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Ralph “Dizzy” Diseviscourt reached Tarifa as the 3rd finisher of the 2026 NorthCape-Tarifa, completing the 7,400 km route in 21 days, 23 hours and 51 minutes.

🚴 7,400 km from North Cape to Tarifa
⏱️ 21 days, 23 hours, 51 minutes

With a moving speed of 20.19 km/h, he recorded the second-fastest moving speed of this year’s race. His Garmin showed more than 7,500 km at the finish. In reality, every small detour adds up – missed turns, riding into town for shopping, finding accommodation, or simply taking the wrong road all count towards the final distance.

Was Dizzy looking for even more adventure?

Apparently, the climbing on the official route wasn’t enough. Ralph tackled the optional Mescla Tunnel detour near Nice – adding around 12 extra kilometres and almost 1000 metres of climbing. The reward? Spectacular scenery and beautiful mountain villages. The downside? If you’re racing for a top result, every extra kilometre matters.

Only at the finish did we learn that the detour wasn’t intentional. Most likely, the wrong GPX track had been loaded, sending him up the mountains behind Cannes and Nice instead of staying on the official route.

A Record Pace to Tarifa

After wrestling with the monster climb to Pico del Veleta, Ralph took a well-earned rest in Granada. From there, he launched an incredible final push.

He set one of the fastest Granada–Tarifa time ever recorded on NorthCape-Tarifa, covering the demanding 336 km in just 21 hours and 52 minutes.

That works out to an average speed of only 15.6 km/h. Only? Anyone who has ridden those endless steep ramps through Andalucía knows exactly why that number is seriously impressive. It is one of the toughest sections of the entire route, and there is simply no easy kilometre left.

Flats, Tubes and Camping

Unlike Florian and Jens, Dizzy had to battle numerous punctures throughout the race.

Fortunately, the route passes through Andorra, home to many professional cyclists and a paradise for bike equipment. Dizzy left with six brand-new Tubolito inner tubes.

Despite using ultralight tubes, Ralph’s bike setup was noticeably heavier than those of Florian and Jens. He also carried a tent – and actually used it during the race.

“Has Anyone Done This Race Twice?”

Remarkably, NorthCape-Tarifa 2026 was Ralph’s first self-supported ultra-distance race. At the finish he asked: “Has anyone done this race more than once?” A little later, he posted: “3rd finisher this year.” Is he trying to tell us something?

Racing Hard, Enjoying the Adventure

Before the start, Ralph described his goal perfectly: “Race pace, but safety first, looking for fun and adventure.”

With the obligatory finish selfie from the final checkpoint in Tarifa, he added these words:

“Thanks for everything Andy, I am sure NCT is going to be one of the most iconic ultra adventures out there. For me, it is already the case! Not sure anything can top this race!”

Comments like these make all the work behind NorthCape-Tarifa worthwhile.

Congratulations, Dizzy! It was a pleasure to have you on this adventure.

And hopefully we’ll meet again on one of those legendary monster climbs – perhaps Col du Galibier, one of the Tour de France’s famous Hors Catégorie (HC) climbs.

See you there, with the same big smile.

Ralph “Dizzy” Diseviscourt Palmarès

• 3rd NorthCape-Tarifa (2026) – Fastest time Granada to Tarifa
• 2x RAAM Finisher
• 3x Tortour winner
• 3x Race Across Italy winner
• 2x Race Across France 2600 winner
• Winner Race Across Belgium, Glocknerman, Dolomitica, Dolomitics24, Tour des Stations Ultimate 1000
• Podiums in Race Around Austria, Race Around Slovenia, Race Across the Alps
• 24h WR holder Outdoor Track and Outdoor Velodrome
• 24h WTTC age group winner 40-49

Our second rider has reached Tarifa after 20 days, 19 hours and 35 minutes- Jens Volkersdorfer (Cap 55) crossed the finish line, completing an outstanding 7,400 km ride from North Cape to the southernmost point of continental Europe.

🚴 7,400 km from North Cape to Tarifa
⏱️ 20 days, 19 hours, 35 minutes

Jens came to the start with a clear goal: “Finish as fast as possible and enjoy the variety of the landscape on this beautiful parcours :)” and to finish in 20 days. He certainly achieved both. While reaching his goals, he delivered one of the strongest rides of this year’s event.

Jens rode with incredible consistency throughout the race. Sleeping around five hours every night, he maintained an impressive 22.4 km/h average moving speed – the highest of all participants. For comparison, winner Florian averaged 19.92 km/h. Whenever Jens was moving, he was absolutely flying.

One of the standout moments of his ride came on Pico del Veleta. Jens climbed the entire 40-kilometre ascent with 2,600 metres of elevation gain to 3,400 metres in one continuous effort, without stopping until he was just about 5 metres below the summit. A truly impressive climb.

Like every ultra-distance adventure, his race also included a few unexpected moments. Near Riga, Jens was involved in an accident on a roundabout, costing him more than five hours while finding a replacement front wheel. Thankfully, he escaped without injury and was able to continue. Then, on the very last day, the second pair of bib shorts he had hanging from his saddlebag to dry became caught in the chain. The only solution? Cut them free and keep riding to Tarifa.

At the finish, Jens summed up his adventure with a smile:

“Vielen Dank für alles! Es war mir ein Fest!”
(“Thank you for everything! It was a real joy!”)

He told us he was completely blown away by the route and the incredible variety of landscapes along the way.

Huge congratulations, Jens! What an incredible ride from start to finish. You set the fastest moving speed of the race, overcame every obstacle that came your way, and earned a well-deserved second place in Tarifa. It was a pleasure to follow your journey across Europe. Well played!

Jens is no stranger to the front of the ultra-cycling field. His palmarès already includes:

• 1st Finisher – NorthCape4000 (2023)
• 5th – Race Around Belgium (2023)
• 6th – Transpyrenees (2023)
• 1st – Race Across Italy Unlimited (2024)
• 2nd – Race Around Denmark (2025)
• 2nd – Race Around Poland (2025)
• 2nd – NorthCape-Tarifa (2026) – highest average moving speed
• …and many more.

#northcapetarifa #ncta2026 #endurancecycling #endurance #bikepacking #bikepackinglife #ultracycling #adventurebybike #adventurecycling #longdistancecycling #ciclismo #ultrabicyclerace #cyclinglife #rower #bikelife #cycling #ultraendurancecycling #transbikeadventures #gotthardpass

Florian Moreau cap 66 is the first finisher of the 2026 NorthCape–Tarifa and sets a new course record!

Many people doubted he would make it across the Alps on a TT bike. Florian proved them wrong.

🚴 7,400 km from North Cape to Tarifa
⏱️ 20 days, 9 hours, 40 minutes

Florian enjoyed exceptionally good weather, encountering only a few short rain showers during the entire ride. Watching the wind forecasts closely, he noticed that the Baltic winds would soon change from a favourable northerly to a headwind from the south. He accelerated his pace to catch the Helsinki–Tallinn ferry on 23 June, reaching it on Day 3.

That meant covering an incredible 1,753 km in just 84 hours and 49 minutes – only 3½ days.

His speed continued throughout the route. Florian recorded the fastest time on 5 of the 9 official segments.

With a finishing time of 20 days, 9 hours, and 40 minutes, Florian also sets a new fastest time for the NorthCape–Tarifa route. While direct comparisons across the years are never perfect – as parts of the route and road surfaces have evolved since the inaugural 2018 edition – his performance was truly outstanding. He improves the previous best, set by Steffen Streich in 2018, by an impressive 15 hours and 17 minutes.

Mission: Arctic to the Tropic

Tarifa is not the end of Florian’s adventure. His journey continues to Dakhla, Morocco, taking his ride from the Arctic all the way to the tropics.

You can continue following Florian’s African adventure on the live tracker.

Congratulations, Florian!

Have a safe journey to Dakhla!

Florian’s Palmarès

• 2ndRace Across France 2500 km (2022)
• 6th Transcontinental Race (2023)
• 2nd BikingMan Taiwan (2024)
• 3rd Desertus Bikus (2024)
• 9th Transcontinental Race (2024)
• 1st TransatlanticWay – 1,700 km (2025)
• 3rd Desertus Bikus (2025)
• Finisher, Transcontinental Race (2025)
• Tour of Europe (three ultra races linked together)
• 1st Desertus Victus (2026)
• 1st NorthCape–Tarifa (2026) – New Course Record

#northcapetarifa #ncta2026 #endurancecycling #endurance #bikepacking #bikepackinglife #ultracycling #adventurebybike #adventurecycling #longdistancecycling #ciclismo #ultrabicyclerace #cyclinglife #rower #bikelife #cycling #ultraendurancecycling #transbikeadventures #gotthardpass

By Marco Milesi
Adventure cyclist and long-distance travel writer

We have great news to communicate: David Mourrat, 11 has finished his adventure in Helsinki 12 days 13h and 55m. Kudos to him from all the team!

Getting back to the lead of the race, the hot night goes on flawlessly as none of the three riders move. At 6am both record man and the veteran start cycling, but it is not long after that Florian starts pedaling as well to not lose even one inch.

Jens crosses the 5000km mark at 10am, while Ralph passes the difficult Col de l’Iseran, rolling down towards the beginning of the ascent to Col du Galibier. At 11 am aero man arrives in Nice, beating every record so far by more than 1 day. 

When the night starts approaching, we can clearly see Florian’s different strategy from every other rider: Jens and Ralph stop respectively at Nice and Soutet Lake at around 10pm, while aero man keeps pushing through the night non-stop until Aix en Provence. Now the question is: how is it possible that he is pushing so much, still he hasn’t increased his advantage over the chasing riders?

By Marco Milesi
Adventure cyclist and long-distance travel writer

During the second night of July, Florian goes all out and reaches Col du Galibier at 8:30am, setting once again a new record for the leg NorthCape-Col du Galibier. Jens seems to fly over the mountains as he is already attacking the Col at noon. Ralph, instead, is about to enter Valle d’Aosta.

During the day, Benoit Merchez covers a lot of terrain and gets to Bregenz in early afternoon, while his former companion is further North, near Stuttgart. Looking further back, April is performing a really interesting race: she will most likely get to Nice (her finish point) before most riders getting to Tarifa.

At April’s back wheel we find Jerome, a long-standing veteran of long distance recumbent cycling. Take in consideration that he is the 6^th fastest rider overall, and he cycled from his home in Belgium starting on the 30^th of May.

As the Sun gives way to the darkness, Jens gets to Col du Galibier, while Ralph still has to cross the border into France. Florian, meanwhile, as passed the 5000km marker and he is rapidly cycling towards Nice.

We predicted that aero man would have slowed down, but he hasn’t. Well, technically he has, but if we compare him to the other he is maintaining the advantage he built. Who will be the first to attack, and when?

One year ago, we received the heartbreaking news of Christine’s death during the Kraków–Tarifa, the 45SouthWest.

On the afternoon of 2 July, she left the official route during the climb to Pico Veleta. She was found a few hours later, around 200 metres off the route on a small road. The circumstances of her death were never officially confirmed. It was a period of extreme heat across France and Spain, and she had started the 40 km climb with 2,600 metres of elevation gain at route km 3,900 after riding around 500 km without a proper rest.

Today, we remember Christine and extend our thoughts to her family and friends.

Her death is also a reminder that endurance cycling demands respect for your body’s limits. Rest and recovery are an essential part of every ride, especially in hot weather. Please look after yourselves and each other.

By Marco Milesi
Adventure cyclist and long-distance travel writer

The month of June is officially over when all three leading riders are still sleeping: Florian in first position, followed by Jens and Ralph. Aero man is about to enter Valle d’Aosta, a mountain region in Italy full of ascents; while Jens has stopped before Oberalppass.

Ralph crosses Bregenz at 7am, while Jens is almost in Bellinzona, after St Gotthard pass. Aero man, meanwhile, surpasses the 4500km mark and stops briefly in Biella. Benoit Merchez, back in Czechia has now crossed the border with Germany, and he is speeding through the country.

At noon, we notice Florian slows down as he enters France, giving Jens a chance to catch up. Unfortunately, the veteran stops before crossing the border into France through the Petit San Bernard pass.

The day goes by, and the situation doesn’t change much. And when things do not look particularly interesting, we should look at the statistics to try forecasting the future. Jens has once again secured his sleep advantage over Florian, managing to sustain a higher average moving speed than aero man, bringing him just 180km from the lead. At this point it’s clearer than ever: the veteran will attack once Florian shows any sign of fatigue.

And, what about record man? Ralph is in a difficult situation. It almost looks like he deliberately chose to not push and remain in third position, which is an excellent strategy if the opponents in front of you push each other to premature fatigue. As far as we have seen, they are very patient. Yet, Ralph does not have extra sleep as Jens does, and he does not have the same average speed. Will he have enough energy to keep pushing to stay at the wheel of the veteran and aero man?

Following a review of an incident on June 30, rider Florian (Cap 66) has been given a 4-hour time penalty for riding through multiple tunnels in Switzerland (Oberalppass and Gotthardpass) and Italy (Lago Maggiore before Luino) without the required front and rear lights.

The rider was asked to provide a statement before a decision was made.

The penalty is based on violations of the race rules requiring riders to:

• know, respect, and observe local laws;
• use front and rear lights whenever visibility is reduced and when riding through tunnels.

In Switzerland, Italy and France, cyclists are legally required to use lights in tunnels, regardless of the time of day.

The 4-hour penalty will be served as an organizer-ordered stop at a time and location determined by the organizers before the finish in Tarifa. Once instructed, the rider must begin the stop within one hour.

This decision reflects the seriousness of the safety violation while allowing the rider to continue the event.

For dotwatchers, please note that Cap 66 will therefore receive a 4-hour organizer-imposed stop before reaching the finish in Tarifa.

Safety rules exist to protect riders and other road users, and they apply equally to every participant throughout the event.

By Marco Milesi
Adventure cyclist and long-distance travel writer

We kick the day at midnight, with all 3 leading riders resting. Florian is at the front, already past Bregenz, Jens is a bit before the checkpoint and Ralph is 250km away from Jens. The only rider at front moving during the night is Benoit, who crosses the border between Poland and Czech Republic at 3:30am.

At 7am aero man and record man wake up and start pedaling almost at the same time, leaving Jens hanging. Florian reaches after a short time the first important climbs in Switzerland, right after Liechtenstein, therefore he is forced to slow down.

During the day, aero man goes through the first crossing into Switzerland entering Italy afterwards. Jens, instead, stops at the beginning of the ascent to the Oberalp pass when Ralph reaches Bregenz in Austria.

At 10pm, all three riders are, once again, standing still. Meanwhile, Benoit has almost entirely covered the distance of the route into Czechia. Is the early-stop of Jens a strategy or is it something different? It is hard to believe he only needed sleep, as we know he has been stopping way more than Florian, might it be a physical issue? Or are we about to witness an attack on aero man when he least expect it?

By Marco Milesi
Adventure cyclist and long-distance travel writer

At midnight, the leading triplet is showing us an unusual behavior: aero man (Florian) is standing still, while both Jens and Ralph are moving. They keep pedaling for two hours, then they decide to stop almost at the same time; probably they were watching each other on the tracking. They are now almost 500km in front of the fourth rider. They are cycling a race on their own.

At 5am Florian and Ralph start cycling, with a big difference in speed: Florian keeps an average of 23km/h while record man (Ralph) struggles to keep pedaling and is forced to stop a couple of times, not being able to overtake Jens, who wakes up at 8:30am and starts cycling as well.

At 10am Florian is north of Munich, while the other two are still in Czechia. During the day we receive another sad news from Lucky Szákó: he is forced to scratch due to physical problems. At 11:30am the veteran (Jens) crosses the border into Germany, followed by Ralph 6 hours later.

During the day, Benoit Merchez starts to move away from the rest of the trailing group, putting some km in his legs after having dropped his pair. At 10pm Ralph stops, while both aero man and the veteran continue their journey, with Florian reaching Bregenz (checkpoint 4) at roughly 10:30pm. So far, this is a new official record, as we didn’t have any checkpoint in 2018, when the record to Tarifa was set.

At midnight, Florian is already past Liechtenstein, followed by Jens at 250km of distance and Ralph further back (he is still standing still).

Florian is decelerating, and the sleep deprivation if compared to Jens must start making him pay its toll. Are we about to shine a light on Jens?