24-Hour World Championships Recap: Racing Through Borrego Springs, California

A week ago, we returned from the 24-Hour World Championships in Borrego Springs, California. For those unfamiliar with ultra cycling, this intense event is essentially a 24-hour time trial, where competitors from all over the world race a looped course for a full day and night, racing for distance. With non-drafting rules, each rider must keep their own pace, making it a true test of individual endurance and strength. The winner is determined by who covers the greatest distance within the 24 hours.

Race Setting and Conditions

Borrego Springs, a desert area known for its dry air and minimal wind, presents a challenging climate for racers. When wind does pick up, it’s usually quite strong. Daytime temperatures usually reaches 30 degrees while nights drop drastically, creating extreme conditions as the sun rises and sets over the mountains. This unique setting attracts the world’s top 24-hour racers and ultra-endurance athletes, making it an epic showdown of endurance.

My Goal: Aiming for the Podium

After finishing in top 5 twice at the 24-Hour World Championships (in 2019 and 2022) my main ambition going into the race was to reach the podium. The Borrego Springs course is relatively flat, favoring powerful riders. Personally, I prefer hilly or mountainous courses, but as it is the World Championships there’s no excuse but to bring everything you have got. Looking at the start list I knew that the competition in the men’s race would be very strong, possibly the strongest in many years, including last year’s World Champion from Slovenia and big champions like Diseviscourt (Luxemburg) and Kaider (Austria). I knew that I would need my best performance to be competative.

Race Strategy and Challenges

The race began in waves, with 20 to 25 riders in each wave setting off together. Early on, I focused on pacing myself conservatively, aiming to find my rhythm. Many top racers started very fast, but I held back, aiming to preserve energy for the long haul. This tactic allowed me to find my pace and monitor my heart rate and power output as I progressed through the initial laps.

After several hours on the road, fatigue started setting in. Racing on the rough roads of the desert caused discomfort in my back, shoulders and butt. Nothing I hadn’t tried before. After roughly 8 hours I decided that we needed to address this and make some minor adjustments during a pit stop. Despite losing some time, this change helped me sustain my pace for several more laps. Still dropping power but more controlled.

Nightfall and Early Morning Fatigue

As night fell, the desert temperature dropped significantly over the 24-Hour World Championships. I layered up during a pit stop, even though I knew it would cost additional time. Every second spend not riding is wasted in ultra cycling. By early morning, my power and focus were waning. Fighting off sleep while cycling is a notorious challenge in ultra-races. If you snooze you lose. But this time I couldn’t fight it off anymore. I took a brief rest in the early morning hours. Although this cost me valuable minutes, I knew it was the only option. Falling asleep on the bike would do no good for my result or health.

Final Push Through Tough Conditions

With only six hours remaining, I found myself further back than I’d hoped, battling fatigue and the mental battle of settling for something worse than wanted. Yet, as the desert sun rose, so did the wind. Strong gusts and sandstorm made the course treacherous, but I took advantage of these challenging conditions as others struggled. The race organizers shortened the course for safety due to the sand, guiding the riders into the final short laps. A battle against the elements.

During these final laps, I set my sights on the Swiss champion just ahead. With my crew’s encouragement, I chased him down, passing him on the final lap and securing a seventh-place finish overall. Although this wasn’t the podium finish I aimed for, I was proud to push through the obstacles and finish stronger than I had thought possible during the night.

Reflecting on the Experience at the 24-Hour World Championships

Though I didn’t achieve my goal of a podium spot, this race was a reminder of the challenges and unpredictability of ultra-cycling. Disappointed but not beaten. With my team’s support and strategic adjustments, I was able to overcome fatigue and finish among the top riders. The 24-Hour World Championships in Borrego Springs provided a valuable learning experience. It is not what you do in the race but what you take away from it.

Full results here.