Alex McCormack is the first man to reach the finish line in Essaouira, in a time of 3 days 20 hours, a seriously impressive time, and 15 minutes faster than the last time Telouet was in the race when Robin Gemperle won in 2023. As Alex said after receiving his final stamp, “Job done.”
He pushed the pace aggressively from the start, riding nearly the entire descent off Telouet, even crossing the snowdrifts on the bike. Several members of the media team were on the descent and in awe of his technical prowess. With a background in cross-country mountain biking, his technical skills have clearly served him well. Outside of racing, Alex is an engineer who has scaled back his work hours this year to focus on racing the full Mountain Races series.
The race has seen dramatic swings in temperature, with below-freezing nights giving way to scorching heat through the desert and along the coast. Alex told us that he typically struggles with the cold, making the sub-zero nights an added challenge, but he managed it well to stay at the front.
At each checkpoint, he was efficient, methodical, and above all else, exceptionally kind to the volunteers. At CP1, he even took a moment to snap a photo with the host of the guesthouse before rolling out.
Earlier in the race, before reaching Taznakht, he remarked that all of the leaders were suffering, so he decided to let the guys ahead push the pace while he focused on himself. That patience and confidence ultimately paid off.
Alex is racing all three Mountain Races this year, so we’ll look forward to seeing him again in May at the Hellenic Mountain Race and then in August at the Silk Road Mountain Race.
An incredible ride from start to finish, chapeau Alex.
Supported by:
@albion.cycling@pertexfabric@tailfincycling@fizikofficial
📷 @stephenshelesky
Seven days. 3,826.47 km. ⚡️
@canyon_atr pro @a_mccormack yesterday broke the seven day distance world record (upright bicycle, undrafted), with an epic ride along the Mosel river near Canyon’s HQ.
Despite atrocious weather conditions, the Brit never wavered, riding huge 20H+ stints – including a 725 km final day which saw him take the record by 12 km.
Now, after a well deserved rest – Alex turns his attention to the famed Triple Crown of US ultra distance races, starting with the Tour Divide in June.
#CanyonBikes
What does it take to ride almost non-stop for seven days? 🤔
Watch the new documentary on @canyon x @dtswiss All-Terrain Racing ultra-cyclist @a_mccormack ’s record-breaking 3,826.47 km ride on Canyon’s YouTube channel to find out.
Averaging nearly 30 km/h and spending over 18 hours a day on his Canyon Speedmax CFR, Alex pushed through freezing rain and wind, sleep deprivation, and relentless fatigue, breaking the record by just 13 km.
This wasn’t a meticulously planned record attempt months in the making. It was an off-the-cuff, full-gas effort with a small, dedicated crew – a true reflection of the Canyon x DT Swiss All-Terrain Racing team’s “Race Everything” mentality.
History, sealed in the final moments 🏁
@a_mccormack pushed through freezing cold, relentless rain, and brutal winds to take on the seven day distance world record - falling behind, then fighting back when it mattered most.
With an all-out final 48 hours and just one hour of sleep, Alex crossed the line at 3,826.47 KM, setting a new provisional world record by just 12 KM. A finish that couldn’t have been closer.
What a ride. What a comeback. What a moment. 🙌
Day 7: 727.75 KM
Start – 06:18 CEST
Finish – 10:02 CEST (next day)
25h 45m moving.
28.3 km/h avg.
I guess that’ll do.
I like bikes.
Guiness/ WUCA Record: 3826 KM
Against all odds, @a_mccormack has broken the seven day distance world record (upright bicycle, undrafted) to set a new total of 3,826.47 km.
With long spells of freezing temperatures and driving rain and wind, Alex had fallen behind his planned schedule but rallied hard when it mattered, riding the last 48 hours with only one hour sleep.
He broke the previous record by 12 km – a nail-biting finale that went to the wire.
Congratulations Alex, we’re so proud of you. Time for a rest, mate.
*Record pending official ratification by WUCA (World Ultra Cycling Association)
