Heroes

Jesse Yates and I embarked on this journey with a single goal at the beginning of the year: to win the pairs category and secure a spot in the top 10.

This race is infamous for its scorching heat, but we were fortunate to encounter storms and cooler temperatures, something we didn’t stress about, coming from the UK.

Our game plan was to maintain a consistent pace throughout the race. The start was intense, but we knew not everyone could sustain that speed. As night fell, we steadily overtook riders left and right, comfortably securing a position in the top 10 overall. We battled fiercely for the pairs position, sometimes wondering if first place was within reach.

Upon reaching Almería, we pushed hard up the climbs, creating a substantial gap between us and the pursuing pairs.

The last 100km proved to be the most grueling challenge I’ve ever faced. I experienced hallucinations, struggled to stay awake on my bike, and felt disoriented.

Crossing that finish line was an emotional triumph. We achieved our goal, rode efficiency, and the relief of finally completing this arduous journey was overwhelming.

See you out there!

Maximillian Schnell did it! All 204 cols over 2,000 meters in the Pyrenees and Alps in 77 days, self-supported, with no rest days: 10,839 kilometers and 271,004 vertical meters.

He’s the first person ever to accomplish this, at his side a special edition of our Sterrato, a gravel bike made with custom Columbus steel tubing.

It all started on 27 May 2023 in Luz-Saint-Sauveur in the French Pyrenees, where a small group joined Max at the beautiful Pont Napoleon. Col des Tentes was the first col to be conquered. The Pyrenees showed their best and worst sides; the immaculate sceneries mixed with springtime weather, where sunny conditions would change the rain and hail, typically in the afternoons. It was a rough start for Max, who had to get up in the middle of nights to catch up on lost time. In eight days, Max had ticked off all 24 cols in the Pyrenees and could make his way towards the Alps.

The weather wasn’t much better in the southern Alps. The pattern stayed the same for days. Rideable mornings, rain in the afternoons. The highest top in the challenge, Cime de la Bonette, hadn’t been cleared of snow and Max had to hike the last 300 meters to the top.

During the planning phase, which started ten months ago, we put much effort into getting every paved col on the list. The community was a huge help. Our definition of a Deux Mille col is paved from start to finish, which is 1) a pass, 2) a dead-end, or 3) a significant end-point, e.g. a ski resort or a restaurant. Still, within these boundaries, it gets blurry. Some cols were included, but we weren’t sure if they met the criteria. If in doubt, Max would do them anyhow. In the end, of the 204 cols conquered, 198 met the criteria.

Not surprisingly, some of the best moments came from lesser-known climbs, like Cirque du Troumouse, Les Fonts, Lago del Naret, Lago della Sella, Steingletscher, Oberaarsee, and Petit-Mont-Cenis. Especially in the world of bike packers, where Max excels, these cols bring something unique to the table.

Summer finally arrived and through France and Italy, time was gained. Some tricky changes kicked in around the normally ever-so-beautiful Dolomites, where the weather turned bad again and the challenge entered Austria. The Austrian cols were, pretty much without any exceptions, incredibly tough. However, Max’s friend, and triathlete, Flo Mestdagh joined (on his tri-bike) and rode with Max for the remainder of the challenge. At the Tiefenbachferner, the challenge reached its highest point (but the col ends lower.) The mighty Tiefenbach, and the linked Rettenbach, were disappointingly fake.

Perhaps the hardest day was 26 July, when winter conditions halfway up the Grimselpass, kept Max and Flo grounded for hours, and Max got concerned about his health. He couldn’t keep himself warm, and ignoring the signals would only make things worse. Time was lost. Faced with hard weather conditions at the start of the week, and suddenly running behind schedule, it became “either you follow me, or I don’t wait for you” for Max and his friend Flo. But also day 35, in the Dolomites, with 12 hours of riding, 203 kilometers and more than 6,600 vertical meters gained was brutal.

A Forrest Gump-like trend started during the last 2-3 weeks of the challenge. More and more, especially bike packers, joined Max, and by the time they did the final Italian climb, Col du Petit Saint Bernard, a group of up to 15 was riding with Max. The group increased all the way to the penultimate climb up to Col du Galibier, where both riders, family, and friends at the top, celebrated the historic accomplishment on 12 August.

@deuxmillecc , @maxschnell555
source: https://www.deuxmille.cc/challenge

Sicily, land of the Normans, a land of sea and mountains, volcanoes, and green pastures. The land of my family.

A land of sun, but also of mud, that mud which made my journey difficult. Mud that, in some cases, literally stopped me. Seven days on my TITICI RELLI, carrying only the essentials, I crossed the coasts and the hinterland of this stunning island solo.

On my bike, I felt simultaneously in Ireland for its green coasts, in Cambodia for its muddy and bamboo-filled interior, in Africa for the climate and arid zones, and in Italy for the people and the food.

I covered a distance of 800 kilometers in seven days of pedaling, with an elevation gain of 12,000 meters, mostly tackling the inland areas. It was there that I witnessed the most beautiful landscapes, going from the coast to the pastures of Mount Etna Park, reaching out to touch the imposing Valley of the Temples in Agrigento. Modica, known as the city of a hundred churches, Syracuse, a city of Greek origin.

I saw the breathtaking white Scala dei Turchi. I savored the food and the hospitality of its inhabitants (thanks to those who decided to host me).

Once again, I did it my way… solo. They ask me, “Why do you travel alone?” Traveling alone is a journey of double value for me… you taste everything you encounter around you, but you have to face everything that is within you.

Find the courage to embark on this kind of experience… it will leave an indelible mark and unforgettable memories, and perhaps choose Italy as your first journey… it won’t disappoint you.

BON VOYAGE TO ALL.

@daveonthebike

I embarked on a grand desert escapade to Arizona,
all in the name of kick starting my season with a bang at the Belgian Waffle Ride.

The course was a tantalizing blend of treacherous terrain, featuring undulating hills, specially designed MTB trails, rugged sand washes, and bumpy 4×4 roads.
And all of this set against a picturesque backdrop of the stunning desert rock and prickly cacti.
The course, spanning 122-miles, was a perfect medley, making it the ideal prelude to a long season ahead.

With the 7am start fast approaching, I found myself at the front of the start line, flanked by ex-world tour pros, national champions, Olympians, conti riders, and weekend warriors.
The atmosphere was electric, and everyone was eager to prove their worth after months of grueling winter training.

As we set off on a neutral roll out, we were almost immediately faced with a long, grueling climb.
At first, it was a peaceful ascent with friendly chatter, but soon after, the pace intensified, Pete Stetina led the charge up the steep inclines.

Despite my best efforts, I found myself in the second chasing group, struggling to keep up with the lead pack.
However, as soon as we hit the first off-road sector, I kicked into high gear, determined to make up lost ground and tackle the challenging terrain with all my might.

The race was not without its obstacles, but I dug deep and persevered, never giving up.
And as I crossed the finish line, I was elated to have secured a top 30 overall finish and a top 20 spot in my age category.

It was a grueling yet rewarding experience, and I can’t wait for more of it this season.

See you out there!