BikingMan X Morocco 2024: day 2 – The battle continues across atlas challenges

A modified route: the impact of flooding

Day two of BikingMan X Morocco 2024 was marked by unexpected adjustments and challenges. Near checkpoint 2 in Foumzguid, access to the Oasis Lodge on the far side was blocked due to recent flooding that ravaged the area. As a result, the route had to be modified in consultation with the Moroccan Royal Gendarmerie to ensure participant safety. Riders sometimes had to wade across rivers, carrying their bikes over their shoulders and getting their feet wet to navigate damaged roads.

 

Sébastien Pailly still in the lead

In the early morning, race leader Sébastien Pailly maintained his top position despite the obstacles. He shared his strategy:

“I took a short 20-minute nap halfway up the second big mountain pass to stay fresh at 2,000 meters on the plateau. I did another here, and now we’ll see how things go during the day. Maybe another nap at checkpoint 3, and that’s it—we’re having fun with the wind! We’ll see.”

Despite facing some tough moments, Pailly continued at a strong pace.

Further back, Guillaume de Spoelberch was briefly overtaken by one of his main competitors. Reflecting philosophically, he remarked:

“It doesn’t matter. The real race is against yourself! The real victory is the sound of the bell at the finish. That’s the win!”

Crossing the atlas: between beauty and challenges

The breathtaking scenery of the Atlas Mountains offered cyclists some respite, though most had yet to sleep. Laurianne Plaçais, also among the leaders, shared her experience:

“We had to cross a broken path, carry our bikes on our backs, and climb up. It was a bit of an adventure with a 1.5-meter climb, but we found our way. The 40-km ascent to the pass was completely wrecked by floods and rain—no sleep, but it felt like we were on Mars up there!”

Thomas Verin added with a slightly strained smile:

“We rode all night, then tackled a 40-km pass with a lot of gravel. After the descent, I wanted to sleep, so I found a little spot, settled down, and then someone saw me and set up right next to me. Well, I didn’t get any sleep…” (laughs)

Arrival at checkpoint 3: new unforeseen challenges

As night fell, the fastest participants reached checkpoint 3 at the Kasbah Tirigouioute Lodge. The course had been significantly altered once again. Due to the flooding, the dirt tracks around checkpoint 3 had become entirely impassable.

Unfortunately, the leading group, led by Sébastien Pailly, had already ventured onto these gravel paths, forcing them to walk sections of the course, which significantly slowed their progress.

The route was subsequently modified for the remaining racers. Starting from checkpoint 2, participants were rerouted onto fully asphalted roads, passing through the city of Ouarzazate before rejoining the route to the Kasbah Tirigouioute Lodge. This decision, made with the Royal Gendarmerie, aimed to prevent participants from running out of water or supplies in remote areas during the night.

Sébastien Pailly holds onto the lead

Despite these trials, Sébastien Pailly arrived first at checkpoint 3 after traversing extremely demanding sections. He shared his thoughts:

“It was tough, eight hours without water. I really had to slow down, or I’d have burned out. We had two major gravel sections—the first was very technical, and the other was just very difficult. We didn’t cover much distance today, but it took a toll. I’m eating now, then I’ll set out, and we’ll see what the body decides.”

Other participants’ perspectives

Other riders also shared their experiences, highlighting the variety of challenges faced on this unique, grueling terrain. Guillaume de Spoelberch described his thoughts:

“Gravel is always painful; it hurts going up and even more on the way down. When you descend, your hands burn, and your back tenses up, especially if the ground is rough. But you often forget the pain and remember the good moments instead.”

Abdel Hida, a participant more accustomed to shorter distances, stated:

“I’ve never felt fatigue like this. It’s even more intense than my usual 300- or 400-km races. Here, it’s 1,000 km straight, and today was really tough. But inchallah, it’ll be over tomorrow.”

Provisional standings

Logistics and route modifications impacted media coverage of day two, but here is the provisional BikingMan X Morocco 2024 leaderboard at the end of day two, including times at checkpoints 2 and 3:

• Sébastien Pailly – 33h21 at checkpoint 3
• Guillaume de Spoelberch – 35h19 at checkpoint 3
• Abdellah Hida – 35h42 at checkpoint 3
• Rémi Borrion – 18h42 at checkpoint 2
• Thomas Leconte – 18h55 at checkpoint 2

Remaining participants continued at their own pace, ready to tackle the next challenges awaiting them on the course.

From unforeseen challenges to determination

Day two of BikingMan X Morocco 2024 showcased the grueling, unpredictable nature of this race. Route changes caused by floods, steep climbs, technical gravel descents, and long stretches on damaged roads put the cyclists to the test.

But beyond fatigue and pain, it was the stunning Atlas landscapes, camaraderie among participants, and the satisfaction of pressing on that marked this second day. Stay tuned for the rest of this adventure, as day three promises to be just as thrilling.

To track the riders’ progress, be sure to check BikingMan’s social media and Oaka’s live tracking platform, which will keep you updated on every move of these ultracycling athletes.

Join us tomorrow for a recap of day three of BikingMan X Morocco 2024.

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