Bikes of Transpyrenees 2021

Joe Rass-Court

Age: 29

Location: Sitges, Barcelona

Cap number:

Your bike: Specialized S-Works Æthos. Dura-ace di2 discs. With Pirelli P-Zero race 26 tyres for lightweight, puncture protection and insane grip.

Your key items of kit: All of which will be going into the Apidura racing series top tube and saddle packs which are best bikepacking bags for racing. 95% of my kit is food!! I’ve been caught out with not having enough in the past and super worried about getting into that situation again. I’ll be wearing Pas Normal Studios solitude bibs, jersey and socks. It’s genuinely really comfortable, performing and sleek kit I can wear all day and night. Going for yellow for extra visibility. I’ll have a PNS rain jacket at the bottom of my rear pack and a stowaway in my pocket. Shoes are the Spesh Ares which are incredibly comfortable, look sweet and feel fast. Few extra repair bits and bobs, sunscreen and ext. batteries and that’s pretty much it. If it gets cold I’m kinda screwed.

Aday Palmero Acosta

Age: 41

Location: Tenerife, Canary Islands

Cap number: 109

Your bike: Specialized Tarmac SL6, with 38c Roval Wheels. Rotor Q Rings 52-36 and cassette 11-34.

Your key items of kit: I´ll be wearing cycling kit from Tan Line, a brand that uses sustainable and recycled fabrics. Bikepacking bags: Handlebar bag and auxiliary bag from Cordel, I love this brand. I also have a Top Tube 1L and a Saddle bag 7L from Apidura. I'll have a Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket for cold descents.

Matthias Wellershoff

Age: 27

Location: Zürich, Switzerland

Cap number: 20

Your bike: I will be riding my Wilier Superleggera with Campagnolo Chorus groupset and Campagnolo Zonda wheels fitted with 28mm Veloflex Corsa EVO tyres. As contact points I have Shimano PD-M520 Pedals, Cinelli Giro d'Italia handlebars with Cinelli Cork bartape as well as a Selle San Marco Regal Evo saddle.

Your key items of kit: My bike is fitted with a 15L Topeak Backloader, which will contain various clothes as well as my sleeping system (consisting of a Western Mountaineering Summerlite sleeping bag, a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Uberlite sleeping pad and a Gossamer Gear Twinn Tarp), along with two bags made by Helmut Equipment: The 1.4L Gumdel Top Tube bag and the 8L TR Manivelle Handlebar bag. I will be wearing a mix of clothes from Cafe du Cycliste and Tanline along with my Suplest Crosscountry Performance shoes (which might also be my favourite bit of kit for the journey). My favourite gear ratio has to be 34-28 since I like to ride uphill and enjoy the comfort of knowing that I am able to shift down another gear (to 34-32).

Ulrich „uba“ Bartholmoes

Age: 34

Location: Munich, Germany

Cap number: 1

Your bike: I´m riding on a OPEN U.P.P.E.R. – a custom build 2020 setup which I call “LA MACCHINA” with Lightweight Meilenstein EVO Rims powered by a Rotor 2inPower with 52/36 and 32-11 Shimano Dura Ace Groupset. All the stuff I need I carry in Apidura Race Series Kit. To light up the night I swear on Supernova Lights. Without luggage my bike has less than 7kg – helps me to love climbing a lot.

Your key items of kit: The main aspect of my whole setup is to keep it light and simple! On the bike I consequently use only the lightest parts – but already proven in harsh conditions. I use the minimalistic and also super lightweight Apidura Race Series packs for my luggage with clothes in the saddle bag and food and spareparts in the top tube and framepack. Most of all, I love the new Apidura Musette which I carry on the seatpost – I use it a lot on the quick refuel-stops to grab as much food as I can.

Martin Bloch

Age: 27

Location: Berlin (but I'm French)

Cap number: 33

Your bike: My road bike is a handmade, custom built steel frame from Cycles Manivelle (in Strasbourg). It is equipped with a Shimano Ultegra 50/34 - 11/34 with hydraulic disc brakes because it seems that we'll be climbing a bit! I'll ride on Hunt Superdura dynamo wheels that'll power my front and rear lights; this is one less thing to care about during the race. The front light is a Busch und Müller IQX, and should be powerful enough to ride through the night. The wheels are mounted with 28 mm Hutchinson tires (with tubes).

Your key items of kit: My frame, handlebar and top tube bags are the Expedition series from Apidura are fairly common in those types of events I think, so I won't go into details. They'll contain the sleeping kit, some food, my electronic devices and all the repairing tools. What's more interesting is the rear rack, which is also custom built. It will carry a 7L dry bag with all my clothes (down jacket, wind jacket, leg warmers, etc.). The rack weighs almost nothing and will prevent the bag from swinging during the climbs. It is asymmetric just because it looks good. It was a (very pleasant) surprise from the Cycles Manivelle guys. I'll carry 3 bottles, just in case, as well as a mattress and a bivy bag and hope that I'll be able to get some sleep outside.

Luis Barreiro

Age: 38

Location: Pombal, Portugal

Cap number: 22

Your bike: Focus Izalco Max Disc Red 2016 with Alpkit bags

Your key items of kit: It's the same setup as last year, with some minimal changes. Clothing go in the handlebar bag, sleep kit on the seat tube bag and repair kit on a small pouch below the bottles. The top tube bags are mostly for food. The electronics have been improved, with a Lupine light and a Garmin Oregon for navigation.

Marcos de Paiva Bueno (aka Bikesutras)

Age: 37

Location: Originally from São Paulo, Brazil but living in Oulu, Finland

Cap number: 114

Your bike: My bike (Kali - Hindu Goddess of Time, Creation, Destruction and Power) is a Cannondale Synapse Hi-Mod fitted with Shimano Dura-Ace groupset, Stayer custom wheelset with DT Swiss 240 EXP hubs, SRM power meter pedals, Brooks C15 saddle, Garmin 1030 plus, Cateye lights and Elite bottle cages and bidons (1.7L).

Your key items of kit: I will be wearing Assos Cento Evo bib shorts and long sleeve base layer, Gore C5 jersey with phone and snacks in the pockets, reflective vest, Isadore signature gloves, Defeet merino socks, Oakley Flight Jacket sunglasses and Aftershokz Aeropex headphones.

The whole kit will be packed into 5 bags as follows:

Aresta handlebar food bag full of goodies and decorated with feathers that I've collected in previous bike tours.

Topeak top tube bag filled with snacks, lip balm, a credit card and some cash.

Deuter top tube bag with a tube, tyre leavers, CO2, tubeless repair kit, tire boot, patches and glue, small Victorinox knife, 4 mm hex and some lube.

Apidura race frame bag with quick layers: arm warmers, Buff neckwear, windproof gloves, cap and toe covers. Toiletries: Chamois cream, deodorant, sunscreen, facemask, baby wipes, toothpaste/brush and a spork.Medicines: Ibuprofen, Panadol, antiseptic, Band-Aids, Tiger balm, Voltaren cream and Bepanthene. Electronics: 2x battery packs, charger and cables. Tools: Topeak survival kit and tyre pressure gauge, Lyzene pump, zip ties, duct tape, spokes and nipples, sealant, nitrile gloves, sponge/scrubber, spare tube, CO2 and chain links.Passport and other documents

Apidura race saddle bag with warm layers: Gilet, leggings and extra merino socks. Rain gear: Gore-Tex jacket and trousers, waterproof overmitts and overshoes. Ortovox ultralight bivy and Abus lock. Apidura Packable Musette bag for carrying food and mid-ride essentials when needed.

The total bike and gear weight without food and water is 16kg and the rider weight is confidential lol.

Mike Lane

Age: 30

Location: Granada, Spain

Cap number: 21

Your bike: 2015 Cannondale Synapse with Ultegra groupset, Hunt 4Season Superdura wheels with SON Deluxe dynamo and 32c Conti GP5000TL tyres. Ritchey Streem handlebar double wrapped with Fizik tape, Fizik Tempo Argo R3 saddle, Thomson Elite seat post. 11-34t cassette and at the last minute I’ve decided to swap on 160mm rotors and a 46/30 chainring. It honestly blows my mind the gearing that people ride this race on, do you all have bionic knees??

Your key items of kit: Helmut Equipment saddle bag and half frame bag that fits like it was custom. Wahoo ROAM for navigation, Sinewave Beacon headlight/charger and Supernova Dynamo taillight. Exposure Joystick for the helmet light. Sleeping setup is an emergency bivy, summer weight down bag, and a Sea to Summit ultralight pad with inflatable pillow. I’ll be wearing a mix of Ixcor bibs, Rapha up top, some PedalEd mitts, and Fizik Terra x5 suede shoes to keep things classy.

Leo Andrione

Age: 28

Location: Munich, Germany

Cap number: 120

Your bike: Rose Backroad 2020. GRX 1x11 drivetrain. Schwalbe G-One Speed 30mm tyres. Profile Design Flip-Up Aerobars.

Your key items of kit: SON Dynamo hub, Supernova front and taillight, AppCon3000 charger, Wahoo Element Roam. Two 1l Bottles mounted to the aerobars. Apidura Expedition Frame Pack, containing: Mountain Equipment Ultralight Bivy, Klymit Inertia mattress. Endura rainjacket, Gore Wear vest, arm and leg warmers. Tools and spareparts: Lezyne pump, CO2 capsules, Topeak survivalbox, turbolito tube, zip ties, cleat, derailleur hanger.

Trev Stone, AKA Stoner

Age: 47

Location: Leguevin, France

Cap number: 36

Your bike: The Bike (AKA Connie The Canyon): After last year's epic Transpyrenees I’m going for comfort over speed with my Grail gravel bike and Hunt 4 Season wheels. I’m armed with a compact on the front and bodged a 11/40 on the back hoping this year my knees will thank me.

Your key items of kit: For company ‘Willson’ my pink toy gibbon is coming again for the ride. Changed from road shoes to MTB’s this year with Crank Brothers pedals again for comfort. I’m using a Moon Meteor Storm front light & Garmin Edge 820. To sleep I use whiskey with bivi bag but hope to use my credit card this year ;-). Like last year l’m still carrying a Picnic basket as a decoy just in case I run into any more bears.

Bob de Ruiter

Age: 34

Location: Leiden, The Netherlands

Cap number: 131

Your bike: Storck, Visioner C, Ultegra set up, DT Swiss rims. Always ride with additional aero bars but I have not yet decided if I will leave them on for the race.

Your key items of kit: I stuff everything in my backseat and with all the force left in my body I will try to close my Ortlieb Seat Pack 16.5ltr. This pack has never failed during all of my biketrips I did. The framebag is from Apidura. 3 bottle cages. A small backpack 10ltr for food and water. Navigation will be done with my trusted partner in crime Garmin Edge 1030 and it will be fueled by 2 powerbanks, which will also be used to charge my lights in the front. Just your normal bikewear and arm plus leg warmer for the morning and night rides. Chamois cream is always the most important thing to bring. I forgot this during the Silk Road Mountain Race and this was the dumbest move ever. Excited as can be!!!!

Justinas Leveika

Age: 32

Location: Øversjødalen, Norway

Cap number: 89

Your bike: I ride on the Unicorn :) That was my winter project, designed and spray painted by me. Used my old bike, the brand? You can try to guess 😊

Your key items of kit: I haven't made my mind yet on what will be the composition of bags on the bike. maybe it will be ultra minimalist, maybe some comfort details. It's my first ultra endurance bike race, so I have no idea. I hope to have much better picture after briefing and chat with other participants 😊.

Pablo Prieto

Age: 54

Location: Gandia, Spain

Cap number: 32

Your bike: Riverside Touring 920.

Your key items of kit: Dynamo + Hub USB integrated in the frame.

Jimmy Polesello

Age: 25

Location: Toulouse, France

Cap number: 19

Your bike: Basso Venta Disc 2021, Shimano 105 r7000 11s (52/36 - 11/34), Pirelli Cinturato tyres (28 mm), TT bars (just to change position).

Your key items of kit: Navigation : Garmin Edge 830. Sleeping kit: bivy bag + sleeping bag + hotel if needed? A lot of food: snickers, rice cakes, water, bread and cheese. Sportful NoRain leg and arm warmers. A powerbank to charge my 2 front lights and 2 rear lights.

Bene Heyl

Age: 22

Location: Munich, Germany

Cap number: 42

Your bike: Canyon Endurace AL with a 11-32 in the back and a 50/31 (or so) in the front. There is a SON Hub Dynamo in the front so I can charge on the go or have a very bright headlight. Headlight is the SON Edelux.

Your key items of kit: Navigation using the wahoo elemnt bolt. Light packing is the easiest way to loose weight so there is only a Ortlieb saddle pack and a AGU handle bar bag with a light sleeping kit and more food than clothes.

Jakub Grabmuller

Age: 24

Location: Utrecht, The Netherlands

Cap number: 72

Your bike: Canyon Endurace 7.0, built in 2020, Shimano 105, Vision 35mm wheels, double bar tape and Pro Stealth saddle for comfort, otherwise no special adjustments :)

Your key items of kit: Apidura expedition bags (14L seatpost, 5,4L frame, 1L top tube), mat and sleeping bag are Sea2Summit. Wahoo GPS and DHB kit.

Lucien Bourquin

Age: 29

Location: Vevey, Switzerland

Cap number: 83

Your bike: Cannondale SupeSix Evo, Shimano Ultegra Di2.

Your key items of kit: Saddle bag with a second bibshort and jersey, Goretex rain jacket, sleeping bag. A frame bag with a small jacket, electronic items, snack bars and some other snacks. Wahoo Element Roam and a light at the front with Dynamo system and plug USB

Omar Di Felice

Age: 39

Location: Rome, Italy

Cap number: 27

Your bike: Wilier Zero SLR with Shimano Dura Ace Di2, Mavic SLR32 wheelset.

Your key items of kit: Pro Bike gear bike packing setup.

Jérôme Massol

Age: 47

Location: Beauzelle, France

Cap number: 44

Your bike: Trek Emonda SL6 Pro 2021

Your key items of kit: Pilot post with Garmin Edge 830 and light. In the frame bag are batteries and food. In the saddle bag are repair kit, matelas, Jacket and food. If you feel in the mood you can follow the tips and I'm supported by CCB (Cyclo Club Beauzellois), UCDR Union Cycliste du Requistanais and many friends

Chris Zair

Age: 33

Location: Barcelona, Spain

Cap number: 154

Your bike: Planet X pro carbon with CERO AR30 Evo wheels.

Your key items of kit: Frame bag, seat bag, bivvy and sleeping bag liner, lots of tailwind nutrition, Hammerhead Karoo, one set of kit plus a change of socks, insulated gilet, sleeves, MAAP deep winter gloves just in case. Sliders, running shorts, running top and a long sleeve top for the eve. Day kit and food in the frame bag, everything else in the seat bag!

Andrew Hunt

Age: 40

Location: Calvia, Mallorca

Cap number: 23

Your bike: This year I will be using a Giant TCR, Mix of Ultegra and Dura-Ace drive train. Hope RX4 disc brakes with 160 mm rotors on Vision 55 SL wheels. Running a big Gemini front light for the night riding.

Your key items of kit: Bags are a mix of Ortlieb and Zipp. My saddle bag carries an Alpkit Bivy and Camp ED500 sleeping bag. The frame bag is loaded with tools, food, spare clothes and battery banks. The Zipp top tube bag carries headphone cables, energy bars and the front light battery.

Juan Carlos Serrano Camacho

Age: 45

Location: Madrid, Spain

Cap number: 66

Your bike: BH G6 with Shimano Ultegra and Rotor 50-34 cranks and 11-32 cassette.

Your key items of kit: I will carry a Columbus saddle bag, Rockbros horizontal bar bag and a small Btwin. To navigate I will use Komoot on my phone and a Garmin for recording the ride.

Ricardo De Miguel Lostao

Age: 40

Location: Zaragoza, Spain

Cap number: 158

Your bike: Trek Emonda SL6, 50-34 crankset and 11-32 cassette. No custom components.

Your key items of kit: I´ll carry a rescue blanket and some blankets from Decathlon in case we have to sleep outdoors.

Tim Kremer

Age: 55

Location: Hong Kong, SAR China

Cap number: 110

Your bike: Falkenjagd Titanium road bike, Enve SES 3.4 wheels, VAP Cycling Kangaroo luggage system

Your key items of kit: Hammerhead Karoo 2, Zendure X6 20,000 mAh power bank

Reeta Nykänen

Age: 39

Location: London, UK

Cap number: 26

Your bike: Canyon Ultimate CF SLX with Sram Red but I've changed the wheels to ones with a Dynamo.

Your key items of kit: Most bags are Apidura, planning to bivvy so I've got a sleeping bag, mattress and the bivvy bag in the front in just a basic dry bag. Navigating with Wahoo Roam.

Olivier Phan Sy

Age: 28

Location: Grenoble, France

Cap number: 31

Your bike: Canyon Endurace CF SL 9.0. Crankset is 36-52 with cassette : 11-34. Tyres are Continental GP 5000 - 28mm. Dynamo SON on Alpinwheel. Lights are Supernova E3 Pro 2 and Supernova Tail light . USB Charger is Igaro D2 and GPS is a Garmin Edge 830 .

Your key items of kit: Bags are Tailfin AeroPack, Apidura long top tube, Apidura Expedition frame, Food pouch and Helmut equipment. Sleeping kit includes a Wilsa Ultra light down 150 sleeping bag, Klymit Inertia X Frame mattress and Rab - Survival zone lite bivvy bag. Bib is an Ozio Titan .

Borja Gascon

Age: 34

Location: Zaragoza, Spain

Cap number: 56

Your bike: Cube Litening 2013 in Dura-Ace 9000.

Your key items of kit: This year i am bringing a handlebar bag, top tube bag and frame bag. No saddlebag this time. I bring some winter clothes for the high passes and a good bivvy bag. A 1200 lux frontlight and a headlamp in my helmet, and two rear lights that last up to 16 hours each. For navigation my Garmin Edge 830 and since I don’t want to quit due to mechanical problems, I carry some extra weight in spare parts, such as spare spokes and a spare dropout hanger. Good luck everyone!!

Sergio Zancada Marquet

Age: 41

Location: Collado Villalba, Madrid

Cap number: 10

Your bike: Specialized Sworks Sl6, cambio electrónico Sram Etap 11V (11-30) roldana de cambio Ceramicspeed, frenos Dura-Ace, ruedas Bora ultra 35, potenciómetro Qarq, Platos ovalados Qrings (52/34) sillín Fizik Antares R1, pedales Dura ace, manillar Trek Bontraguer integrado carbono.

Your key items of kit: Navegador Garmin Edge 1030. Llevaré bolsa central de cuadro y una trasera o delantera aún estoy dudando, dos luces traseras bontraguer y dos luces delanteras bontraguer. Mi idea es dormir en Hoteles hostales o similares evitando la calle por lo que no llevo saco de dormir. Ropa de verano, gabba invierno manga corta y chubasquero.