At long last, we arrive at the finish line of the sixth edition of the Atlas Mountain Race. We hear from our riders arriving in Essaouira about their stories from the road.

Riders featured in this episode:

• Darragh Cushen — Cap 52
• Martino Basilico — Cap 11
• Luise Ollick — Cap 162
• Gala Giannini — Cap 81
• Patrick Schwarz — Cap 191
• Greg Martin — Cap 307A
• Rebecca Rusch — Cap 307B
• Silas Schmid — Cap 189
• James Illman — Cap 109
• David Tilly — Cap 214
• John Roe — Cap 184
• Murray Crichton — Cap 47

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Production and hosting by Mel Webb

Sound design by Ben Crannell

Cover image by Stephen Shelesky

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We sit down with 2026 women’s winner Cynthia Carson following her second victory at the Atlas Mountain Race.

Returning with more experience and a clear plan, Cynthia used this race as the opening chapter of a season in which she’s racing all four Mountain Races. Finishing in 5 days, 5 hours, and 2 minutes, she rode with patience and composure across a longer course marked by more extreme weather than in 2024.

In this conversation, we reflect on her preparation, her mindset, and how staying committed to her own strategy shaped her race from start to finish.

Visit our website to stay up to date on future Mountain Races

Production and hosting by Mel Webb

Sound design by Ben Crannell

Cover image by Stephen Shelesky

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After days of mountains and desert, riders cross back over the Atlas one last time, descending through fog and green hills toward the Atlantic coast. The air shifts, the ocean comes into view, and the end begins to feel within reach.

In this episode, we hear from riders in the final kilometres before rolling into the finish line.

Riders featured in this episode:

• Thierry Le Floch— Cap 125
• Kevin Masicotte— Cap 142
• Tanner Jackson — Cap 112
• Aurélie & Jérôme Mesplede — Caps 317A&B
• Paul Cresveaux — Cap 302B
• Nicole Van Batenburg — Cap 221
• Emma Missale & Sean Geivett — Caps 309A&B

Dotwatch the 2026 Atlas Mountain Race

Follow us on Instagram @atlasmountainrace for daily visual & written updates

Hosted and produced by Mel Webb

Sound design by Ben Crannell

Cover image by Nils Laengner

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've jumped forward to the finish line to catch up with our men's winner, Victor Bosoni. The young French rider won this year's race in a time of 4 days, 1 hour and 46 minutes. We sat down in the Medina of Essalouira to hear all about his ride: the highs, the lows and how prioritising rest throughout allowed him to not only race to his fullest potential, but to enjoy the experience to its fullest as well.

As Victor's first language is French, we cover a few questions in both French and English.

Dotwatch the 2026 Atlas Mountain Race

Follow us on Instagram @atlasmountainrace for daily visual & written updates

Hosted and produced by Mel Webb

Sound design by Ben Crannell

Cover image by Stephen Shelesky

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Old Colonial Road is one of the most iconic sections of the Atlas Mountain Race route, featured across all six editions. Carved into the mountainside, it winds through folded layers of sedimentary rock, the earth rippling in bands of rust and ochre. From a distance the surface appears smooth; up close it is loose, and badly broken in places from erosion. Many riders will rider it at night, missing out on the views. At sunrise, the scale of the landscape comes fully into view and for the lucky few who see it at daylight, it will no doubt be a highlight of their race.

Riders featured in this episode:

• Niki de Kadt — Cap 56
• JoJo Blunt — Cap 19
• Gala Giannini — Cap 81
• Ariane Richter — Cap 179
• Jeannie & Martin Dreyer — Caps 306A&B
• Darragh Cushen — Cap 52
• John Roe— Cap 184
• Adrienne Estrada — Cap 68
• Sebastian Sarx & Denise Vorberg — Caps 320A & 320B
• Bastien Girard Nkouikani — Cap 82
• Richard Hunt — Cap 107
• David Tilly — Cap 217
• Cedric Henriot — Cap 90

Dotwatch the 2026 Atlas Mountain Race

Follow us on Instagram @atlasmountainrace for daily visual & written updates

Hosted and produced by Mel Webb

Sound design by Ben Crannell

Cover image by Nils Laengner

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Checkpoint Two: the halfway mark of the Atlas Mountain Race.

Riders descend out of the desert and into an oasis of palms, couscous, showers, and stamped brevet cards. For some, arrival brings relief. For others, difficult decisions. Ankles, batteries, bottom brackets, and nerves are all negotiated in equal measure.

We hear from riders resetting body and mind, celebrating birthdays, managing setbacks, and chasing the cutoff as the clock ticks toward 17:00. By day’s end, 163 riders make it in before time, the snail still moving steadily behind.

Riders featured in this episode:

• Emma & Sean — Caps 309A&B
• Paul Cresveaux — Cap 302B
• Adrienne Estrada — Cap 68
• Conor Dunne — Cap 64
• JoJo Blunt — Cap 19
• Jeannie & Martin — Caps 306A&B
• Darragh Cushen — Cap 52
• David Tilly — Cap 214
• Kari Bergstedt — Cap 13
• Matthieu Segard — Cap 193
• Hannah Larbalestier — Cap 124
• Jake Simpson — Cap 197
• Matt Franklin — Cap 73

Dotwatch the 2026 Atlas Mountain Race

Follow us on Instagram @atlasmountainrace for daily visual & written updates

Hosted and produced by Mel Webb

Sound design by Ben Crannell

Cover image by Stephen Shelesky

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the most famous sections of the Atlas Mountain Race is the 100KM stretch of no resupply through the desert. Here riders meander through the Anti Atlas, climbing their way up to a plateau with stunning views of the network of canyons below. We meet riders chasing the snail here.

We also hear from riders at Café Atlas in Ait Saoun which has become a popular stop for riders, and potentially the best omelette of the whole race.

Riders featured in this episode:

• Zoe McIntosh — Cap 144
• Andy Dodd — Cap 61
• Julien Gravaud — Cap 89
• John Roe — Cap 184
• Cedric Henriot — Cap 98
• Roz Osborne — Cap 163
• Eoin Cocoran — Cap 205
• Julia Wuerzinger — Cap 232
• Erin Poland — Cap 308B
• Jono Freeman — Cap 308A
• Neil Copeland — Cap 43
• Matthew Franklin — Cap 73
• Gala Giannini — Cap 81

Dotwatch the 2026 Atlas Mountain Race

Follow us on Instagram @atlasmountainrace for daily visual & written updates

Hosted and produced by Mel Webb

Sound design by Ben Crannell

Cover image by Nils Laengner

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Conditions remain incredibly demanding as our riders press on towards Checkpoint 1 in Boutharar. The weather has improved in some ways, and worsened in others.

The silver lining is that, at long last, most of the tarmac is behind them and the route turns back into the terrain riders came to the Atlas Mountain Race for. In this episode, we hear from those still pushing toward their first stamp, as well as riders who have just arrived.

Riders featured in this episode:

• Paul & Benjamin — Caps 302A & 302B
• Justyna Jarczok — Cap 114
• Miroslav Chrapka — Cap 39
• Darragh Cushen — Cap 44
• Kari Bergstedt — Cap 13
• Rebecca & Greg — Caps 316A & 316B
• Rafal Sokol — Cap 202
• Kristen Tonsager — Cap 215
• James Illman — Cap 109
• Erin & Jono — Cap 308A
• Sebastian Sarx — Cap 328A
• Robyn Hughes — Cap 104

Dotwatch the 2026 Atlas Mountain Race

Follow us on Instagram @atlasmountainrace for daily visual & written updates

Hosted and produced by Mel Webb

Sound design by Ben Crannell

Cover image by Stephen Shelesky

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a cold, rain-soaked first night at the Atlas Mountain Race 2026, riders emerge from darkness into morning light scattered across the High Atlas. Frigid temperatures, flooded roads, and icy descents define the opening hours of the race, forcing decisions around shelter, sleep, and when to keep moving.

In villages along the early tarmac corridor, riders gather briefly around wood stoves, cafés, and petrol stations — drying socks, warming hands, fixing mechanicals, and weighing fatigue against momentum. Some push on through the night, others pause for rest, all navigating the consequences of an unusually harsh start.

As daylight reveals snow-covered peaks and saturated landscapes, bringing with it a renewed spirit for our riders. The lead riders reach Checkpoint 1, while much of the field continues to funnel through towns toward their first stamp. 

Riders featured in this episode:

• Gala Giannini— Cap 81
• Tanner Jackson — Cap 112
• Seun Alaba — Cap 4
• Fritz Meinecke — Cap 147
• Roz Osborne — Cap 163
• Julian Mills — Cap 153
• Stephane Ouaja — Cap 165
• Arthur Bonal — Cap 20
• Ariane Richter — Cap 179
• Sterre Witteveen — Cap 322B
• Conor Dunne — Cap 64
• Sebastian Trimborn — Cap 126
• Victor Bosoni — Cap 21
• Rob Britton — Cap 25
• Stefan Haehnel — Cap 94

Dotwatch the 2026 Atlas Mountain Race

Follow us on Instagram @atlasmountainrace for daily visual & written updates

Hosted and produced by Mel Webb

Sound design by Ben Crannell

Cover image by Lloyd Wright

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Atlas Mountain Race 2026 is finally here, beginning with the usual proceedings of registration. Riders trickled into the cultural centre at Ain Asserdoun Park in Beni-Mellal under persistent rain. After years of drought, high rivers, lingering snow on mountain passes, and late route changes set the tone for the adventure ahead.

In this opening episode, we hear from riders across the field to heart their thoughts and feelings on the road to the start line and what they are about to embark on.

Riders featured in this episode:

• Abderrahim Aarab & Haitam Ait bouaziz — Caps 301A&B
• Rebecca Rusch — Cap 316B
• Gökay Bıyık —Cap 17
• Sean Geivett & Emma Missale — Caps 309A&B
• Taylor Doyle — Cap 62
• Cynthia Carson — Cap 33
• Steven Davis — Cap 55
• Kerry MacPhee — Cap 137
• Rob Britton — Cap 25
• Max Riese — Cap 180

Dotwatch the 2026 Atlas Mountain Race

Follow us on Instagram @atlasmountainrace for daily visual & written updates

Hosted and produced by Mel Webb

Sound design by Ben Crannell

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.