In this episode, Mel and Nelson sit down in the shadow of the towering Meteora rocks to preview the 2025 edition of the Hellenic Mountain Race. They walk through this year’s course, unique challenges, and highlights—from forested tracks and rocky descents to unforgettable vistas, hearty local tavernas, and warm local people.

Expect insights into the terrain, technical sections, weather forecast, and some standout features along the route. They also share stories and predictions about returning riders and newcomers, spotlighting podium and fan favourites alike. 

Make sure to subscribe to The Mountain Races Podcast wherever you listen for daily updates from the trail. The race kicks off at 9AM local time on Saturday May 24th.

Dotwatch the 2025 Hellenic Mountain Race

Thank you to our race partners:

Albion

Pertex

Tailfin

STYRKR

Production & hosting by Mel Webb

Sound design by Ben Crannell

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

In just one weeks time we return to Greece for the third edition of the Hellenic Mountain Race. An off-road, unsupported bikepacking race down the rugged spine of the Pindus Mountains. A journey of 877 kilometres with nearly 28,000m of climbing. The race kicks off at 9AM local time on May 24th and the clock does not stop until midnight on Saturday June 1st.

Tune in every day for a front-row seat to the action. We’ll bring you stories and updates from the trail, illuminating the dots on your screen and bringing their adventure straight to your ears.

Follow the dots on MAProgress and follow @hellenicmountainrace on Instagram for visual updates from the trail.

Production & hosting by Mel Webb

Sound design by Ben Crannell

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

Marei Moldenhauer was the first woman to reach the finish line in Essaouira, winning the women’s race and finishing 8th overall at the 2025 Atlas Mountain Race. She finished in a time of 4 days 14 hours and 20 minutes, nearly 5 hours faster than last year’s women’s winner on an arguably even harder course.

From the very start, Marei led the women’s race and never let up. We sat down with her to dive deeper into her winning ride. 

Follow Marei on Instagram to keep up with her adventures

Listen to Marei's Atlas Mountain Race playlist

Thanks to Redshift Sports for supporting our AMR 2025 Podcast Coverage

Dotwatch and follow the action here

For visual updates throughout the race follow us on Instagram @atlasmountainrace

Episodes will air daily throughout the race. Make sure to subscribe to The Mountain Races Podcast wherever you listen to never miss an update.

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

Alex McCormack was the first rider to reach the finish line in Essaouira, winning both the men’s race and the overall at the 2025 Atlas Mountain Race with a time of 3 days and 20 hours. At 27 years old, the British rider put in a performance that was fast, composed, and ultimately 15 minutes quicker than the previous best time on this course, set by Robin Gemperle in 2023, the last time Telouet Pass was on the route. We sat down with Alex to dive deeper into his ride.

Follow Alex on Instagram to keep up with his adventures

Thanks to Redshift Sports for supporting our AMR 2025 Podcast Coverage

Dotwatch and follow the action here

For visual updates throughout the race follow us on Instagram @atlasmountainrace

Episodes will air daily throughout the race. Make sure to subscribe to The Mountain Races Podcast wherever you listen to never miss an update.

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

By the time this episode reaches you, the full men’s and women’s podiums will have arrived in Essaouira, but for many riders, the race is still very much underway.

On day four, we set our sights on the infamous sand section—now an AMR stable. Some years, it's rideable. Other years, it’s nothing but deep, loose sand. This year, one of our control cars got stuck at the entrance, which says everything you need to know about this year's conditions.

We caught up with several riders as they entered this section, having collected their third stamp and determined to make the cut off on Saturday at midnight.

Thanks to Redshift Sports for supporting our AMR 2025 Podcast Coverage

Dotwatch and follow the action here

For visual updates throughout the race follow us on Instagram @atlasmountainrace

Episodes will air daily throughout the race. Make sure to subscribe to The Mountain Races Podcast wherever you listen to never miss an update.

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

Checkpoint 2 at the Atlas Mountain Race marks a major turning point for riders. Some arrive exhausted but determined, others battle mechanicals, freezing temperatures, or even food poisoning just to get here. For some, CP2 offers a much-needed reset—food, rest, and encouragement to push on. For others, it’s a place of tough decisions, including whether to continue at all.

In this episode, we hear from riders as they reflect on the journey so far: from unexpected challenges to the thrill of making it to CP2. Stories include a racer navigating the course with just one working light, a tandem team determined to finish after a crash last year, and a rider celebrating his 68th birthday mid-race. With CP2 now behind them, the race enter the second half with renewed determination and the ever-present battle against the cutoff times.

Make sure to subscribe to The Mountain Races Podcast for continued coverage as the riders take on the road to the finish.

Thanks to Redshift Sports for supporting our AMR 2025 Podcast Coverage

Dotwatch and follow the action here

For visual updates throughout the race follow us on Instagram @atlasmountainrace

Episodes will air daily throughout the race. Make sure to subscribe to The Mountain Races Podcast wherever you listen to never miss an update.

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

Control Car 3 catches up with midpack riders in the long remote stretch between Imassine and Afra. Riders are settling into their rhythm—decisions about sleep, food, and pacing are becoming more deliberate, and the reality of the race is setting in. Some push through the night, chasing position, while others stop to recover, knowing that there’s a long way to go and self-care is everything. 

We hear from riders adapting to the rhythm of the race—those thriving in the quiet of night, those navigating unexpected detours, and those embracing the moments that make the effort worth it. From sunrise over the desert to homemade Christmas cake on the trail, today’s stories capture both the struggle and the reward of racing deep into the Atlas Mountains.

Thanks to Redshift Sports for supporting our AMR 2025 Podcast Coverage

Dotwatch and follow the action here

For visual updates throughout the race follow us on Instagram @atlasmountainrace

Episodes will air daily throughout the race. Make sure to subscribe to The Mountain Races Podcast wherever you listen to never miss an update.

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

The first 24 hours of the Atlas Mountain Race have delivered everything riders signed up for—adventure, exhaustion, and the raw challenge of racing through Morocco’s rugged terrain.

In this episode, we break down the opening night and day on course, from the first arrivals at CP1 to the struggles and triumphs unfolding on the road. We hear from one of our riders at the front as well as stories from deep in the pack—where fatigue, freezing temperatures, and mechanicals are already shaping the race.

From the iconic descent off Telouet to the infamous resupply at Imassine’s round-the-clock gas station, riders reflect on the highs and lows of their first night out. First-timers wrestle with doubt, sleep monsters loom, and the kindness of strangers keeps the race moving forward for some

Tune in for an inside look at the first 24 hours of the race, the resilience of the riders, and what’s still to come as they push deeper into the mountains.

Dotwatch and follow the action here

For visual updates throughout the race follow us on Instagram @atlasmountainrace

Episodes will air daily throughout the race. Make sure to subscribe to The Mountain Races Podcast wherever you listen to never miss an update.

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

Registration day at the Atlas Mountain Race is always a mix of excitement and nerves, and in this episode, we take you inside the buzz of 'Day Zero.' Hosted by the race team and supported by Redshift, this episode captures the anticipation before riders roll out into the unknown.

Dotwatch and follow the action here

For visual updates throughout the race follow us on Instagram @atlasmountainrace

Episodes will air daily throughout the race. Make sure to subscribe to The Mountain Races Podcast wherever you listen to never miss an update.

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

The fifth edition of the Atlas Mountain Race is here, and in this episode we bring you an in-depth preview straight from Marrakech with race director Nelson Trees. This year’s race is shaping up to be one of the most exciting yet. 278 riders will be lining up on Friday February 7th. Tune in as we break down this year’s route, the top contenders and expected race conditions. 

Dotwatch and follow the action here

For visual updates throughout the race follow us on Instagram @atlasmountainrace

Episodes will air daily throughout the race. Make sure to subscribe to The Mountain Races Podcast wherever you listen to never miss an update.

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