Photo by Arnau Lumeras
For ultra-cyclists and adventure seekers, Badlands is a race that’s both breathtaking and brutal. Spanning 800 kilometres with over 16,000 meters of climbing, the race takes you through some of the most remote and extreme landscapes in Spain—the deserts of Gorafe, Tabernas, and the natural park of Cabo de Gata. The searing heat, technical terrain, and unrelenting climbs make Badlands one of the toughest ultra-cycling races in the world.
Here, I’ll share my personal experience of racing through the Spanish deserts, overcoming technical challenges, and perfecting my bike setup to thrive in this punishing environment.
Preparing for Badlands: From Transcontinental to Gravel Adventures
After the Transcontinental Race, I felt I needed to improve my gravel skills, especially after encountering a parkour that nearly broke me. Badlands presented the perfect opportunity to challenge myself in a gravel-specific event. Unlike many ultra-cycling races, Badlands is a technical, off-road adventure where gravel bikes and even mountain bikes are common. Riders range from pro cyclists and gravel specialists to seasoned ultra-cyclists, creating a unique mix of competitors.
The Start: Facing the First Climb and the Heat
The race began in Granada on September 1st at 8 a.m. As we started, a steep climb quickly separated the pack, and I found myself hanging on to the front-mid pack. The pace was intense from the get-go. While I was strong on the climbs, my lack of confidence on technical descents saw me fall back, but I knew the real challenge was yet to come—Gorafe Desert.
Through the Gorafe Desert: Managing Heat and Technical Descents
As we approached Gorafe, the temperature skyrocketed past 40°C, making hydration and pacing crucial. I quickly stopped at a small shop to resupply on ice and snacks before tackling the steep concrete climb into the desert. The Gorafe Desert is remote and desolate, and you can easily get dehydrated if you don’t prepare. The technical descents through this section were challenging, with washouts and drop-offs that could send you tumbling off cliffs if you weren't careful.
Despite these dangers, I began to make up time on the climbs. My Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M tires at the rear and Schwalbe Thunder Burt at the back, both set up tubeless with Silca sealant, provided excellent grip in the loose sand and rocky terrain. This, combined with my Redshift suspension stem, absorbed a lot of the rough impacts, keeping me comfortable and in control. By the time I left the desert, I had moved up significantly in the field.
Gor: A Welcoming Oasis for Resupply
After navigating the intense heat and treacherous descents of Gorafe, we arrived at Gor, a small town that felt like an oasis. The locals were incredibly supportive, opening restaurants and supermarkets just for the riders. I took the opportunity to resupply for the night, loading up on food and water.
Though the heat was still intense, I decided to ride through the night. My experience in ultra-cycling taught me the importance of pacing and not going out too hard early on. By sticking to my strategy, I climbed from position 100 to the top 20 by morning.
The Climb Through Cabo de Gata: A Wild West Experience
From the desert of Tabernas, I ascended into the wild, rocky terrain of the Cabo de Gata Natural Park. This section of the race feels like something out of a Western film—rugged and unyielding. Though the climbs were steep and relentless, my SRAM Force XPLR AXS groupset and Kogel Kolossos oversized derailleur cage helped me maintain an efficient cadence. The heat was unbearable at times, but the views were stunning, and the thought of reaching the coast kept me going.
At one point, I stopped at a beach town to wash my bike, top off my supplies, and grab some ice. Though other riders overtook me here, I didn’t let it bother me. I treated it as part of the experience and focused on riding my race.
Navigating the Nijar and Tabernas Sections: Through Desert Valleys and Dry Riverbeds
After the grueling 15 km climb out of Nijar, the race route plunges into the heart of the desert, taking riders through Tabernas, a desolate and rugged terrain that tests your endurance, navigation, and bike-handling skills. But perhaps the most challenging aspect of this section is riding through the dry riverbeds—or ramblas—that carve through the landscape, creating a labyrinth of loose sand, rocks, and dust.
The Nijar Climb: Beating the Heat to Tackle the Day
After a good night of sleep 4H and washing my clothes in the hotel's laundry machine which helped avoid saddle sores due to the sand and small stones going into my bib shorts after my crash in the Gorafe dessert, I felt fresh and ready to tackle the day. I left behind any secret ambition I had and decided to go on bikepacking mode and just enjoy the route. Starting the climb out of Nijar early in the morning (2 am) was crucial to avoiding the worst of the midday heat, which can easily soar above 40°C (104°F). The gradient is relentless, and there’s very little shade to provide respite. The climb has a mix of road, loose gravel and rocky patches, and it’s vital to keep a steady pace without burning too much energy early on.
Descending into Tabernas Desert: A Maze of Sand and Rocks
After the ascent from Nijar, the descent into Tabernas feels like you’re entering a scene straight out of an old Western movie.
The descent was challenging but the most technical part of this section wasn’t the descent itself—it was the ramblas, the dry riverbeds that run through the valleys, creating a series of natural, sand-filled trenches that crisscross the course.
Riding through the ramblas was like navigating through a maze made of sand, loose gravel, and rocks. These dry riverbeds, which swell with water during rare rainstorms but are bone dry for most of the year, are notorious for being hard to navigate. You can’t always rely on GPS or trail markers to guide you, as the landscape constantly shifts with each passing season, and tracks from previous riders can be misleading.
The ramblas are wide, with unpredictable terrain that can change from hard-packed sand to loose, deep gravel in an instant. I had to constantly shift my weight and adjust my body position to maintain traction.
Keeping my focus on the path ahead and scanning for the firmest ground was crucial. Often, there’s no clear “trail”—just a general direction through the valley. The washouts from past floods have created multiple routes, some of which lead to dead ends. This is where the mental challenge of ultra-cycling kicks in: staying calm and confident, even when you feel like you’re lost in the middle of a vast desert.
Strategy in the Ramblas: Finding the Right Line
Riding through the ramblas required a careful balance between speed and caution. The faster you ride, the more you risk losing control in the loose sand, but going too slow can cause you to get bogged down, making it harder to get back up to speed.
One of the key tactics I used was following the tire tracks of other riders. While not always foolproof, these tracks often showed the path of least resistance, highlighting where previous riders had found solid ground. However, it’s easy to fall into the trap of blindly following a track without paying attention to where it’s leading. In one instance, I found myself heading down a track that led straight into a patch of soft sand, forcing me to dismount and walk my bike to firmer ground.
The Final Push: El Muro and the Climb to Trevelez
After surviving tabernas and the climb out of Instincion, I faced the infamous "El Muro"—a 15-20 kilometer climb on a concrete road with gradients as steep as 25%. By this point, exhaustion was hitting most of the field, but I knew the importance of fueling and hydration.
The last resupply point at Trevelez proved to be more challenging than expected, with several steep climbs leading up to it. As I began to run low on food, I stopped at a bar and, in desperation, bought a kilo of sugar—the most expensive sugar I’ve ever purchased. But it kept me going through the final section, which included a dangerous hike-a-bike stretch where a wrong step could send you over a cliff.
Just before midnight, I rolled across the finish line, tired but grateful for this experience!
My Bike Setup for Badlands
One of the most critical aspects of surviving a race like Badlands is your equipment. Here's the full breakdown of my bike setup that helped me through the race:
Bike: FARA Gravel Bike – Perfect for gravel adventures.
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Suspension Stem: Redshift Suspension Stem– Helped absorb shocks from the rough terrain.
Derailleur Cage: Kogel Kolossos Oversized Derailleur Cage– For efficient shifting and reduced friction.
Tires: Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M (rear ) and Schwalbe Thunder Burt(front), set up tubeless using Silca Sealant.
Group Set: SRAM Force XPLR AXS Wireless – For smooth shifting across rough terrain.
Garmin Mount Silca 3D-printed titanium mount – Strong and lightweight.
Silca Titanium Bottle Cages – Durable and lightweight.
Shimano XTR Pedals – Reliable and perfect for gravel adventures.
Fulcrum Red Rapid wheels – Lightweight and fast, ideal for technical climbs and descents.
Top Tube Bag: Apidura Race Top Tube Pack (1L) – Compact and waterproof..
FARA Frame Bag– Magnetic attachment, perfect for quick access to gear.
Clothing
Albion Cycling Reflective Cargo Vest with a hydration bladder and storage pockets.
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Filming Equipment
Insta360 Go 3S– For capturing all the action.
Conclusion: Would You Ride Badlands?
Badlands was an unforgettable experience, blending extreme conditions, technical gravel descents, and a strong sense of community. The race taught me the value of preparation—both mentally and with the right gear.
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