In 2026, the Race Across Québec becomes more than a return. It becomes a continuation. After setting the goal, committing to the process, and completing the 325 km distance, the decision to step up to the 500 km felt less like an escalation and more like a logical progression. The first participation answered many questions, but it also raised new ones. How does the body respond beyond what already felt like a long day on the bike? How does decision-making evolve when fatigue sets in earlier and lasts longer? And how much of endurance cycling is truly physical, compared to mental discipline and experience?
The 325 km race was not just a test of fitness. It was a lesson in pacing, fueling, problem-solving, and restraint. Small mistakes became amplified over distance, while good habits quietly paid dividends hours later. That race reshaped the way preparation is viewed, not as a checklist, but as an accumulation of details that must work together when it matters. Moving to the 500 km distance is not about riding harder, but riding smarter, longer, and more consistently.
About the Race Across Québec
The Race Across Québec is one of the most demanding endurance cycling events in the province, offering distances that bridge the gap between long-distance sport and ultra-endurance racing. The 500 km format pushes riders into a space where strategy becomes as important as fitness. Efficient stops, equipment reliability, nutrition planning, and mental resilience all play decisive roles. It is a format that rewards preparation and punishes improvisation.
The starting point
This article marks the starting point of the 2026 journey. As with previous Race Across Québec coverage on Allday, the goal is not simply to document a race day, but to explore the entire process leading up to it. Training adaptations, equipment choices, component reliability, and conversations with people who have experience at this level all become part of the story. The objective is to approach the 500 km distance with transparency, curiosity, and a critical eye, while sharing insights that may help others considering a similar challenge.
Over the coming months, several dedicated articles will dive deeper into the preparation. These will focus on the bike setup, the components chosen for reliability over long hours, the equipment used to manage comfort and efficiency, as well as interviews with individuals who bring valuable perspective to ultra-distance riding.
In conclusion
The 500 km Race Across Québec is not an endpoint. It is a framework through which preparation, reflection, and execution come together. As always, the intent is to test assumptions, learn from the process, and share an honest account of what it takes to line up, ride, and finish an endurance challenge of this scale.
You can find all my articles about the Race Across Québec here
