Anatole Naimi is 24 and works as a bike mechanic in Belgium. He picked up the cycle travel bug before the pandemic and since then has specialised in ultradistance racing. This year he is taking on, among other races, the trilogy of the Atlas, Hellenic and Silk Road Mountain Races.

Having participated in the Atlas Mountain Race in touring mode as a pair 2023, despite a lack of preparation this time he went with his race head on…

How did you prepare for the race?

I was really lacking in physical preparation! After a tough end to the 2024 season and doing the Trans Pyrenees Race (2,100km and 38,000m of elevation) followed by the Two Volcano Sprint (1,100km and 21,000m of elevation) just 10 days apart, I wanted to take a break from the bike and rest. I had planned to start training again in early December, but the weather in Belgium was really bad. So I did a bit of road cycling so I’d at least make it to the finish line. After all, three-to-four weeks of cycling isn’t a long enough block to expect much. Another important factor was that I only received my mountain bike and built it up the week before the race. As for preparing for the terrain, it was the same route I had ridden in 2023. I had a lot of memories of it, but not necessarily in the right order. However, once I was on the course, the puzzle started to come together, which really helped me with decision-making. Regarding nutrition, I’ve never really paid much attention to it, and it’s something I’d like to improve for future races.

For a long-distance race like this, what do you carry in your bags? What items and accessories are essential for you?

I went for a very light setup given the route. I had a custom Ena-Bags frame bag, which allowed me to carry two 550ml bottles while still having plenty of storage space, a small saddlebag, and a hydration vest with a 1.5L capacity.

In the frame bag I carried:
- Repair kit
- SOL Expedition bivvy and emergency blanket
- Liner gloves and mid-season gloves
- Café du Cycliste arm and leg warmers
- Café du Cycliste Merino socks
- Short-sleeved Edith gilet
- Rain jacket
- 5,000mAh portable battery and cables
- Pump
- Wet wipes
- Chain oil
- Chamois cream

In the saddlebag:
- Inner tube
- Waterproof socks
- Down jacket
- Sea to Summit Spark SP0 sleeping bag
- 20 electrolyte capsules and 15 gels

Tell us about how the race went…

We set off from Marrakech at 6 PM in a peloton of 260 riders. It was fast and nervous until the first climb, where everyone settled into their own pace. On the climb to Telouet (2,700m), before descending to CP1, my legs weren’t great, so I slowed down but then pushed hard on the descent and arrived second at CP1. I didn’t linger – just stamped my brevet, put on my leg warmers since it was -2°C, and set off again.

Two hours later, I tore the sidewall of my tyre on a rocky descent. I spent 30-40 minutes in the cold patching it up from the outside, and luckily it held until morning. Then, 10 kilometres before the key refueling point (a petrol station before a hundred kilometre section with no supplies), my makeshift repair failed. Despite multiple attempts with the pump, the tyre wouldn’t hold air. Frustrated and desperate, I rode on the liner (foam insert) until I reached the petrol station, hoping to find a garage there. My hopes were short-lived: when I arrived, I realized I’d have to fix it myself. I ordered four omelets and patched the tire from the inside, shocked it with a compressor and prayed it would hold. Even though I lost an hour at the petrol station, my morale was high, and I was ready to get back in the chase – far behind but undefeated.I pushed on until nightfall, stopping around 10 PM before I totally killed my legs. I slept for four hours in the back room of a café (at km420), then set off again at 2 AM. The goal was to maintain steady progress to CP3 (km880). I slightly overestimated my pace on the colonial road climb at night and ended up having to sleep at the summit (1,800m, 0°C) from midnight to 1:30 AM in my bivvy before continuing. I reached CP3 in 5th place. I knew I didn’t have the legs to do better, but I focused on managing the remaining 420 kilometres, which included two key sections.

After riding on a scorching road section (+30°C), the first key section was an 18-kilometre straight stretch through sand. Two years ago, I had to walk for two-to-three hours. This time, I deflated my tires and rode it all, which helped me catch up to Kevin, who was in fourth.

Finally, after a night on the bike, Drikus, Kevin, and I found ourselves together at the base of the last key section, 140 kilometres from the finish. This was the final big climb, known as the “Moroccan Stelvio”. I decided to go all out, knowing I couldn’t match them. They overtook me at the summit, but I knew Thomas couldn’t catch me from behind. With a hundred kilometres to go on easy terrain, I focused on finishing in good shape rather than pushing unnecessarily. The last section was beautiful – I got to enjoy the sunset on one side and a full moon on the other. I loved that moment, even though I was eager to be done!

What were you riding?

I rode an Origine Théorème HT MTB with 100mm of travel, Prymahl carbon wheels laced to a dynamo hub. The bike was equipped with a Shimano XT 1x12 groupset (32T chainring, 10-51T cassette). I added aero bars for the rolling sections.

How did your Café du Cycliste gear perform?

The arm and leg warmers, along with the short-sleeved Edith gilet, were perfect for the varying temperatures throughout the nights and mornings. The cargo bib shorts were perfect for carrying food and waste without sacrificing comfort, even on the rough terrain of the Atlas Mountain Race. The Primaloft socks were ideal for the cold nights, but I also wore them during the day despite the heat. Finally, the Edith gilet was a well-thought-out and worthwhile choice, offering comfort, lightness, and warmth.