Conor McKenzie

10/10 would do again

The weekend I needed // This mountain pass has been on my list for months, so with windy saying 0cm snow depth we set off

Core memory unlocked

Dales Divide was technically my first ultra three years ago, but I made every mistake imaginable. I scratched and said never again. But here I am, ready to go tomorrow. The start list has some huge names and over 300 riders lining up. I’ll be racing it, but mostly I’m looking forward to a couple of days soaking up Britain’s best county, trudging bogs and opening hundreds of farm gates. Tracking link in bio. 600km // +8,000m // Off-Road 📸 @bluberrysmoothie

winter smiles summer miles // time being spent learning to ride again

October. A slow burn which shaped up nicely Bilbao / San Sebastián / 𝖢̶𝖯̶𝟢̶ / Girona / Lancashire / Yorkshire

Last week before taper, here we goooo

Slapped on the chonky tyres and had a mini solo adventure in the Pyrenees, staying overnight in little mountain huts

Feeling like myself again, reflecting on what was a crazy 48 hours of racing. The next one is just around the corner 👀 The Capitals Stats Result: 🥇 Sleep: ~30 mins (during the thunderstorm) Gels: 1.5kg Carb Mix: 1.44kg Gear shifts: 18,587 Temp: 12-53 degrees (according to garmin) 📸 @pedalma_cycling

THE CAPITALS 2025 @pedalma_cycling ESP: Con cuatro ediciones, The Capitals se va consolidando como una de las pruebas del ultraciclismo. Su recorrido pone en valor la diversidad paisajística de Cataluña, uniendo sus cuatro capitales —Barcelona, Lleida, Tarragona y Girona—, de ahí su nombre. Recorre 850 km y más de 14.000 metros de desnivel. “Procuramos hacer un recorrido lógico, sin bucles extraños ni tramos que no aporten. Se genera una energía muy especial, un nivel de compañerismo y amistad muy intenso”, explica Óscar, de PedAlma. ENG: With four editions under its belt, The Capitals is steadily establishing itself as a benchmark event in the world of ultra-cycling. Its route showcases the diverse landscapes of Catalonia, connecting its four provincial capitals —Barcelona, Lleida, Tarragona, and Girona— which gives the event its name. The course covers 850 km and over 14,000 meters of elevation gain. “We try to design a logical route, without odd loops or pointless sections. A very special energy is created — a deep sense of camaraderie and friendship,” explains Óscar from PedAlma. 📸 @brazodehierro @cescmaymo @paubueraphoto #polvuULTRA

🥇 The Capitals (840km +14,500m). This one meant a lot. It was my first ultra back in 2023, the event that made me fall in love with the sport and Catalonia. I knew I had to come back and give everything to this brutal, beautiful route. I dug deep to stay with @seb_breuer in the high heat and rolling terrain early on, before a storm in the high mountains overnight flipped everything on its head. @ibravosaez caught up and pulled ahead until Olot, making the final 200km feel like a nail biting sprint to the line. —— 🇪🇸 Fue mi primera ultra en el 2023, la prueba que me hizo enamorarme de este deporte y de Catalunya. Sabía que tenía que volver y darlo todo en esta brutal y preciosa ruta. Me esforcé al máximo para mantenerme junto a @seb_breuer a pesar del fuerte calor y el terreno ondulado al principio, antes de que una tormenta en una zona de alta montaña durante la noche lo pusiera todo patas arriba. @ibravosaez me alcanzó y tiró hasta Olot, haciendo que los 200 km finales parecieran un sprint hasta la meta en el que me pisaba los talones” —— PedAlma’s sponsors: @gsport_apparel @geosminacomponents @finisher_es @davimarentacar 📸 @cescmaymo #pedalma #thecapitals #thecapitals25 #ultracycling #bikepacking

Since the start in Barcelona of this edition of The Capitals, @seb_breuer and @conormckenzie have been riding more or less at the same pace and so far they are the fastest to complete the first few kms. They have already passed Ponts. The night is approaching and we’ll see how the fatigue affects them and how they manage the next kms. We’ll follow the outcome with excitement. — Desde el inicio en Barcelona de esta edición de The Capitals, @seb_breuer y @conormckenzie han estado pedaleando a un ritmo muy parecido y por ahora están siendo los más rápidos en completar los primeros kms. Ya han sobrepasado Ponts. Se acerca la noche y veremos cómo les afecta el cansancio y como gestionan los siguientes kms. Seguiremos con emoción el desencelace. #pedalma #thecapitals #thecapitals25 #ultracycling #cycling #adventure #bycicle #bikepacking #rideyourbike