Meg Hackinen

Meaghan Hackinen is the second woman to reach Essaouira, finishing in 5 days 1 hour 30 minutes. Turning 40 this year, Meaghan decided there was no better way to celebrate than by racing all three Mountain Races. She came into AMR with the goal of pushing hard and contributing to a dynamic women’s race, determined to show the strength of the field. And she absolutely did that. Despite dealing with some lower back pain, she never let up, pushing strong all the way to the finish. A seasoned ultra-racer, Meaghan won the women’s category at the Tour Divide last year, but she was blown away by the landscapes of Morocco, calling it one of the most beautiful routes she’s ever ridden. She said she’s loved bivvying under the stars and is so grateful to be doing what she loves. Congratulations on a fierce ride, Meaghan. See you in Greece! Supported by: @albion.cycling @pertexfabric @tailfincycling @fizikofficial 📷 @stephenshelesky @nils_laengner

Arriving in Nafpaktos under stormy skies, Meaghan Hackinen takes the top step on the women’s podium and finishes 9th in the General Classification in a time of 4 days 7 hours, over 10 hours faster than last year’s women’s winner. Over the course of the race, she steadily widened the gap back to second and climbed her way into the top 10 overall. At the Atlas Mountain Race in February, she was chasing Marei Moldenhauer; here in Greece, she found herself in the opposite position. She said she much prefers being chased…and rode like it. Meaghan looked calm, strong, and totally focused when CC1 caught her on the final stretch to the sea. She was putting on a show in many ways, like demonstrating her method for eating electrolyte tablets: snap one in half, chew it with some water, then go back for the second half. The Canadian said she was motivated by Marei’s performance at AMR, where the German rider never eased off, even with a solid lead. That stuck with her, and she stayed committed to giving everything she had until 15km from the finish line when a massive electrical storm rolled in. She sheltered in place in her ebivvy, being pelted with hail until the lightning passed. Greeted by cheers from fellow riders and our team of volunteers, Meaghan remarked that she was glad it had rained because at least she was fresh and clean, and that this race was the most fun she’d ever had mountain biking. Seems like Hellenic left a big impression on her and we’ll be interviewing her for the podcast in the coming days to get her full thoughts. Congratulations on a fierce ride, Meaghan and see you in Kyrgyzstan! Supported by: @albion.cycling @pertexfabric @tailfincycling @styrkr.uk 📷 @nils_laengner

Meaghan Hackinen is the first woman, and 10th overall, to reach the finish line in Karakol, with a time of 9 days, 4 hours, and 6 minutes. She is the first woman to complete all three Mountain Races in a single year, and now holds the second-fastest cumulative time overall, an incredible feat of consistency over a long season. She set out to take on all three Mountain Races in 2025 as a 40th birthday gift to herself, but also with the goal of contributing to a stronger women’s field. Pushed hard by Marei Moldenhauer at the Atlas Mountain Race, she came away second, hungry to build on that momentum. A win at the Hellenic followed, and for Silk Road she arrived early in Kyrgyzstan to prepare carefully and give herself the best shot at the victory. Throughout the race she rode with patience and resolve, prioritizing self care and never forgetting to soak in the landscapes. Snow fell around her as she crested the final climb, a fitting end for the Canadian’s year of mountain racing. The Mountain Races Triple AMR - 5 days, 1 hour, 30 minutes HMR - 4 days, 7 hours SRMR - 9 days, 4 hours, 06 minutes Cumulative time: 18 days 12 hours 36 minutes Chapeau Meaghan on an incredible season! Supported by: @albion.cycling @pertexfabric @tailfincycling @styrkr.uk @julbo_bike 📷 @stephenshelesky

In just two weeks’ time, I’ll be heading to Wakefield, Quebec, for the @canadianshieldbikepacking Summit (May 29–31), where I’ll be delivering the 2026 keynote! I’m looking forward not only to speaking, but also to learning from the incredible lineup of presenters, riding bikes, swapping stories, and getting to know fellow bikepackers all weekend long. I still have warm memories of attending the inaugural 2023 event, and I’m excited to reconnect with familiar faces while meeting new ones this year. And for anyone traveling in from out of town, there will be camping on site, so you don’t have to worry about booking a hotel—just set up camp among friends and enjoy the full bikepacking weekend experience. ⛺️🚲 Whether you’re new to bikepacking, dreaming up your next adventure, or simply want to spend a weekend surrounded by rad people who enjoy the outdoors, I’d love to see you there! Link in bio for details & tickets☝️ 📷: photos from the 2023 Canadian Shield Bikepacking Summit #CanadianShieldBikepacking #Bikepacking #BikepackAdventures #BikeCommunity

— 4 Weeks to the Tour Divide — 🚴‍♀️ On the bike • Building toward peak volume: I logged around 30 hours on the bike last week and was very happy to have some warmer weather along for the ride. More pavement than I’d prefer, but all quiet Colorado backroads. • Photo one is from a ride with Kendra (@kendrajeronimus ), a total badass with an incredible sports history that includes heli-skiing & burro racing. I stayed with Kendra in Buena Vista for the night and she took me out for a “little spin” up Fourmile. Fearing she wouldn’t be able to keep up, Kendra opted for her e-mountain bike—but unbeknownst to us, the battery wasn’t fully charged & she ended up riding the second half of the route (including some suuuuper steep pitches) without power. Zero complaints, no dawdling, absolutely shredding the descents—Kendra, you have my respect & admiration! • Trying out new bibs, new shoes & back to my trusty old saddle: a discontinued Specialized Oura. 🪴 Off the bike • I rode down to Salida to visit the one and only Janie Hayes (@janieseestheworld ) one of my earliest ultra-cycling inspirations and someone who has shaped how I think about endurance and adventure since 2016. • Virtual chats with Tatiana (@tatianarogowsky ) from @lightbicycle about Tour Divide socials, Dries (@driesvanderkleij ) about race tactics, and the Divide Collective about tapering & readiness. I can’t stress enough how great it feels to go into this surrounded by community, even if we connect through our screens. • I’m hosting online events for the @federationbcwriters Memoir Writing Intensive this week & the lineup of presenters has been outstanding—taking notes! ✨ Big picture I had an interesting conversation with Janie about clarity, perspective, and seeing things as they really are. My coach has also assigned me some homework around my “mental bedrock”: the beliefs, habits & thought patterns I’ll be leaning on when things get hard. A big part of preparing for the Divide is learning how to steady myself internally. Hopefully, putting intention into those foundations now will give me something solid to stand on later. #TourDivide2026 #Bikepacking #BikepackRacing #SalsaCycles #AdventureCycling

Some fun photos from yesterday’s out-and-back over Independence Pass, 12,095 feet (3,687 m). The pass is closed to vehicle traffic until Memorial Day, so right now it’s a cyclist’s playground out there. I whooped and cheered for every rider I saw—even the e-bikers. Because I love that we’re all out here climbing mountains just for kicks. It turned into a 10-hour day from Leadville to Aspen and back. Mostly because I forgot to charge my AXS battery (and also forgot to pack my spare) and had to limp the final 20 km home at a snail’s pace. Whoops 😂. Please refrain from lecturing me—I do know better, I swear! I just need to mess up once in a while to remind myself to stay on top of things. #RockyMountains #SalsaCycles #AdventureByBike #7mesh #BikeColorado

Nothing beats that golden hour light ☀️✨ I’ve been squeezing every last drop of sunshine from my weekday rides—starting in full afternoon brightness and hanging on as the shadows creep in. I’m wearing @julboeyewearna Ultimate Black REACTIV 0–3 photochromic lenses, which adjust with the changing light. Longer evenings, softer light, and no rush to head home. #Julbo #REACTIVE #GravelCycling #Bikepacking

— 5 Weeks to the Tour Divide — 🚴‍♀️ On the bike • Easy rides around my new homebase in Leadville, Colorado. I’m acclimating to the altitude (3,100m / 10,200 ft) without overdoing it, and constantly blown away by the scale of the mountains. The weather is wild: sun, clouds, and still some snow. Very glad I repacked my kit last minute to include warmer layers (thank you, @7meshinc ) for the frosty mix. • One thing I didn’t expect was the chance to work on bike handling. The Colorado Trail passes near town, and I’ve been dipping into the easier sections around Tennessee Pass and Twin Lakes. I’m not great on anything narrower than a double track service road, but it’s been fun to switch things up and build confidence. • @apidura made me some beautiful custom Backcountry packs for my Tour Divide rig, Dolly! You can see these on slide 3—more details to come. 🪴 Off the bike • I haven’t been sleeping great: likely a mix of altitude and a growing pre-race to-do list. It’s not exactly race nerves, but more general anxiety about ticking off all those boxes (including some presentation prep and writing deadlines) before June comes around. • My coach (@bikepackingcoach Peta McSharry) has prescribed yoga and evening walks, which have been helping me wind down. • I’m pretty social, so I’m grateful that my Leadville Airbnb host is an interesting, fun person to be around (home pictured in slide 5) and that I’ve had some other awesome opportunities to connect—including an impromptu dinner out with @blairablackwell , who was also on last year’s Silk Road Mountain Race! ✨ Big picture I’ve caught myself getting frustrated with the weather a few times. But I keep coming back to the reminder that the goal right now is adaptation, not intensity. The altitude is doing its work, even if the miles don’t look impressive on Strava. And every time I step outside, I’m humbled again by snowcapped Mount Massive and Mount Elbert, rising over town. When conditions keep me inside, it’s a chance to chip away at logistics, get in some off-the-bike movement, and ease a bit of that background stress. #TourDivide2026 #Bikepacking #BikepackRacing #SalsaCycles #AdventureCycling

Introducing my new @salsacycles Cutthroat! Made for big miles and bigger days, the Cutthroat has long been Salsa’s drop-bar bikepacking machine—purpose-built for speed, endurance, and rugged adventure. The latest version pushes it even further. This is the bike I’ll be racing the Tour Divide on this June, zigzagging 2,700 miles down the Continental Divide from Banff to New Mexico on gravel, forest roads, pavement, and a dash of singletrack. Equal parts grit and sparkle, I’ve named her Dolly—after the legendary Dolly Parton. 💜 ✨ Build for the demands of self-supported racing: • Carbon frame designed for ultra-distance comfort • Balanced geometry that climbs efficiently and descends with confidence • Bikepacking-ready mounting points across frame • SRAM GX AXS Transmission for reliable, wireless shifting in all conditions • RockShox SID Select+ fork (100 mm, 3-position) for control on rough terrain I’m running a custom @lightbicycle WG44 carbon wheelset (WG = Wide Gravel), a lightweight build that balances durability with aerodynamic efficiency. I chose @reneherse Fleecer Ridge 700C x 55mm tires: fast on pavement, confident in rough conditions, and smooth and quiet thanks to their dual-purpose tread designed for mixed terrain. @precisionfandh in the bottles for the long days out. I’ll share more on the full build in the coming weeks, along with how the Dolly’s setup evolves as the clock ticks down to the Tour Divide. Huge thanks to Salsa Cycles for their continued support in my adventure cycling journey! 📷: photos by Marni Turek #SalsaCycles #Cutthroat #AdventureByBike #TourDivide #UltraCycling

— 6 Weeks to the Tour Divide — 🚴‍♀️ On the bike • Back-to-back bigger days last weekend: Saturday with friends, Sunday solo. I went out a bit hard chasing Stu and Jocelyn on Saturday and my legs were empty at the start of Sunday’s climb up McCullough, but after thirty minutes they came back around. • Travel usually throws a wrench in consistency for me, but this time I managed to ride the day before flying and get back on the bike the day after without missing a beat. • Rolled into Colorado straight into winter. The plan was to ride from Denver to Leadville, but (as you might’ve seen in my Stories, shared in the last slides) the weather was *not* cooperating. What was supposed to be a 100-mile day (followed by a 40-miler) turned into 100 km total, plus three lifts—including one from a complete stranger after getting stopped at construction with no alternate but the freeway. A bit ridiculous, but I made it. And even made some new friends along the way! 🪴 Off the bike • Big thanks to my dad, Laur, for helping with logistics this week, including a 4:00 am airport drop. • Now in Leadville (3,100 m / 10,200 ft) for the next few weeks. My focus is simple: acclimate, explore, and dial in my race plan. • Love, kindness and service are all topics that have come up in conversations lately. I’ve been thinking more about how I want to show up in the world, especially after being on the receiving end of so much goodness lately. ✨ Big picture In past seasons, I carried a lot of anxiety into A races. I was hungry; I felt like I had something to prove. Those thoughts still pop up: what if my shoulder flares up, what if I’m slower than the last time around, what if Heather Jackson eats me for breakfast? But through the lens of sobriety, everything feels lighter. In a strange way, it already feels like I’ve won. Every day is better than it was before. Racing—and living—with a clear head is a kind of freedom I didn’t know was possible. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I am happy to be here. #TourDivide2026 #Bikepacking #BikepackRacing #SalsaCycles #AdventureCycling

I’m excited to renew my partnership with @godfathersgarage for the 2026 season! If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ll know my bikes get dirty. Really dirty. Long days, mixed conditions, and dusty roads mean I need products that are simple, reliable, and actually work. Godfather’s Garage has become a staple in my kit, especially their dry lube. It keeps my drivetrain running quiet and smooth, even after long, gritty days, and I’m always impressed by how clean the chain stays between applications. Less friction, less buildup, more ride time. Back home, their degreaser and bike wash get everything back to square one without any fuss—exactly what I want after a big day out. Made in Canada 🍁 and developed by riders who understand the conditions we put our bikes through. Grateful to have the support of Godfather’s Garage for another season. More to come as the miles stack up! Lube it. Send it. #LubeIt #SendIt #GodfathersGarage #GravelCycling #Bikepacking

Last Saturday’s ride with Jocelyn & @stuart_bikes_ : a fun (slightly ridiculous) 215 km sampler of the backroads around the north half of Okanagan Lake, plus some fast pavement and rail trail to get us home before dark. I tackle most of my bigger training rides solo, but whenever I do team up with these guys, we always have fun. Because much of the route was unknown — there were a couple sketchy bits plus some unexpected rerouting to avoid private property — it felt better with friends. As riders, we each shone in our own unique ways: my hero moment came when Stu lost a screw for his derailleur hanger while doing some trailside repairs, and I spotted it in the dirt (cue visions of Abdullah Zeinab sifting through the sand on the 2022 Rhino Run). We even saw a badger! @cameronhrussell was chasing us through the countryside and got some great footage, including slides 1-3. Big thanks to Jocelyn for his preliminary route research and to Stu for sharing his precious nerd clusters when we were on the verge of a triple bonk heading into Vernon (several hours later than expected). #GravelCycling #RideEverything #QuestionableDecisions #RideOkanagan #7mesh