Singletrack/MTB
Gravel/All-road
Dirt-road Touring
Fat-bike
The riders of the 2025 Atlas Mountain Race are well into their second day out on the route, with the front end of the race past the halfway point. Find an update from Mel Webb with photos from the event photographers here…
Words by Mel Webb, photos by Nils Laengner and Stephen Shelesky
Men’s Race Update
Two significant scratches have reshaped the front of the race. Sebastian Breuer, who’d been holding third place, made it to Tazenakht,a key resupply stop before CP2, where both Benedek Borsos and Alex McCormack had slept. Based on an update from his bike sponsor, the effort at the front was simply too much, and his body gave in.
Sofiane Sehili has also scratched. He was in good spirits, singing and enjoying the feeling of proper sleep—a contrast to his 2020 win, where he only stopped twice to rest. It’s unclear what happened, but his derailleur snapped in half, possibly linked to a freehub issue. Hopefully, we’ll have more details soon.
At the front, Alex and Benedek continue to trade places. Benedek was first into CP2, but Alex eventually took the lead as they made their way onto the infamous Old Colonial Road under the cover of night. Control Car 1 attempted to catch them, but the pace was simply too high.
Not far behind, Robin Gemperle and Lucas Strittmatter rode well as a pair, with Robin leading the team and looking after Lucas. At CP2, Lucas had mentioned his forearms were sore, and while the pace was tough, he was doing everything he could to stick to Robin’s wheel.
Drikus Coetzee and Kevin Benkenstein were the next riders on the road, pedaling close to one another and chatting as they made their way toward the next stretch. They were clearly still racing, but after the second break in the road, Drikus pushed ahead. Control Car 1 is heading to CP3 to catch the first rider’s arrival.
Women’s Race Update
Marei Moldenhauer continues to lead, steadily increasing her gap at the front. She isn’t thinking about the win just yet; there’s still too far to go, and anything can happen. Having only received her race bike two weeks before the start, Marei told us that she’s “having fun getting to know each other” and loving it more and more. She experienced a bit of knee pain early in the day that has since passed.
Meaghan Hackinen remains in second, chasing hard. She arrived at the checkpoint feeling alright but admitted the effort is catching up with her. After bivvying outside Afra, she said she slept well—though maybe not quite enough.
The race for third has gone back and forth throughout the day, with Rachel Nolan and Julie Von Grünigen trading places overnight. Rachel, who toured the route ahead of the race, has been riding strong, while Julie, despite some mechanical setbacks, always seems to be smiling whenever we see her.
Mid-Pack
Control Car 3 spent most of the day with the mid-pack in the remote stretch between Imassine and Afra, photographing riders as they made their way through the vast, rolling landscape. Many stopped to chat, sharing their experiences on the podcast: reflections on the highs, the struggles, and the small moments that keep them moving forward.
In Imassine, Andrew Chapman (Cap 146) stopped at a roadside restaurant, embracing the ride and fueling up on omelettes and fries—regretting that he couldn’t add cheese to make a proper Canadian poutine. Jeff Lou (Cap 169) reflected on the emotional rollercoaster of a long day, struggling to balance food, water, and sleep before reminding himself to stay present in the moment. Valentina Mancera (Cap 202) took in the sunrise with awe, shedding a few tears at the beauty of the landscape.
Mark Fenwick (Cap 196) lost two hours locked inside a restaurant overnight, and George Marshall (Cap 47) found himself walking for 20 to 30 kilometers after debilitating knee pain set in. Meanwhile, Eric House (Cap 161) and Alex Kowalski (Cap 141), both riding single-speed bikes, have embraced the extra hike-a-bike that comes with their lack of gears and have been relishing in the warmth of the locals.
For the full stories from the road, tune into the upcoming episode of the Mountain Races Podcast.
Check out the 2025 Atlas Mountain Race Tracker page to follow along on the live tracking map, watch for ongoing race updates, and tune in for more event coverage. Find it here.
Further Reading
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