Outsiders: Hannah Ghazi-Idrissi

Hannah Ghazi-Idrissi is a doctor and a long distance cyclist based in Innsbruck. She started her journey into ultra-distance racing in 2022 when she took part in the Three Peaks Bike Race, a free route race over 2000 km across the Dolomites and the Alps.

After an impressive performance there, she really caught people's attention at the start of 2023 when she won the inaugural Unknown Race as the fastest woman. She set a blistering pace whilst embracing a challenging race concept where the first checkpoint on the route is announced one hour before the start of the race.

A few weeks ago, Hannah was the first woman to finish Taunus Bikepacking over unbeaten paths in a quiet and remote region in the heart of Germany. Off the back of her ride, we caught up with her to talk about her win and how she balances work and racing.

What got you into bikepacking?

I don't have a traditional background in cycling. I started in triathlon and once went bikepacking on vacation, which I really enjoyed. One thing led to another from there, and now I’m very happy that I found what excites me the most! The physical challenge is a big draw for me – being fit and strong enough to ride for hundreds of hours is incredibly motivating. But what captivates me even more is the interplay of countless small factors and situations in each race. Many of these are beyond one’s control, and having the right mindset and control of your own emotions and reactions plays a crucial role. This combination of physical endurance and mental resilience is extremely exciting. I enjoy how these races push me to develop and to grow stronger in both of those aspects too.

I am fortunate to live in Innsbruck, which provides perfect cycling conditions. I’ve never raced in pure cycling events, but this year I discovered gravel racing and really enjoyed it. I even qualified for the Gravel World Championships, which I never expected!

How do you balance training with a demanding job?

I try to maintain a consistent routine and make sure I’m not overtraining, even though my job as a doctor in a hospital with sometimes irregular working hours can make this difficult. Therefore, during weekdays, I train based on what I feel like doing and how much energy I have. If I don’t feel up to exercising for a few days, I just let it be and trust my body’s signals. For me, cycling is never an additional burden or task; it’s a way to unwind. It feels natural to go outside in the mountains, especially after a long workday, or enjoy the sunrise after a night shift. And it’s also good practice for handling lack of sleep during races.

What was your plan going into the Taunus Bikepacking 2024?

As always, my number one priority was to have fun. I set a few goals, such as wanting to sleep outdoors every night since the race took place in a region of Germany with no major cities or hotels. This was something I hadn’t done in any race before. I’m quite proud of that - going five days without a shower was a big deal for me! My strategy was to keep a steady pace throughout the race (spoiler: that didn’t quite work out) and to run my own race, regardless of other riders (this worked about half the time).

What was your high point?

The whole first three days were my personal highlight: everything went well, the route was incredibly fun, and I felt strong. When I found myself in second place behind Robin Gemperle on the leaderboard, I thought it couldn’t get any better. Another memorable moment was when I slept in a cabin in the forest and was woken up at night by rustling sounds, only to find myself being stared at by 20 huge eyes. I was surrounded by dormice (don’t know the english word: rats with fluffy tails :D) that had unpacked all my food. I was so relieved that it wasn't a dangerous animal or person that I let them eat everything and went back to sleep.

What was your low point?

That was at the end of the third day: just after midnight, I missed the signs of a storm gathering right above me. Suddenly, lightning and thunder came, and heavy pouring rain all at once just as I reached the highest point of the mountain. I was really scared and expected to be struck by lightning at any moment. I found shelter in a garage in the next village, but being so exposed to nature left its mark.

What kit did you rely on most?

Zoa Rain Jacket (my most used item in general) Cargo Bib shorts Insulated gilet Short-sleeve merino base layer (When wearing a hydration vest, I don’t like wearing jerseys, so I ride only with the base layer)

What's next on your calendar?

Next, I will participate in some shorter events like Chasing Cancellara and the Ötztaler Radmarathon, as my work schedule doesn’t allow for longer holidays. I might squeeze in another ultra race at the end of summer, The Two Volcano Sprint would be my ideal choice!

Do you have any dream races or adventures on the bike?

Next on my list is to explore more off-road riding. Being half Moroccan, the Atlas Mountain Race is particularly exciting, and one I definitely want to participate in someday!