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Jesse Yates’ Epic Race Across the Atlas Mountains: A True Test of Endurance

Jesse Yates and his brother Liam recently took on one of the most gruelling ultra-endurance events in the world—the Atlas Mountain Race—an unsupported 1,300 km challenge across some of Morocco’s most remote and unforgiving terrain. Traversing high mountain passes, vast desert plains, and rocky tracks, this race pushes even the toughest athletes to their limits.

The Route: 1,300 km of Tough Terrain

The Atlas Mountain Race is renowned for its difficulty, featuring 20,000 metres of climbing and extreme weather conditions, with freezing temperatures at night. Jesse and his brother Liam set off at 6pm local time, tackling the Telouet Pass at an altitude of 2,450 metres. This wasn’t just a steep climb—it also involved a punishing 6 km “hike with bike” over rocky mule tracks, with snow making their journey even harder. By 2am, they were knee-deep in snow as they pressed on to reach the first checkpoint at kilometre 130, fuelled by a few of Jesse’s emergency Super Gels, which he packed 15 for the duration of the event, knowing how essential they would be.

After a quick refuel, they set off into the cold once more, aiming to reach kilometre 490 where they hoped to find accommodation. However, the strain of the race caught up with them, they had to stop for a bivvy break at kilometre 380 in the early hours of their second full day. The next morning, Jesse had his last OTE Duo Bar left for breakfast before pressing on to the finish—just one of many moments where nutrition was key to pushing on.

Fuelling: Essential to Survival

Fuel management was critical throughout the event, especially with Jesse burning an estimated 72,000 calories over the five days.

His strategy for staying fuelled was meticulous, with Jesse consuming:

  • 15 OTE Super Gels
  • 5 Duo Bars
  • 4 bottles of Super Carbs
  • 5 Chews
  • 2 soya recovery sachets
  • 2 Anytime Protein Bars

With over 1300g of carbohydrates being consumed in product between meal stops, where he’d try to refuel as much as possible. His focus on proper nutrition was crucial in maintaining his energy levels, mental clarity, and physical performance as he battled through the harsh conditions.

Jesse Yates’ Epic Race Across the Atlas Mountains: A True Test of Endurance — OTE Sports

Overcoming Exhaustion

Despite their best efforts, the extreme conditions and lack of sleep meant they couldn’t avoid more bivvy stops. Their first proper rest came at kilometre 490, where they were able to enjoy some accommodation. After that, it was a relentless push forward, with a massive 30-hour stint that saw them pass Checkpoint 2 at kilometre 570 and finally reach Checkpoint 3 at kilometre 880 on day four.

At this point, the pair allowed themselves a brief respite—stopping for six hours to refuel with pizza and use Jesse’s Soya Protein sachet for recovery. A quick three-hour sleep followed before they embarked on the final leg towards the coast.

The Finish Line

In the last stretch of the race, Jesse and Liam pushed through with minimal sleep, only stopping for a two-hour bivvy break on the final morning. They then powered towards the coast and reached the finish line in Essaouira, completing the race in 5 days, 23 hours, and 42 minutes—securing the win in the pairs category.

Exhausted but victorious, Jesse described the event as one he would “never forget” and knew it would take time to fully recover from the immense physical toll.

 

Jesse Yates’ Epic Race Across the Atlas Mountains: A True Test of Endurance — OTE Sports

OTE Sports: The Fuel Behind Jesse’s Success

Throughout this epic journey, Jesse relied heavily on OTE Sports nutrition to fuel his body and mind. The quick energy boosts from OTE Super Gels, the sustained power from Duo Bars and the post-ride recovery provided by Protein Bars and Recovery Sachets were all vital components in keeping him strong during the race. His well-planned fuelling strategy allowed him to tackle some of the toughest terrain and conditions Morocco had to offer.

Jesse’s journey across the Atlas Mountains is a remarkable testament to endurance, grit and the importance of proper nutrition. With OTE’s support, he and his brother conquered one of the most challenging ultra-endurance races in the world, proving that anything is possible with the right preparation and fuel.

Jesse’s favourites

Jesse Yates and his brother Liam recently took on one of the most gruelling ultra-endurance events in the world—the Atlas Mountain Race—an unsupported 1,300 km challenge across some of Morocco's most remote and unforgiving terrain. Traversing high mountain passes, vast desert plains, and rocky tracks, this race pushes even the toughest athletes to their limits.