Isabelle Beckers proves Roc du Maroc is doable on a gravel bike!
For years, Roc du Maroc has been known as one of the world’s most evocative mountain bike events. This multi-day race in Morocco held its eighth edition this year and sits high on the wish list of many off-road lovers as a unique desert adventure. In early September, the organization announced a very special guest: former pro Isabelle Beckers would be the only rider to start on a gravel bike.
Isabelle has been Ridley’s dream ambassador for years. She hails from Heusden-Zolder—our figurative backyard—and shares the same unstoppable love of cycling as everyone at our company. She first got to know our brand as a pro with Lotto Soudal, but in recent years her heart has beaten ever stronger for our gravel bikes. Every year she also supports a social ride in which we especially invite women to head out with our community.
This time, however, Isabelle faced a new, top-tier challenge. She would be the first woman ever to ride Roc du Maroc on a gravel bike. It gave her an incredible story—one she couldn’t tell during the event. “There was hardly any internet connection, so I was sitting there with countless photos and even more unforgettable stories that I had to keep to myself for a while,” she smiles at the start of our chat.
Isabelle has been Ridley’s dream ambassador for years. She hails from Heusden-Zolder—our figurative backyard—and shares the same unstoppable love of cycling as everyone at our company. She first got to know our brand as a pro with Lotto Soudal, but in recent years her heart has beaten ever stronger for our gravel bikes. Every year she also supports a social ride in which we especially invite women to head out with our community.
This time, however, Isabelle faced a new, top-tier challenge. She would be the first woman ever to ride Roc du Maroc on a gravel bike. It gave her an incredible story—one she couldn’t tell during the event. “There was hardly any internet connection, so I was sitting there with countless photos and even more unforgettable stories that I had to keep to myself for a while,” she smiles at the start of our chat.
Game of Thrones
The whole adventure began with a “prologue” in Ouarzazate, which immediately turned into a hellish undertaking. “Both participants and organizers saw it as a test in 38-degree heat. The course itself was breathtakingly beautiful, surrounded by towering rock formations known from the film The Ten Commandments. We ended up at the Fint Oasis, the garden of the Sahara. That ride set the tone right away,” Isabelle sums up.
Isabelle’s Kanzo Adventure was put firmly to the test in the hours that followed. “I knew the opening days would be the most demanding for a gravel bike. Colleagues questioned my bike choice, but I quickly proved my point. With 53 mm tires it felt like a full-suspension mountain bike, and I could handle the technical descents smoothly.”
Meanwhile, Isabelle kept an eye out for all the beauty along the way. “I immediately think back to Aït-Ben-Haddou, a popular film location declared a UNESCO World Heritage site almost 40 years ago. Viewers of Game of Thrones will also recognize this fortified city. As enjoyable as the scenery was, the route was just as tough. I’m glad I reached the finish in one piece.”
Isabelle’s Kanzo Adventure was put firmly to the test in the hours that followed. “I knew the opening days would be the most demanding for a gravel bike. Colleagues questioned my bike choice, but I quickly proved my point. With 53 mm tires it felt like a full-suspension mountain bike, and I could handle the technical descents smoothly.”
Meanwhile, Isabelle kept an eye out for all the beauty along the way. “I immediately think back to Aït-Ben-Haddou, a popular film location declared a UNESCO World Heritage site almost 40 years ago. Viewers of Game of Thrones will also recognize this fortified city. As enjoyable as the scenery was, the route was just as tough. I’m glad I reached the finish in one piece.”
From the Atlas Mountains to the Valley of Roses
Participants spent the nights in temporary tent camps, and our ambassador emphasizes that the clean showers and toilets were a very welcome addition. Not that you emerged fully rested from this trial. On the day of the queen stage, Isabelle already heard some tents unzipping at 5:30 a.m. The lunar landscape that awaited the riders made every minute of lost sleep worth it.
After three epic stages, Isabelle treated herself to half a rest day. “On the steep cliffs I immediately thought of Indiana Jones. The old villages sent me daydreaming too, as if I’d traveled back in time with a time machine. That’s how we left the Atlas Mountains and entered the Valley of Roses.”
Throughout the trip, Isabelle became one with her bike. “I also loved riding through the solitary desert: switching off the mind and enjoying a setting we don’t know in Belgium.” At the small evening “party” in the crater with fireworks, she decided not to linger too long to stay fresh for the finale. Due to strong headwinds, that final stage was no walk in the park but one last all-out effort.
The final question for Isabelle was simple: would she recommend riding Roc du Maroc on a gravel bike? “The answer is simple: 100% yes! You do need a wide tread, like on the Kanzo Adventure. 40 mm won’t cut it. With low tire pressure (I rode 1.2 bar) and a chunky tread, it’s perfectly doable. Ideally you also have a solid dose of technical skills and a mullet drivetrain, because it gets very steep at times.”
Registrations for next year’s edition open on 1 November at 18:00 CET. The adventure takes place from 16 to 24 October 2026. As usual, the event sells out quickly.
After three epic stages, Isabelle treated herself to half a rest day. “On the steep cliffs I immediately thought of Indiana Jones. The old villages sent me daydreaming too, as if I’d traveled back in time with a time machine. That’s how we left the Atlas Mountains and entered the Valley of Roses.”
Throughout the trip, Isabelle became one with her bike. “I also loved riding through the solitary desert: switching off the mind and enjoying a setting we don’t know in Belgium.” At the small evening “party” in the crater with fireworks, she decided not to linger too long to stay fresh for the finale. Due to strong headwinds, that final stage was no walk in the park but one last all-out effort.
The final question for Isabelle was simple: would she recommend riding Roc du Maroc on a gravel bike? “The answer is simple: 100% yes! You do need a wide tread, like on the Kanzo Adventure. 40 mm won’t cut it. With low tire pressure (I rode 1.2 bar) and a chunky tread, it’s perfectly doable. Ideally you also have a solid dose of technical skills and a mullet drivetrain, because it gets very steep at times.”
Registrations for next year’s edition open on 1 November at 18:00 CET. The adventure takes place from 16 to 24 October 2026. As usual, the event sells out quickly.
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