Chatting with an Atlas Mountain Champion

Words by Robin Gemperle
Pic by Nils Laengner

We first introduced Robin Gemperle following his ultra-racing debut, a gargantuan effort in last year’s Transcontinental Race that earned the Swiss rider an impressive seventh-place finish. To kick off the 2023 racing season, Robin headed to Morocco to take on the Atlas Mountain Race with high hopes and plenty of determination—both of which paid off as he pushed hard, covering some 1,300 kilometers in 3 days, 20 hours, and 15 minutes to finish first. Now back home and fully rested, we asked Robin about his big AMR win. 

Did you go into the race with expectations that you might win?

R: “A clear yes for this question. After everything I’d learnt within the last year, I knew I was at least going to try, which meant that I was going to attempt it with a properly paced effort.”

How did you train for the event?

R: “It was quite a big challenge, as being in shape in February can already be difficult, with the weather and temperatures I faced in Switzerland. Long rides needed a lot of motivation, but I found a doable balance between short, high-intensity sessions and hours of base miles.”

What was your strategy heading into the race?

R: “My strategy before the race was pretty much what I delivered during it. Together with my coach and friend Manuel from @coachmeswiss , we came to the conclusion that slightly longer sleeping times could make the difference. We expected the added time standing still to be compensated by a faster pace when riding—that a bit of additional freshness might be the key to win over riders that had slept less.”

Can you tell us about your racing kit?

R: “Odyssey bib shorts forever! I really couldn’t imagine riding without leg pockets anymore. Merino socks are almost a must in these races. Feet stay dry and warm, and I never actually had to use the shoe covers I had brought. I really needed the padding of the odyssey gloves. My hands are still quite numb, and I wouldn’t want to know what they’d feel like without having worn the gloves.

For the upper body, I layered a long-sleeved Polartec® base layer with an Odyssey adventure cargo cycling jersey, merino windblocker and a Down Alpha® vest. The vest especially proved to be extremely versatile—hardly noticeable when opened, but super cozy and warm on the cold nights.”

Let’s talk about your puncture…

R: “A personal goal was to finish the race without defects: I wanted to be highly focused in all the technical sections in order to minimize any risks and ride the cleanest lines possible. It would have been really nice to prove that I could take control in a way that would guarantee my arrival. That’s why it really pissed me off when I punctured with 41 kms to go.

During the morning, I had never taken off the warm clothing from the night before, and when it was suddenly midday, I almost had a heat stroke. I had lost all my concentration, and in this moment, hit a rock that cut my tire. So, a behavior that was completely contrary to what I had committed to before the race was responsible for the accident.

It seemed like no one really understood why it bothered me so much, but maybe this gives some explanation.”

What would you change for the next race?

R: “I will keep telling myself that the race is not finished before the finish line. Having a completely clean run at my next event really is a big goal for me. And I will try to stop being so nervous and believe in my capabilities.”

What’s next?

R: “I’ve got some DJ gigs in the next weeks, and then my semester at architecture school starts end of February. So, I am going to take it easy in terms of cycling for the next month and then continue my preparation for TCR No.9, which includes racing the Hope1000 in Switzerland. Then in fall, I want to do a race that I didn’t get a spot for, so if someone from Badlands reads this, give me a spot!”

Get set for your next bikepacking race or gravel ride with adventure-ready cycling clothing from our Odyssey Collection, and follow Robin’s ongoing journey on Instagram @robingemperle

Looking for some music to fuel your motivation? Check out Robin’s recommended mix below.