrain. Aero bars are a must for long rides, and my TERRA ARGO X1 saddle provides extra comfort.
BAGS & GEAR: At the back, I have the Miss Grape Cluster 13, carrying my sleeping system; ultralight mat, down sleeping bag, inflatable pillow, and a tarp for protection. On the top tube, the Miss Grape Big Node holds snacks and my small camera for race documentation. In the frame triangle, a custom Miss Grape Internode fits perfectly around the rear suspension, storing a spare tube, emergency bivy, spare bibs, and electronics. Up front, the Miss Grape Moon carries my first aid and repair kits, while two Miss Grape Bud side bags hold a power bank in one and as much food as possible in the other.
LUXURY ITEMS: Inflatable pillow and spare pair of bibs.

MICHAL OZOGAN

Age 33 / CHOTYNE (CZECH REPUBLIC)

BIKE: The bike of my choice is the one I have, Trek Supercaliber Gen2. I put my trust into the SRAM AXS shifting system and hydraulic brakes. Thanks to the 30T oval chainring, I will ride every hill! Wheels are made of DT Swiss 240 hubs, aerolite spokes, and Bontrager Kovee Pro 30 rims. I will be rolling on 2.4” Schwalbe Rick XC tyres.
BAGS & GEAR: I have a mix of every brand. Apidura seat pack, top tube bag from Restrap, Acepac frame bag, Tailfin downtube bag, and Woho stem bags. Oh, and I’m also bringing a running vest with a hydration reservoir from Osprey. The basic packing strategy: food in the stem and frame bags, sleeping gear in the seat pack, clothes in the downtube bag, and everything else in the top tube bag and vest.
LUXURY ITEM: 50 hours of audiobooks.

Robrecht Paesen

Age 36 / Herent, Vlaams-Brabant (Belgium)

BIKE: I’ll be riding an Orbea Alma Elite 2024 size large. The groupset is a Shimano XT 12-speed with a 34T chainring in the front and a 10-51T cassette. Front wheel is a handbuilt ZTR crest rim with a Son dynamo hub to charge electronics. The rear wheel is an Oquo Mountain performance MP28PRO. The tires are both Continental Raceking protection 2.2″. The cockpit is a Salsa steer with an 16° backward bend equipped with Deda aerobars. My front light is a Sinewave Beacon light, the rear light is an Exposure lights tracer. I use a Garmin Edge 840 solar for navigation. Pedals are Garmin Rally xc 200 for power measurement.
BAGS: I’ll use a Tailfinn Aeropack to store my sleep setup and warm clothes and the frame bag is a Revelate Designs where I’ll store food and spare parts. The top tube bag is a Restrap bag where all electronics will live.
LUXURY ITEM: A bit of saddle cream.

Sebastian Podtschaske

Age 34 / Leichlingen, NRW (Germany)

BIKE: I am riding my Cube Phenix C:68X SLT, size L. The components include: SRAM XX SL Eagle AX Transmission, Sram XX SL Eagle Transmission XS-1299, 10-52T cassette and Sram XX SL Eagle Transmission, Carbon, 34T, Powermeter crankset. It features a Fox 32 SC Float Factory Grip SL, 2-Position Remote, Tapered, 15x110mm, 100mm, Kashima Coated suspension fork, along with a CUBE Phenix Carbon Cockpit System. Wheels (29”): Front tire: Schwalbe Racing Ray, Super Race, Addix Speed, Kevlar, 2.25″, Rear tire: Schwalbe Racing Ralph, Super Race, Addix Speed, Kevlar, 2.25″. The brakes are Magura MT8 SL FM hydraulic disc brakes (160/180 mm). I have also equipped the cockpit with a BBB Cycling Road AeroMAX BHB-60 aero bar. The saddle is a Natural Fit Nuance SLT Carbon. To ensure sufficient lighting for night rides, I use an SL MiniMax AF from Lupine with 2x SmartCore 10.0 Ah batteries. As a backup, I carry an Armytek Wizard C2 Pro Max as a helmet light.
BAGS: I am using a bikepacking setup from Revelate Designs, which includes the Ranger EcoPac frame bag 10L (XL) and the Terrapin System 14L saddle bag. Additionally, I carry an Apidura Backcountry Hydration Backpack (L/XL) with a 2L hydration bladder. In the saddle bag, I pack my Sea to Summit Spark II sleeping bag, NEOAIR XLITE NXT sleeping pad, ION BIVI bivy sack from Mountain Equipment, and an MSR HUBBA HUBBA NX tent for emergencies. The frame bag holds snacks, a 750ml water bottle, as well as tools (Wera bicycle set, bike pump, spare tube, patches, and spare spokes), along with a bike lock for securing the bike during quick stops. Inside the backpack, besides the 2L hydration bladder, I carry my Rapha Core Rain Jacket II and gloves. For navigation, I rely on my Garmin Fenix 7X Pro Sapphire Solar.
LUXURY ITEMS: My smartphone and a Snickers.

Maxime Prieur

Age 37 / Vieux boucau les bains, Landes (France)

BIKE: Canyon Lux WC full suspension, RockShox SID fork, Wheels Néo Wheel with Berd spoke and Dynamo front hub. Transmission Sram XO méchanical 12-speed, Oval chainring, Renthal fatbar carbon, Zipp extension, Wahoo gps, Selle Italia saddle, Hutchinson Skeleton 2.15″ tyres. Not the lightest, but the faster bike!
BAGS: Full Miss Grape and Deuter bag setup.
LUXURY ITEMS: My front light LLUM (dynamo) made in France and my beautiful Fastclub Jersey!

Joe Rainer

Age 34 / London (UK)

BIKE: I’ll be hopefully surviving AMR on my lurid orange 2025 Specialized Epic 8 Comp. Groupset is SRAM GX AXS with a PM crankset that will inevitably run out of battery on the first climb, Zipp 15 deg stem, aero extension + SQ mid bar ends to help me pretend I’m riding my gravel bike, trusty Vittoria Mezcal/Barzo combo, otherwise stock. Running exposure lights: Strada main front + backup Tracer which mounts on bars or helmet plus separate HT1000 headtorch. First time this has been ridden away from miserable UK winter conditions, will be a nice change not to be riding through foot deep mud.
BAGS & GEAR: Tailfin bags. Sleep kit: Helium bivy, OMM MR230 bag, Thermarest, nemo inflatable pillow – all in the bar bag. Cold weather kit in the Aeropack – going super conservative to avoid frostbite, Montbell down anorak, OMM insulated zip on trousers, Arcteryx Alpha FL shell (for if it gets really choppy), sealskin winter gloves, otherwise all Albion kit, including the ultralight insulated jacket which I never leave home without. Salomon ADV 12 skin for extra storage and water.
LUXURY ITEM: Down socks for super cold nights.

BERTRAND RAYNAL

Age 48 / LAGUIOLE, AVEYRON (FRANCE)

BIKE: Fram Titus Fireline EVO Titanium, Components include SRAM GX, 11-50T Cassette Garbaruk 11-speed, Crankset Hope EVO 68/73 mm 173mm 30T Aluminum, French Wheels Makadamm Carbon 29, dynamo SON, wrapped in 2.25″ Vittoria Mezcal III Graphene in front and 2.10″ Vittoria Mezcal III Graphene back, Fork DT Swiss f232 one 29 120mm, Formula Brakes Cura X, Saddle Brooks B17 titanium, reverse hanelbar carbon and grip SQLab Ergonomic MTB, Fram support H2O (withspiti.fr) with titanium holder cage, two Zéfal isolated bottles, kLite Ultra Adventure Lighting System, Gps Hammerhead, Powerbank Nitecore 10,000mh.
BAGS & GEAR: Miss Grape ILCOSO modular handlebar bag with Revelate Designs Saltyroll bag 15L, Revelate Designs Ranger Frame Bag, Revelate Designs Seat Bag 14L, Tailfin top tube Flip 1.5L. Sea to Summit Ether light XT Air sleeping mat, Décathlon Forclaz 0°c sleeping bag, EVOC Hydro Pro 6L Hydration Vest.
LUXURY ITEMS: Famous LAGUIOLE Knife from my village, GoPro 6 for the beautiful Morocco landscape and my adventure.

Ariane Richter

Age 50 / Berlin (Germany)

BIKE: I am riding a SOUR Pasta Party in matte raw. It comes with a Manitou R8 fork with 120mm travel and ProTaper handlebar and Seatpost. Wheels are Reynolds 329 Carbon with hubs by Quist and SON, both custom coloured, and Schwalbe Racing Ralph/Ray 2.25″ tires. I love the smooth shifting with SRAM XX AXS Transmission, 10-52T cassette and 32T chainring, while for braking I trust Shimano Deore XT.
BAGS: With a small bike, bags are always a challenge. Tailfin has me covered with the medium sized bar bag (sleeping kit), the Aero Pack (food & clothing), a small cage pack (spares & repair) and the long top tube bag (electronics & essentials). For sleeping I am opting for warmth with a Therm-a-Rest Hyperion 20F and a Nemo Tensor all-season. Snacks and hydration go in the Restrap Hydration vest. Lights are by SON and Lupine. The Custom Carbon Aero bars were made by my race buddy Michael.
LUXURY ITEMS: I am vegan, so food will be a challenge. I will bring some small containers of peanut butter and spreads to bear the unlimited amounts of bread I will be eating.

VALENTIN ROBE

Age 33 / Toulouse (France)

BIKE: Brand new 2-11 Cycles Bigode. Steel frame built with a Cane Creek Helm fork (130mm), Enve AM30 carbon wheelset with Schwalbe Wicked Will 2.4″ tires. Cockpit is a custom painted PRO stem and the really nice Salsa Rustler handlebar with Spirgrips inner bar ends and Ergon grips. Zipp alloy aero bars are added for rest and confort. A full Shimano XT groupset keeps me rolling and I’ll be seated on a SMP VT30C saddle. Tailfin carbon fork mounts for Silca Ti bottle cages to get an easy access to water.
BAGS & GEAR: custom made frame bag and top tube bag by What Happened Outdoors to store a bit of everything and keep it tidy. Agu Saddle bag will hold my Therm-a-Rest Hyperion 0°C sleeping bag and Klymit mattress. I’ll be wearing a hydration vest, Salomon ADV skin 12 with 2L bladder and 2 flasks.

Tim Roberts

Age 55

BIKE: Trek Super Caliber 2023, with some upgrades, SID fork, Hope Brakes, Carbon XO1 cranks, Hope carbon seat post with leather Brookes saddle, carbon bars with Ergon GS2 grips and a set of Profile design Aero bars. 29er with the ever trusty Mezcal tryes.
BAGS: Most of the bags (framebag, feedbags, front harness, top tube bag) made by my good friend and generally the person who suggests these ridiculous rides, Steve Moatt of Moattsails in Portland.
LUXURY ITEM: I think my luxury item would be my saddle, a broken in Leather Brookes one, hard to go without really!

Nabil Robiati

Age 45 / Windhoek (Namibia)

BIKE: I’ll be racing my Trek Super Cal 2024, Size large. Components include SRAM X0 T-TYPE Transmission, KovePro carbon rims, Schwalbe ThunderBurt 2.35″ tires, SON28 Dynamo with KLite, with an Exposure Toro Light as a backup and a Petzel Head lamp on my helmet. Cockpit is built with redshift Aerobars as well as Profile design 70mm and Ergon Grips. Saddle is a Brooks C17 for added comfort.
BAGS: Tailfin carbon aeropack, Tailfin Long TopTube Pag, Tailfin 3L bottom tube bag, 1 x Tailfin fork cage.
LUXURY ITEMS: Nemo Osmo Hornet 1P tent and a comfortable Therm-a-Rest Chorus Quilt.

George Sales

Age 24 / United Kingdom

BIKE: Hill frameworks custom steel frame and rear rack. XT groupset, Roval wheels, and Fox fork.
BAGS: Full Restrap set up; long top tube bag, large frame pack, downtube pack (on the tt bars) and 8L dry bag on the custom rack. Packing a full sleeping kit and lots of snacks.
LUXURY ITEM: my Albion Zoa scarf!

Max-Robert Salzer

Age 31 / Stuttgart, Baden-Wuerttemberg (Germany)

BIKE: Cube Elite c68 with a Shimano-SRAM-Budget-Performance-Mix, 1×12 with 30T chainring of steel. Dt Swiss rims with shutter precision dynamo, SON Frontlight, Busch & Müller Backlight, Continental Race King 2.2″ tires, SQLab 612 saddle.
BAGS: Tailfin AeroRack Alu, Ortlieb fork bags, Caspsuled Framebag, Tent and Sleeping bag under the trailer. So I can use the standard bottle cages in the frame and one on the Tailfin system.
LUXURY ITEM: the aerobars from Profile Design with a 60mm riser kit. Very comfortable.

Isabelle Scheyltjens

Age 35 / Bierbeek, Vlaams-Brabant (Belgium)

BIKE: My loyal companion on the Atlas Mountain Race will be the first hardtail I ever owned which got completely upgraded over the years: a 2021 Canyon Exceed CF 5 with a modified 1×12 drivetrain with a 30T chainring and 10-51T cassette. The bike features a 2.25” Racing Ray (front), Racing Ralph (back) combination on a custom wheelset equipped with a SON dynamo hub. I will be using the kLite Ultra adventure lighting system connected to this dynamo.
BAGS & GEAR: I’m using a collection of different brands based on my personal liking with my favourite Revelate Designs Terrapin seat pack, snack bags, and a Joey Downtube bag for tools I hopefully won’t need during the race. I’m using an Ortlieb Handlebar pack, Apidura top tube bag and a sturdy Miss Grape frame bag. Under the motto “never change a winning team”, I adjusted a few things to go a bit more light weight compared to previous bikepackings: as a sleeping system I’ll be carrying a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite sleeping mat and a Cumulus X-Lite 300 sleeping bag. I will bring a very light Sol Escape bivvy. I will also carry a USWE Hydro 8 MTB backpack with a 3L hydration pack and room for more snacks. To deal with possible rain, I’m carrying 7Mesh Thunder pants and a Skypilot raincoat. A Garmin 840 will guide me through the Atlas mountains.
LUXURY ITEM: A silk liner for soft sleeping.

Marco Schicker

Age 42 / Feldkirch (Austria)

BIKE: I will ride my faithful Salsa Cutthroat custom build with an Sram AXS setup, Race Face carbon crank, Mezcal tires and HOPE 4 piston brakes. I use a SON 28 dynamo hub to power my kLite front and rear light as well as my USB charger. To make things smoother I have switched to a RockShox SID ultimate suspension fork and also use a suspension seat post. The aero bars are from Redshift und my saddle is a Specialized mirror.
BAGS & GEAR: my main bag is a full frame bag from Gramm, made for my frame, topped up an aero bag from Cyclite. The seat bag and top tube bag are from Apidura. To stay hydrated I will carry a hydration vest. I will also carry a sleeping pad and sleeping bag with me from Western Mountaineering, so nights (in the sleeping gear) won’t be cold.
LUXURY ITEM: my luxury item will be my sponsor and Maurten food for hard times.

Carlotta Schumacher

Age 19 / Tubingen (Germany)

BIKE: I will be racing on a Velotraum bike, the model is called Speedster, I don’t have to much of a clue about the exact details, but that’s what I know. I go without any suspension, 26″ tires, a nice GRX shifting system, hydraulic disc breaks, a SON dynamo and as a light the SON edelux.
BAGS & GEAR: All the blue bags are homemade, I sew them on my own using an old swimming mattress and a sailboat sail. The black bag is just a random bag that I found at home.
LUXURY ITEM: My luxury item will be a perfume that I got from a Warm showers host in France, to be reminded of her when I use it. It’s also for the smell and “ladylike” feeling.

Sofiane Sehili

Age 43 / Esclauzels, Lot (France)

BIKE: I’ll be riding my Bombtrack Beyond Titanium equipped with a Kind Shock GTC gravel suspension fork, Hunt LIMITLESS 42 dynamo wheels, René Herse Oracle Ridge 700 x 48mm tires. My groupset is a GRX 1×12 with a 38T chainring and a 10-51T cassette. My saddle is a Fizik adaptive Vento Argo R3. My front light is a Supernova M99 Dy pro. My finishing kit is all KindShock and I have drop grips by Redshift.
BAGS: All my bags are made in Italy by MISS GRAPE.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I will be relying on the new Coros DURA for navigation. I won’t have to recharge my GPS at all during the race.

Shane Slater

Age 51 / Wiltshire (England)

BIKE: This is my Niner MCR9. Niner says MCR stands for Magic Carpet Ride, and that’s the main reason I’m bringing it to AMR25. It’s a full suspension gravel bike, about 50mm front and back. For an old badger like me, with a bad back and dodgy hips, that suspension will reduce the feeling of being beaten up. For AMR25 I’ve switched the 1x GRX 11-speed drivetrain over to a Garbaruk drivetrain; 30T chainring with 50T 11-speed cassette. Tyres are Continental Terraspeed (rear) and Terratrail (front): yes the colours don’t match, but I may as well lean into the whole Frankenbike vibe. Fun fact: The bike was too marmite, Niner don’t sell it anymore, the OEM shock is bespoke and impossible to find parts for anywhere. So, I’m running an X-fusion O2ProRL which I’ve modified with 3-D printed TPU top-out and bottom out bumpers/volume reducers to get the travel back into spec. Let’s hope they last the distance!
BAGS: Mostly Apidura with a Tailfin top tube bag, and two nose bags on the bars. I’m definitely not taking a backpack—have I mentioned my dodgy back?
LUXURY ITEM: My wife has a tradition of giving me an animal-shaped tree decoration every Christmas. This year was Christmas Badger, as he is old and grey like me. He’ll be coming along to remind me of how wonderful my wife is.

Kelly-Anne Speight

Age 38 / Ireland

BIKE: I’ll be riding a Van Nicholas Revelstoke Hardtail titanium mountain bike with Spinergy Wheels and lucky Irish green spokes.
BAGS & GEAR: I’m mostly running all Apidura bags: 14L Apidura Expedition handlebar bag for warm clothing, 1.8L Backcountry Top tube bag for electronics and small accessories, 2 Apidura feed bags and a 4L Apidura Backcountry frame bag with a 1.5L bladder. Ortlieb saddlebag for carrying sleeping gear and spares and water cages at forks for extra water carrying capacity.
LUXURY ITEMS: Macpac Down Jacket to keep me warm in the mountains.

Patrick Stalder

Age 25 / Zurich (Switzerland)

BIKE: Canyon Exceed CF with almost everything Shimano XT, 170 mm cranks, 32/10-51T, Duke carbon rims, DT Swiss 240 Hubs, Vittoria Mezcal 2.25″ tubeless, RockShox Sid Ultimate 120mm, Thomson handlebar, FSA stem 100mm -20°, Canyon SP59 VCLS 2.0 CF seatpost, Pro Bikegear Compact carbon clip on aerobar/flashlightmount, SQlab innerbarends.
BAGS & GEAR: Cyclite saddle bag, handle bar roll, frame bag, top tube bag large. Bumpak stemcell food pouches, Tailfin suspension fork mounts with blackburn outpost cages. Exped bivvy and sleeping mat, Sea to Summit Spark sleeping bag.
LUXURY ITEM: Turtle talisman.

Patrick Staubach

Age 30 / Weimar (Germany)

BIKE: A Canyon Exceed CF SLX with SRAM GX Eagle AXS, nearly identical to the one I used for SRMR 2024. However, I replaced the flexible seatpost from Canyon with one from Cane Creek. I also switched to full flat pedals and run 2.2″ Race King tires on both wheels.
BAGS: Primarily Revelate Designs bags. The drybag on the front is inconvenient but essential for carrying warm clothing.
LUXURY ITEMS: An extra set of warm clothes to handle low temperatures.

Rapid Rich Stoodley

Age 63 / Doncaster (UK)

BIKE: This is my third attempt to finish the AMR and I will be using my 2022 Scott Scale RC Team Issue Sram AXS Carbon Hardtail. I run standard electric AXS shifting 1x gearing with 32T Front and 12-speed 11-52T Eagle cassette. KMC DLC Chain with NZero Organic Dry Lube. RockShox SID SL Select RL AIR 100mm forks with 180mm F and 160mm R Brakes. My wheels are hand built by ‘BeeSpoke Wheels’ DT Swiss XR391 alloy Rims 32 hole with Hope Pro5 rear Hub and Son 28 front Dynamo Hub. These wheels are fitted with WTB NANO 2.1 x 29 SG2 tubeless tyres and WTB fluid. My Bars are Sonder Confucious Alloy cur to 640mm with ‘front loop’ for additional hand position and light/wahoo mount etc. with Ergon GP3 Bar ends. As I run a hardtail, I also fitted a Cane Creek eeSilk+ alloy suspension seatpost with a brilliant WTB Devo Saddle.
BAGS: I use Tailfin bags throughout, opting for the rear rack with 2 x 16L panniers and the 14.7L small Bar Bag system for my main carrying capacity. This is complimented with a 2.2L long top tub Bag, a 1.9L Wedge Frame Bag and I also have an underslung 1.7L Frame Pack to hold my emergency WATER-TO-GO filter water bottle. The fork Cargo Cages hold 2 x water bottles also keeping centre of gravity low, and my tool kit is also Tailfin Cargo Cage frame mounted.
LUXURY ITEMS: I have two luxury items. One is the Suspension Seat Post, but for real comfort, I have a tiny Alpkit Stove and Cup to heat Noodles or make Tea or OXO drink that for me is a saviour.

Rory Stuart

Age 26 / Bristol (UK)

BIKE: I’ll be riding a Curve GMX+ Steel. Since the Hellenic Mountain Race last year I’ve upped the rotors to 200/180mm, dropped the chainring to a 30T and gone for Hope carbon bars with Ergon grips and Innerbarends. Rumour has it the hot pink colour of the frame gives the same horsepower increase as a flame stickers/racing stripes combo on a 2005 Ford Focus.
BAGS: I’ve gone for an Exped foam mat as it makes a cheeky daytime nap in a storm drain a lot more comfortable and quick, plus no issues with punctures. My spare clothes and down items are up front. I made a holster a couple days ago for the barbag and foam mat because messing around with straps around gear cables is not fun – a big thanks to Yiannos from Ena Bags for the ideas for fastening bags to saddles/bars. I sewed the framebag last year and it’ll hold tools, first aid kit, snacks and quick-access clothes. In the apidura saddlebag I have my rain trousers/coat, cheapo waterproof socks and Outdoor Research Helium Bivvy bag. My electronics will be in the top tube bags and my feedbag will be exclusively reserved for Maruja almond chocolate bars. Most of my cycling clothes are from Kostume (not sponsored (wish I was)). I did 10,000 miles of touring last year and it held up incredibly despite the lack of laundry days.
LUXURY ITEMS: My mum’s old Olympus MJU film camera and five rolls of Portra 160. Only the worthwhile moments are captured because of the faff of taking a photo, and other moments are savoured and left unspoiled by losing attention while getting a phone out.

Valerio Stuart

Age 37 / Manchester (UK)

BIKE: My bike is a Salsa Cutthroat GRX 2023, built by the legendary folks at Keep Pedalling in Manchester. I’ve made a few upgrades from the stock build, including a Garbaruk rear mech cage, pulley wheels, and an 11-50T cassette to help me grind up (most of) the climbs. My wheelset, also built by Keep Pedalling, features DT Swiss rims and Hope Pro5 hubs. To add comfort, I’m running a Redshift ShockStop PRO Endurance seatpost alongside a RockShox SID SL Ultimate 100mm fork. The saddle is a Selle Italia Boost Evo Superflow, which I’m still getting familiar with. Hopefully, we’ll be best friends by the end of the race! For the cockpit, I’ve kept the original Salsa Cowchipper 46 handlebars, paired with an aero bar system cobbled together from Profile Design and USE components, sourced from Facebook Marketplace. After much deliberation, I’ve stuck with what I know and trust, and mounted a pair of Schwalbe Racing Ralph 2.25″ tyres, which should strike a good balance between grip and rolling resistance. They’re filled with plenty of Stan’s sealant, which will (hopefully) take care of any punctures.
BAGS & GEAR: I’m running an alloy Tailfin Aero Pack, which carries my sleep system (bivvy, mat, and -1°C sleeping bag), my down jacket, and food supplies. It has a generous capacity, making it easier to pack without obsessing over compression. A Tailfin Long Top Tube Bag holds my electronics and a stash of snacks, while two pairs of Tailfin Suspension Fork Mounts (SFMs), thanks, Neil, are strapped to the RockShox fork to carry extra water bottles for long, remote sections. I also use two Decathlon feedbags for a third water bottle, more snacks, and my Bum Butter. Most of my repair kit and tools will be stored in a tool keg on the downtube. For my frame bag, I’m using a Miss Grape cavernous frame bag, where I’ll stash waterproofs, warm layers, a first-aid kit, and more food. For front lighting, I’ll be using an Exposure 6Pack, backed up by a Fenix headlamp. At the rear, I’ll have an Exposure BoostR along with a helmet-mounted rear light powered by coin batteries. To keep everything charged, I’m bringing an Anker 20,000mAh power bank, a secondary 5,000mAh power bank, and an Anker fast charger. Navigation will be handled by a Garmin Edge 1040, with an Edge 530 (thanks, Nicole!) as a backup. I’ll also be wearing a Salomon ADV Skin 12L vest, which will carry a 1.5L water bladder and miscellaneous items (mostly more food!).
LUXURY ITEMS: I’m probably carrying too many, including an inflatable pillow, a GoPro, and way too much food (if such a thing even exists!).

SIMON TAULELLE

Age 34 / Marseille (France)

BIKE: For the 4th year in a row, I’ll be racing on my Distance 45 Gravel bike (the sister brand of Victoire Cycle). It’s a steel gravel bike with a Rockshox Rudy Ultimate fork. It’s rolling on some Duke World Runner 38 carbon rims laced with Sapim CX spokes and Hope RS4 hubs. Tires of choice are Maxxis Ikon 29 x 2.0″ 3C maxxspeed casing paired with CushCore inserts front and rear. For the drivetrain, I’m running the trusty GRX 11-speed with a Garbaruk cage, a 10-50T cassette also from Garbaruk, and a 36T Wolf Tooth chainring. The brakes are Shimano GRX with Swisstop brake pads and 160mm Hope Centerlock discs. I navigate all of this with a 52cm wide PNW Components Coast handlebar, paired with Profile Design aerobars and 30mm risers. The saddle is a Brooks C13 Carved. The build is completed with an Enve saddle and seat post. For navigation, I’m using a Wahoo Bolt V2 (I also have a V1 as a backup). My iPhone 13 will be mounted in a Peak Design case with their universal bar mount on the stem. Last but not least, I’ll be powering through the night with some excellent Exposure lights (Maxx-D + Diablo in the front & Blaze in the back).
BAGS & GEAR: These were custom made for this bike a few years ago by Neza from What Happened Outdoors. The upper part of the frame bag holds my tools, electronics, my small pharmacy, an Albion down jacket, and warm gloves. The lower part contains a 3-liter Apidura bladder, an Albion Zoa rain jacket, and my emergency bivy. The top tube bag is for quick-access items like chain lube, toothpaste, sun and butt cream. My sleeping system (Pajak Quest Quilt and Sea to Summit sleeping pad) and extra warm layers are in the two fork bags. They’re attached to the Rockshox Rudy fork using the Old Man Mountain kit, which is specially designed for this fork. Finally, my Albion cargo vest will be used to carry food, bars, and my shameless bidon (a Salomon flask where I throw anything for some really weird recipes).
LUXURY ITEM: my Sea to Summit pillow!

Nick Tapsell

Brighton (UK)

BIKE: I shall be riding my Chiru Divider Ti Hardtail with Rockshox Sid Ultimate 120mm forks which is running Sram Eagle Axs 32T 10-52T. Wheelset is DT Swiss rims with a Son Dynamo front hub and DT Swiss rear, Victoria Barzo on the front and Mescal on the rear both 2.35″ with Stans race sealant. SRAM Guide 2 Brakes with Sinted pads. Sinewave Beacon 2 light which will help keep my electrics going as I am planning to sleep out on route. Handlebars are from Rental (cos they are epic) with set of SQ Labs inner bars for comfort and Ergon grip/bar ends for comfort and climbing. Saddle is from Ergon as its worked for me in the past the addition of a dropper post which shield be useful on some of the descents.
BAGS: The front handlebar bag is a Revelate Designs Pronghorn Drybag attached to a Miss Grape Il Coso rack which keeps things nice a stable. Toptube bag is a Tailfin for electrics and little items I will need to hand. Frame bag is also Revelate Designs Tangle Frame Bag which fits the space well whilst still leaving me two 500ml bottles below, one used as a tool keg. Saddle pack from Bedrock Bags.
LUXURY ITEM: Luxury item is my PHD sleeping bag which is warm and lite.

Jack Taylor

Berlin (Germany)

BIKE: The bike I’ll be taking to AMR 2025 is a Sour Pasta Party (Vetra Dungbug coming soon…), wheels are carbon Light-bicycle rims on Hope and Son hubs and Race King tires.
BAGS: Bags are a combo of Tailfin and Gramm Tourpacking, a perfect combo, plus a Supply Vest by Carrie Geer on my back too.
LUXURY ITEMS: Zoa puffer by Albion and titanium spoon.

Gereon Tewes

Age 30 / Amsterdam (The Netherlands)

BIKE: Bike Ahead Composites HT Frame & BITURBO RSX Wheelset. Components include SRAM Eagle XX Transmission, SRAM Force Levers, Deda Handle Bar, Rockshox Ultimate SID SL suspension fork, Kogel Ceramic bottom bracket and Kolossos Oversized derailleur cage, Deda Jet aerobars, Continental Race King Tires 2.0″ filled with Silca sealant, Shimano XTR pedals, Silca Sicuro bottle cage and Supernova B54 Light.
BAGS & GEAR: I am using the Apidura Backcountry series bags. In my 1L top tube bag, I carry repair kit, a mini lock, chamois cream, and sunscreen. Inside the 6L saddle bag, I pack my insulated Jacket, Albion Rain Jacket, Sea to Summit sleeping bag & Mat and bivvy. In the 1.8L downtube pack, I store a repair kit, first aid kit, and a spare tube. Finally, in my frame bag, I carry an Anker power bank, charger and cables, spare helmet and front light, hygiene kit, Albion Burner, Silca pump, and multitool. I also use an Albion Cargo best with an Apidura Hydration Bladder for extra capacity.
LUXURY ITEM: An extra pair of Albion bib shorts and inflatable pillow.

Ronja Trachsler

Age 28 / Zurich (Switzerland)

BIKE: I will be riding my Kona Unit X rigid steel hardtail which I updated with a RockShox Sid Select suspension fork for more comfort. The bike is set up with simple Shimano Deore components. For the tires I chose the well trusted Vittoria Mezcal 29 x 2.35″.
BAGS: I’m set up with a mixture of Ortlieb and Apidura bikepacking bags, and my very much loved “What happened” snack bags.
LUXURY ITEM: I’ll have a go on aerobars for the first time, which hopefully help me make it to the finish line in time.

David Tschan

Age 31 / Trimbach (Swtizerland)

BIKE: The bike is a Canyon Exceed size large, which I got about 2 months ago and is my first MTB in about 15 years. Yay! Pretty much all parts are stock and are whatever the bike came with when I took it out of the box. DT Swiss LN XC wheels, RockShox Recon fork, and some Shimano groupset. Gear ratio? No idea, never looked at it. I know it gets me up pretty steep hills though, so there’s that. Parts I did swap out include a good old Brooks saddle, Continental Race King 29 x 2.2″ tires, some Ergon handlebar grips and aero bars for comfort. To hold things in place, I’m using some custom mounts by Adventure Hydration.
BAGS: I’m running a mix of Cylite and well worn Apidura bags. For hydration I’ve been using a CrankTank by Adventure Hydration for the past few years. Doesn’t bulge, doesn’t break, lets me see how much water I got left and holds a lot of it in a small space. Maybe it’s aero too, who knows. Sleeping kit and some extra layers in the seat bag. Repair kit, batteries and food in the frame bag. Down jacket, rain jacket and gloves in the aero bar bag. Toothbrush, sunscreen and some other little knick knacks in the top tube bag.
LUXURY ITEMS: Golden shopping bag.

Rares Turtoi

Age 24 / Innsbruck (Austria)

BIKE: I’m riding an Edelsten HT2 with MAD Carbon wheels for an ultra-lightweight setup. My drivetrain consists of a SRAM XX1 Eagle AXS, ensuring smooth and precise shifting with a 10-52T cassette. I opted for full suspension for added comfort, as I plan to ride long distances. Additionally, I use a Pro Vibe Aero Bar, which allows me to rest or even sleep while riding.
BAGS: I chose Apidura bags for their durability, lightweight design, and perfect fit. My setup includes an Aero Bar Bag for my sleeping bag, a Down Tube Bag with my tools, spare parts, and a first aid kit (this is the bag I prefer not to open unless necessary). The Top Tube Bag stores an external battery for my light, a power bank for my phone, as well as painkillers, headphones, lip balm, sunscreen, and chamois cream. Saddle Bag carries my down jacket, rain jacket, and a spare cycling kit.
LUXURY ITEMS: A stash of bars, gels, and carbs from home to keep me fueled throughout the ride!

Hartmut ULRICH

Age 59 / Munich (Germany)

BIKE: CUBE Elite C:68X SLT 29 (2022) race hardtail MTB with 110mm fork travel, SRAM Eagle XX1 AXS wireless groupset, 10-52T cassette with 30T chainring. I use an arm trailer with SRAM wireless blips so that I can also change gears in the lying position. Lights from Supernova, in the front the famous M99 DY Pro LED, mounted on a modified multimedia handlebar rig from Insta360, together with my Garmin Edge 840 Solar and my Insta360 Ace Pro 2. In the back the E3 TAIL LIGHT 2, permanently installed at the the Tailfin and wired thru the bag so that the bag still can be easily removed. Electric power comes from a SON hub dynamo, plus “USB Werk” from Busch + Müller, which works pretty fine with the SON and recharges all my devices during daylight. Additional light: PETZL Actik Core for the helmet. Rolling on tubeless Continental Race King ProTection MTB 29 x 2.2″ tires with Fillmore Valves (which will not clog by sealing milk such as Presta valves).
BAGS & GEAR: I use a mix of bags with a custom-made full frame bag from GRAMM (mostly for foldable 2 l water bottle, food and spare parts), Apidura on toptube (Electronics, quick access items) and on the down tube for tools and spare parts (not on the foto yet), Tailfin Aero bag in the rear which carries my sleeping setup and clothes. Finally two food pouches from Cyclite on the handlebars (food, waterbottle) and my beloved CC 3 hydration pack from EVOC, wich I use also to carry some personal items (money, passport, glasses, sunscreen).
LUXURY ITEMS: 1. Inflatable pillow. 2. Ultralight and storm-proof gas cooker SOTO WindMaster which is able to bring half a liter of water to the boil in under two minutes in combination with a titanium cup; 200 grams of luxury for cold early mornings (hopefully I’ll get a gas can in Marrakesh).

Yiannos Vafidis

Age 36 / Athens (Greece)

BIKE: I’ll be riding a BMC TWOSTROKE 01 with a stock Deore 12s groupset (32t chainring). I didn’t make big changes to the bike apart from the brakes (also Deore) and Ergon grips, Rose aerobars and my trusted Selle Italia SLR saddle. I am rolling on some pretty basic Shimano wheels, without dynamo. Rubber however will be Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge, with Morgan blue sealant.
BAGS & GEAR: I’m lucky enough to be a bag manufacturer, as I own and run ENABags. I’ve equipped my bike with a custom olive green set with off white details. Of course I made a custom framebag and a custom tuptube bag (this one provides a lot of extra packing space as the geometry of the bike makes for a small framebag). These two bags hold all my “must have” nutrition, tools, spares, medikit, powerbank and quick access items.
Im then using a “Harnesto” harness system with a custom drybag to clear the 100mm travel of the fork. Here I have my sleeping kit that includes a 5° Decathlon sleeping bag, Ferrino bivvy and Seatosummit ultralight mat. I will have then two Feedbag on the stem for the daily food, and stuff I want to throw in on the go. Under the saddle I have a Saddlepack 200, which given the compact 3.5l volume is ideal for extra clothing during race events. The bag I’m most excited about is my prototype hydration vest (still looking for a product name btw), with space for a 2l bladder, stretch pockets and elastics for extra clothing, all this for around 200g. I’ve e attached two 750ml bidons on the fork, and a couple of spare tubes. On the electronic side I will have Fenix lights (BC26R and bc05), Anker powerbank and navigation will be on a Coros Dura which is just an incredible piece of kit.
LUXYRY ITEM: Agfa optima 5000 pocket, 110 film camera. Weighs nothing, fits in a jersey pocket and has the coolest form factor ever.

KIM VANDERHULST

Age 48 / NETHEN, WAALS BRABANT (BELGIUM)

BIKE: For this year’s Atlas Mountain Race I’ll be riding my Mason InSearchOf, fitted with a 100mm Rockshox SID Ultimate fork. It is equipped with a mix of Shimano GRX and XT components. The 1×12 drivetrain consists of a 34T chainring paired to a 10-51T cassette. The wheelset is by Hunt and features a SON dynamo hub powering a KLITE system with backup Exposure Joystick. For navigation I will rely on a Wahoo Elemnt Roam V2 with a Garmin Edge 1000 as backup. I haven’t made my final decision on tires yet but I will probably go for a 2.25″ Schwalbe Racing Ray/Ralph combo with Superground casing. The handlebar is a Ritchey Venturemax with a Deda Metal Blast aero bar installed. The saddle is an Ergon SMC Sport Gel.
BAGS & GEAR: My bags are a combination of different brands. The main storage is a Tailfin Aero Pack, complemented by a Restrap race 2L top tube bag and medium frame bag. My sleeping kit consists of a OR Helium bivy, a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite mattress and a Sea to Summit Traveller sleeping bag. (Depending on the weather forecast I might bring a Spark 3 instead). I will be wearing Endura FS260 Pro bibshorts and a Danish Endurance merino shirt. As additional layers I will bring Endura leg and arm warmers, Craft rain trousers, an Albion Ultralight Insulated Jacket, a Gore Paclite waterproof jacket, a Decathlon wind gilet and down jacket. To keep my hands warm I’ll bring GripGrab winter gloves. My cycling shoes are Shimano ME7.
LUXURY ITEM: I don’t really have a specific luxury item but overall I went for some comfort instead of the lightest setup.

KRYSTIAN WAGNER

Age 25 / CRACOW (POLAND)

BIKE: Franky, a drop-bar mountain bike built by Grind Cycles, featuring deep-section carbon rims from LightBicycle (WR44) laced to DT Swiss 350 boost hubs (no dynamo). The tires of choice are Pirelli Scorpion XC H in 2.2″, sealed with Orange Regular sealant. The drivetrain is a mix of Shimano GRX820 and XT, paired with Hope RX4+ 4-piston brake calipers and Hope 2-piece floating 180mm rotors. It runs a 10-52t Garbaruk cassette and a 38T chainring from Alugear. Up front, I’m rocking a RockShox SID SL 100mm fork, along with a Zipp SL bar and stem combo (no aero bars) wrapped in WolfTooth 5mm bar tape. The saddle is a Fizik Terra Argo X1.
BAGS & GEAR: A custom-made set of bags by the Polish brand BabyLegs. The full-frame bag has two compartments: the bottom holds an Apidura 1.5L bladder, while the top is reserved for spare clothes and a repair kit. The top tube bag stores electronics, documents, and an aid kit, while the saddle bag carries my sleeping gear (Sea to Summit Ultralight mat and Spark sleeping bag) along with a down jacket. I’ll also be using a Pedaled Odyssey Hydrovest with a 1.5L bladder and a food pouch on the handlebar for snacks. For lights, I rely on a Lezyne Macro Drive 1400+ up front and a Knog Plus for the rear.

Theresia Waller

Age 31 / Munich, Bavaria (Germany)

BIKE: I’ll ride my Cube ACCESS WS C:62 in size S. The components include a Shimano XT 12-speed rear derailleur, 10-51T cassette, 32T chainring, and Magura MT8 Pro brake system. Tires are Vittoria Mezcal 29 x 2.25″.
BAGS: Because of my small frame, I need a lot of bags. I chose Apidura because of their durability and high quality. I ride with an Apidura long top tube bag, racing frame pack, backcountry downtube pack, backcountry saddle pack, and two food pouches for water bottles, and gels on the handlebars. I also carry an EVOC Hip pack Pro 3 with a 1.5L hydration bladder and two water bottles. I navigate with a Garmin 1030 on the K-Edge holder.
LUXURY ITEMS: I treat myself to two really good lights from Lupine: the Blika on my bike and the Pico on my helmet with Bluetooth remote controls on the left and right of the handlebars. Can’t do anything without chewing gum and I also have my own personal security with me (pair).

Tim Wassenaar

Age 25 / Deventer (The Netherlands)

BIKE: Large Fairlight Holt, SRAM GX AXS 10-52 paired with 30T White Industries A30 crank with a narrowish q-factor, all to keep my knees happy. Duke alloy rims wrapped in 2.35” Mezcals, laced to Hope Pro 5 and SON28 to power kLite lights and charger. Besides the SID Ultimate 120mm fork, I run an eeSilk+ in the rear and a combination of multiple bar ends and aerobars mounted on a Fred Bar upfront to provide additional comfort.
BAGS & GEAR: Custom WitSlingers top tube bags and frame pack that loves to be overstuffed with snacks. Katabatic bivy, Cumulus quilt and pants and Sea to Summit pad upfront in Ultra200 dry bag and Revelate harness. Two Apidura snack pouches for additional snack supply and sunblock carriage. Alloy Tailfin aeropack in the rear with spare clothes and other items that need easy accessibility. Not pictured is the Salomon vest I will be wearing with bladder and room for more snacks. I reckon this set-up is around 10 kilograms lighter than the last time I dragged it across some mule paths.
LUXURY ITEMS: Full size sleeping pad and full Cumulus down suit.

Peter Wernsdorfer

Age 30 / Passau (Germany)

BIKE: I will ride my custom Santa Cruz Highball, using the reliable Shimano XTR drivetrain, RockShox SID fork and KS dropper post for the rough sections, Son Dynamo hub in the front to power my Sinewave Beacon 2 and 2.2″ Race King in front and back on Newmen carbon rims.
BAGS: I use mix of Ortlieb QR saddle bag, Apidura top tube and frame bag and Revelate Designs Feedbags. Im sleeping in my Rab sleeping bag on a Therm-a-Rest sleeping pad. Garmin Edge 1030 for navigation.
LUXURY ITEMS: My Sinewave Beacon 2 front light, charging my batteries by day and light my way by night.

Tim De Witte

Age 36 / Brno (Czech Republic)

BIKE: The base of my bike is the BMC Twostroke frame, with a Deda Gera gravel dropbar and 12-speed SRAM Apex shifters. I hope my SID SL fork is not out of whack anymore and that I will not regret my unusual dynamo hub assembly.
BAGS: The small frame space forced me to use different solutions than the ones I am used to from road races. I use a Topeak saddlebag for my sleeping gear and an Apidura frame and downtube bags for my water and tooling. My spare clothes and food will be carried in the Apidura aerobag and food pouches attached to my handlebar. No top tube bags or backpacks that I am suppose to carry at all time, as I value my movement freedom on the bike a lot.
LUXURY ITEM: My special Hike-a-Bike support tool.

Jesse Yates

Age 28 / Forest Row, Sussex (UK)

BIKE: I’m running a FiftyOne Regulator frame in large, with a RockShox SiD SL Ultimate RaceDay fork. Rolling on some ZIPP 3Zero Moto B1 29er Carbon 30mm internal wheels, fitted with Schwalbe Nobby Nic Super Ground Speed Grip TLE 2.4″ Front 2.25″ Rear. Equipped with a SRAM XX SL T-Type rear mech, Ultimate pod, Quarq XX SL power meter crank, a 34T ring, and an XS-1299 10-52T Cassette. I’m running Level Ultimate brakes with 180 front and 160 rear rotors. Finishing kit is Time XC-10 pedals, a Truvativ Atmos Carbon A1 bar, ZIPP Service Course seatpost, Fizik Terra Argo X1 saddle, ZIPP SL Speed stem, Zipp Out-Front mount, with either my Wahoo Roam or Bolt computers, and an Exposure Zenith and Joystick for the helmet. Precision Custom Build in Sussex by AEIGHT BIKE CO.
BAGS: All of my bags are by Restrap which include Saddle Bag 8L packed with sleeping gear and things I don’t need much access to throughout the days. Restrap Downtube bag 1.2L for some tools and emergency blanket/inner tubes which hopefully I won’t need too much. I have a Restrap custom made frame bag which will have most of the things I will commonly need access to like extra layers, gloves, neck buff, power bank, chain wax, personal care things like suncream and sun lip balm and so on. Then a Restrap Race Top Tube Bag Long 2L capacity which will have some snacks from OTE and if I’m actively charging my wahoo or lights. On my back I will have the Restrap Hydration Vest 2L capacity with room for 3 more bidons, Phone, dynaplug and stuff I need super quick access to. This is the most packed setup I’ve ever had.
LUXURY ITEM: Wired earphones for when my brother won’t stop talking.

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