BADLANDS 2023: WRAP-UP
With Tristan Cardew
It was the middle of October 2022 when I stepped off my bike after a brutal, 5 day, non-stop Atlas Mountain Race and swore never to do an ‘Ultra’ again.
Yet here I was - less than 12 months later - on the start line of what many consider the most competitive and premier ultra in Europe, about to start the suffering once more.
Badlands is a 750 kilometer ultra-distance gravel race that starts in Granada, southern Spain, and ends in Capileira whenever you get there. The clockwise loop takes you through Europe’s only desert (the Gorafe), along dry riverbeds, over steep and loose terrain, to the coast of Almeria and deposits you halfway up Europe’s highest rideable pass, Pico del Veleta, 15000 meters of climbing later. It’s an entirely self-supported event, following a single, fixed route, and 85% of it is on gravel.
The plan? No sleep, short stops, and to get the thing done as fast as I could…
THE KIT:
For Badlands I made two very specific kit decisions: firstly, I’d be wearing the All Day Adventure bibs. These have been my go-to on the bike for the last number of years. The combination of compressive fabric, the most comfortable chamois I’ve ridden and the dual cargo pockets makes them an ultra-riders best friend. Phone in one pocket for quick access to photograph and film, empty food wrappers (of which there were many) in the other pocket.
On top of this I chose the Attaquer Race Ultra+ Climbers jersey in white. Why white for a gravel race? The heat. Badlands, being in the south of Spain in September, means temperatures would be reaching close to 40 degrees, and with steep climbs and plenty of moments with little airflow I wanted every advantage I could have. The super lightweight, highly breathable Climbers jersey has been a staple in my summer wardrobe these past couple of years and the performance difference when the mercury rises is substantial.
For the evenings, and especially at 2100 meters like on the first evening, I used a combination of my Race Rain Softshell gilet, and when it got down below 10 degrees I put on my All Day Quilted Jacket. I even had a brief stint wearing the Neck Warmer when I had to descend through fog for 30 kilometers…
BADLANDS 2023:
WRAP-UP
With Tristan Cardew
It was the middle of October 2022 when I stepped off my bike after a brutal, 5 day, non-stop Atlas Mountain Race and swore never to do an ‘Ultra’ again.
Yet here I was - less than 12 months later - on the start line of what many consider the premier, and most competitive ultra in Europe, about to start the suffering once more.
Badlands is a 750 kilometer ultra-distance gravel race that starts in Granada, southern Spain, and ends in Capileira whenever you get there. The clockwise loop takes you through Europe’s only desert (the Gorafe), along dry riverbeds, over steep and loose terrain, to the coast of Almeria and deposits you halfway up Europe’s highest rideable pass, Pico del Veleta, 15000 meters of climbing later. It’s an entirely self-supported event, following a single, fixed route, and 85% of it is on gravel.
The plan? No sleep, short stops, and to get the thing done as fast as I could…
THE KIT:
For Badlands I made two very specific kit decisions: firstly, I’d be wearing the All Day Adventure bibs. These have been my go-to on the bike for the last number of years. The combination of compressive fabric, the most comfortable chamois I’ve ridden and the dual cargo pockets makes them an ultra-riders best friend. Phone in one pocket for quick access to photograph and film, empty food wrappers (of which there were many) in the other pocket.
On top of this I chose the Attaquer Race Ultra+ Climbers jersey in white. Why white for a gravel race? The heat. Badlands, being in the south of Spain in September, means temperatures would be reaching close to 40 degrees, and with steep climbs and plenty of moments with little airflow I wanted every advantage I could have. The super lightweight, highly breathable Climbers jersey has been a staple in my summer wardrobe these past couple of years and the performance difference when the mercury rises is substantial.
For the evenings, and especially at 2100 meters like on the first evening, I used a combination of my Race Rain Softshell gilet, and when it got down below 10 degrees I put on my All Day Quilted Jacket. I even had a brief stint wearing the Neck Warmer when I had to descend through fog for 30 kilometers…