Atlas Mountain Race - Interview with the winner Marei Moldenhauer

The Atlas Mountain Race (AMR) is one of the toughest bikepacking races in the world. The route cuts through the remote and rugged landscapes of Morocco—over rocky tracks, endless climbs, and challenging hike-a-bike sections. In 2025, Marei Moldenhauer crossed the finish line as the first woman and eighth overall. She shattered the previous fastest time by five hours—on an even tougher course. 

But how do you prepare for such a race? What challenges arise along the way—physically, mentally, and logistically? In this interview, Marei shares insights into her preparation, gear choices, and the biggest challenges she faced during the race.

Preparing for the Atlas Mountain Race

Training – "Training is part of my daily life"

Can you take us through your preparation in the months leading up to the race? When did you decide to enter?

I've been training with my coach, Max Kinzelbauer, since February, and for me, training feels like a continuum—I just train all the time. So, I didn’t feel like anything fundamentally changed.

Of course, there was an intense phase with high volume right before the race, which was sometimes difficult to balance with my job as a doctor. But my coach is great—training always challenges me, but never overwhelms me. If work gets particularly stressful, he adjusts my training accordingly. Because stress is stress, whether it’s physical or mental.

Training Volume

How many hours per week did you train leading up to the race?

It varied a lot due to my shift work. When I had weekend shifts and extra work during the week, I sometimes only managed 8 or 9 hours. In weeks with more free time, I reached up to 23 hours.

I don’t have a fixed average, but I’d estimate around 12 hours per week. So, a lot, but nothing extreme.

Gear Selection – The Right Bike for the Atlas Mountain Race

Gear Selection – The Right Bike for the Atlas Mountain Race

"I’d rather be overbiked than underbiked"

Beyond training, how did the rest of your preparation look? You needed a different bike, right?

Yes, that was actually a big deal. I thought I was getting ahead of it this time, but in the end, it was still quite last-minute. I only got to test my bike for the first time two weeks before the race.

I knew one thing for sure: I wasn’t riding this on a gravel bike. I’d rather be overbiked than underbiked, and a gravel bike would have been way too underbiked for this race—that just wasn’t an option. So, I needed a mountain bike.

I’d been thinking about getting one for a while anyway, and the Atlas Mountain Race was the perfect excuse. Together with the team at Bikeshop Freiburg, I found the perfect bike. They built it up for me super quickly.

Choosing the Right Bags – Long Distances Without Resupply

The bags were another challenge. I knew I needed plenty of space for water, as there were long stretches without resupply points. 

This time, I carried an extra vest on my back for additional water because my frame bag left no room for bottles. With this setup, I had a total water capacity of 4.5 liters. 

As in my previous races, I relied on CYCLITE bags—they’re robust, reliable, and extremely lightweight.

My Setup

Nutrition and Hydration on the Go

How did you manage your nutrition on the road?

Nutrition was actually one of the biggest challenges for me. Since I have celiac disease, I can’t eat gluten—which rules out cookies, cakes, bread, pasta, and many other common race snacks—so food is always a bit more complicated for me.

The small shops along the route mostly sell cookies and chocolate bars, and almost all of them contain gluten. I ate a lot of omelets and tajine, but neither of those provides much energy. So, I ended up eating a lot of plain sugar, dates, or honey.

But it got increasingly difficult. I had moments where I just couldn’t eat anymore. It wasn’t even that I ran out of food—I simply forgot to eat or didn’t want to. At one point, I realized I had only eaten two Snickers bars and a few dates all day. That was way too little, but I had just lost my appetite.

Planning Hydration

How did you plan your water supply?

There’s a roadbook with information on resupply points, but you can’t always rely on everything being available. The longest stretch without water was around 100 km, with lots of hike-a-bike sections, so carrying enough was crucial. 

Mental and Physical Challenges

Long Nights 

How did you cope with sleep deprivation?

In Morocco, nights are about 12 hours long at this time of year. You need good lights and the ability to ride for long hours in the dark. I didn’t sleep much during the race—I don’t usually plan my sleep strategy in advance but rather decide on the go how much I need. 

This time, that approach didn’t work so well. I ended up in a situation I never wanted to be in—I was on the bike but actually too tired to ride. That’s something I never want to experience again. I’ve learned from this mistake, and for my next race, I’ll plan potential sleep spots and times more carefully.

How did you get out of that situation?

I slept. I noticed it happening while riding uphill, which made it less dangerous than it could have been. At the next opportunity, I lay down on the roadside and slept for an hour. It was already daylight, and using that time felt crucial—but that one hour made a huge difference. My brain was functioning again afterward.

Dealing with Your Period During the Race 

I got my period during the race—and honestly, there’s hardly a worse time and place for it than in the desert. I was in the middle of the sand, with no water, no shelter—nothing. It was broad daylight.

At the time, I kept leapfrogging another rider—we’d take turns overtaking each other. So, I dropped back a little and had to deal with it, right there in the desert. I thought about waiting, but the discomfort kept growing, and I had to act.

I had menstrual products with me, but without water, it was really difficult. I used hygiene wipes, but they don’t really get your hands clean. I just needed water to properly wash up. So, I had no choice but to squat down in the middle of the desert and make it work. It must have looked hilarious.

Later, when I reached the next village, I hoped to clean up in a restroom—but it wasn’t set up for that at all. So, I just had to deal with it for the rest of the day.

Looking back, I can laugh about it, but in the moment, it was tough—especially since I was already dealing with saddle discomfort. This just made everything even more unpleasant.

Period During a Race or Training – How Do You Handle It?

Fortunately, I rarely have issues during training. I experience little pain during my period.
In fact, my period is often a time when I can handle intense training well and feel strong.

During a race, it’s usually not a problem either. I use a menstrual cup or disc, which I insert in advance if I expect my period. But this time, it came unexpectedly.

It seems to be quite common for women to suddenly get their period during ultra-cycling races, likely due to the physical stress. This makes logistics more challenging. But with the right products, I manage well – and since I luckily don’t experience pain, it doesn’t stop me from performing at my best.

Conclusion – Learnings from the Race

Was there a highlight?

It's hard to say because the entire route was so stunning. One section through the canyons stands out in my memory—I was completely off-road, but just incredibly happy. The landscape was breathtaking.

A particularly beautiful stretch was shortly after Checkpoint 2. There were many hike-a-bike sections, but the scenery was simply amazing. Morocco's landscapes are so diverse. One moment, you're surrounded by red, sandy mountains; the next, sharp, bright white cliffs, followed by small oases with palm trees and vibrant green grass. It's unbelievable.

A Shift in Perspective

Whenever I struggle to stay positive, I have different tools and methods to help me regain my mindset. Music is one of them. Another is consciously taking in the landscape. And a third is reminding myself how privileged I am. I can afford the gear and training necessary for this. I am physically fit and have no injuries holding me back. And I come from a country where it is relatively normal for women and FLINTA* individuals to ride bikes. None of that is a given.

What advice would you give to future participants?

• The right setup makes a huge difference. I’m very glad I chose a mountain bike.
• Accept slowness. You can’t fight the conditions—you have to adapt to them.

Would you race the Atlas Mountain Race again?

Absolutely! But there are many other races I still want to do first. However, I definitely want to return to Morocco someday.

We congratulate Marei on her incredible victory and performance.
If you want to follow her journey, find her on Instagram: @marei.mol

📸 Photo Credits: Nils Laengner