I wake up in my comfy bed just 5 minutes before breakfast, get dressed and head straight to the buffet. Ample amounts of coffee, crepes, all sorts of pastries, bread and eggs: I down as much food as I can in the least amount of time possible. While doing it, I exchange a few messagesContinue reading “Silk Road Mountain Race 2021 / Day 5”
Author Archives: Sofiane Sehili
Silk Road Mountain Race 2021 / Day 4
When I wake up in Tamga four hours after falling asleep, it’s bright and sunny outside and yesterday’s storm is nothing but a bad memory. The babouchka who took care of me last night is already up. Looks like running a guesthouse in Kyrgyzstan involves as much sleep as ultracycling. She offers me some breakfastContinue reading “Silk Road Mountain Race 2021 / Day 4”
Silk Road Mountain Race 2021 / Day 3
It’s 4am and a light drizzle is falling when I leave Kochkor. I have a bit less than 40km to ride on the main road before returning to the gravel but it’s not exactly rush hour, so I enjoy a quiet stroll on gentle uphill gradients. As the sun rises, the light rain stops andContinue reading “Silk Road Mountain Race 2021 / Day 3”
Silk Road Mountain Race 2021 / Days 1 and 2
It’s 9:30pm when about 100 riders extract themselves from the mini busses where they were all cramped up for about 6 hours. The Silk Road Mountain Race is supposed to start in thirty minutes, but all of us know there’s no chance this is gonna happen. The semis carrying our bikes are hundreds of kilometersContinue reading “Silk Road Mountain Race 2021 / Days 1 and 2”
Kyrgyzstan, a journey
As I’m traveling in Kyrgyzstan waiting for the Silk road mountain race to start, I thought I’d take the time to gather a few thoughts and shed some light on what I’ve been going through these last few days. I don’t know if there will be anything to take away from it, but it mightContinue reading “Kyrgyzstan, a journey”
Transpyrénées recap
June 27th, 8am, Llançà, Spain. After much anticipation, the 2021 edition of the Transpyrénées starts. It’s my 13th ultra-cycling race, however it is a very special one for me. 7 months ago I broke my knee in a traffic accident. After getting a titanium plate screwed to my tibia, I had to hop on crutchesContinue reading “Transpyrénées recap”
The hardest race
People often ask me what’s the most difficult race I’ve taken part in. Well, not that often actually. But I think I’ve already been asked the question a few times. Anyway it’s one I’m keen to answer. And this being my blog, nobody is gonna stop me. It’s not easy to answer though. Each race hasContinue reading “The hardest race”
(Un)breakable
December 4th 2020, mid-day. I’m on my way to make the last delivery of my shift. I’m riding fast on a wide boulevard when suddenly a truck stops right in front of me. I brake but can’t avoid it. My knee hits the backdoor flush and I fall to the ground, screaming in pain likeContinue reading “(Un)breakable”
Why I race
Why do I race? Ultra-cycling is hard. You’re miserable most of the time. There’s always a part of your body that’s bothering you; whether it’s your legs, your neck, your ass, your hands, your feet. You’re always tired, exhausted even, sleep deprived. It may very well be the hardest sport in the world and there’sContinue reading “Why I race”
How it all started
I’ve always dreamed of travelling far away. Preferably in a land with a culture as different as possible from my own. When I was around 18, I started fixating on Asia. It seemed to me I would find something there, the adventure I was looking for. The feeling of being lost in the most foreignContinue reading “How it all started”
Sofiane Sehili 