Winner, full route

Nati Cohen

I arrived at midnight to my family, slept well, and had breakfast (and not just a gas station sandwich 😉), but above all, a feeling of happiness hovered over me.

This happiness emerged about two years ago when I was introduced to the community. I followed the HLC challenges and Discover, and last year when Discover ended, I told myself that was where I wanted to be, so I reached April 4, 2024, standing at the starting line. I embarked on this journey, which for me is more a journey than a competition. During this journey, I used all the "tools" I had acquired over the years, and with their help, I reached the finish line. The course, even if it needs improvements, was excellent, passing through various regions in our country and discovering small, new places within these regions and magnificent landscapes.

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Finisher

Jonathan Steindel

I’m sharing my experience from the Discover Israel event, a challenging bikepacking race that kicked off on Thursday, 4/4, at 7:00 AM. Alongside about 40 participants, we embarked on an adventure that promised to test our endurance and connect us with nature.

Day 1: We rode 160 km, starting our journey navigating through the desert’s challenging terrain from Yotvata to Neot Smadar Inn, and then onward to Kibbutz Yotvata. The day was marked by the immense heat and breathtaking landscapes, with our only stops being at gas stations for essential supplies.

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Participant

Zeevi Perl

My first attempt was two years ago.

I signed up for the half HLC and aimed to finish three days. I found myself crossing the finish line second in the race. This experience made me change many habits in my life. Being conscious of nutrition and a sports routine got me back to the weight I was in the army and to a cycling fitness that left all my friends behind. I wanted to do the full HLC mainly to tackle the desert. It’s a significant and physically daunting challenge. I trained seriously and felt ready. A week before setting out, I caught COVID. I was definitely bummed. Then I discovered there was another competition. Discover a race that aims to be less stubborn and more participant-friendly. So last March, I set out, and on the first day, with excessive confidence, I burned through the climb to dawn and my Achilles tendons.

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Finisher

Ori Sofer

“It was a tough event. Crazy heat, amazing scenery, a good atmosphere, and warm and encouraging people. I preferred to spend the hottest hours resting and pushing ‘dead’ distances at night. So, when we arrived in Yotvata on the first day, I settled on a bench from one to three o’clock.

At three, during the peak heat, I set off knowing I would reach the top a little after the peak heat so the worst would be behind me. I arrived in Yehel around nine and went to sleep. At midnight, I set off again to finish the administrative road to Paran while it was still dark. That’s when I startled the border trail readiness team 😂 They stopped me in Paran... At about seven, I met Elad, Keren, Shahar, and a few other stars in Tzukim, but I took the time to rest and recharge. I arrived in Nekarot around noon and battled the heat and fatigue. Once I was out, I grabbed a big tree and fell asleep for an hour. From there, I went to Khan Be’erot, refilled ice and batteries, had a short meeting with other riders, and then went to the lookout.

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Finisher

Eyal Halperin

A bit about the event from my perspective... 😇 For me, a competitive bikepacking event inherently contains a contradiction in its very definition. For me, bikepacking is the ultimate field that elevates the hobby of riding into the realms of adventure and the ultimate connection with the terrain and nature. It’s the farthest thing from competition and competitiveness.

However, they labeled the competition as a “tough and rewarding challenge”, a definition that gives me cold sweats and shakes my chakras. So, I said, “Let’s do this,” and found myself alongside a group of slender riders in tight tights, puffed-up bags on their bikes, a savvy look at the GPS, and a knife between their teeth on a Thursday morning.

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Finisher

Na’ama Doron

How can one summarize the Discover experience?

I discovered so many things! About myself, about the marvelous things the body can do when the mind is in the right place, and the importance of listening to the body, the gut, and the feelings... calmly and peacefully.

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Finisher

Avi Kagan

I finished with a big smile on my face and a taste for more, which in itself says it all...

I joined the ride to have fun and indeed, I did enjoy it. I can’t say it wasn’t hard, however, it’s the kind of hard that people like us love. I have many moments etched in my mind of the connection to nature.

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