Angèle on the Race Around Rwanda

On 1 February 2026, Angèle Paty set off on the Race Around Rwanda, an ultra-distance gravel race that has become a benchmark for cyclists seeking extreme adventure.

The format immediately sets the tone:

• 1,000 km,
• 19,000 m of elevation gain,
• 4 checkpoints,
• 140 participants, including 20 women,
• starting and finishing in Kigali,
• all in complete self-sufficiency.

The organisers have confirmed these characteristics for the 2026 edition, as well as a time limit of 163 hours, or less than 7 days.

Under these conditions, every choice of equipment counts. Altitude above 2,000 metres, changeable weather, long demanding sections, managing sleep, food and effort: the Race Around Rwanda requires the ability to move fast, for long periods, and above all with confidence. Angèle Paty finished 20th in the 2026 edition and first woman.

To meet this challenge, Angèle rode with the Mavic Allroad SL Carbon. In a race where reliability is not a detail but a prerequisite for success, her feedback is particularly telling: despite the accumulated elevation gain, storms and the constraints of complete self-sufficiency, she emphasises that she encountered "zero mechanical problems". This feedback gives full meaning to the choice of Allroad SL Carbon wheels: wheels designed to support commitment, absorb the miles and remain consistent when the terrain, fatigue and conditions become more challenging.

Beyond sporting performance, this adventure illustrates what the most committed gravel riders are looking for: equipment capable of supporting their efforts without becoming a source of uncertainty. With Angèle Paty in the Race Around Rwanda 2026, the Mavic Allroad SL Carbon wheels demonstrated in the field what is expected of a high-end adventure wheel: performance, confidence and reliability right to the finish line.

In Angèle's words:

"Lots of elevation gain, altitude above 2000m, thunderstorms, so different in terms of food, where to find it/what to find, etc., but the landscapes and especially the Rwandan people are incredible and super welcoming. Lots of children running alongside to cheer us on. And no mechanical problems!"

Photo credits: https://www.instagram.com/jamesbusbyimages/?hl=fr