Ariadne Ródenas Makes Titan Desert Her Stage Again
A week earlier, Ariadna Ródenas from Elche set off for a bold trek through Saudi Arabia. In her luggage rested a bicycle, a crown of confidence, and a fearless spirit ready to tackle a demanding challenge. The desert atmosphere greeted her as a proving ground, and victory in 2022 already marked a high point. Once the summit is reached, the hard part is staying there, and Ródenas aimed to do just that.
Ariadno II of the Desert
JA Galvan
Ródenas arrived with authority, clinching her second straight win at one of the most demanding events in the annual mountain biking calendar. The Elche native is revered in the Saudi Titan Desert not only for two triumphs but also for traversing more than 3,500 kilometers across desert dunes this edition. The organizers honored her with the Titan Legend title. What began as an adventure became a trial by fire, a journey toward Olympus where only the resolute gain entry. Persistence, skill, and unshakable self-belief are the only maps that lead forward in this harsh landscape, where survival depends on a clear focus.
The Elche rider posed smiles beside former pro cyclist Haimar Zubeldia, a moment captured by EFE. This image speaks to a career that blends grit with a steady ascent through tough routes and even tougher climates.
Full Judge and a Season of Triumphs
Ródenas now boasts a second Titan Desert title in Saudi Arabia, but her domination stretches beyond that single event. She has also claimed victories in Morocco in 2021 and a mixed event in Almería. Her status as a M30 world ultramarathon champion underscores a broad, consistent record, with podium finishes at Cape Epic in South Africa marking her as a standout endurance athlete.
Ariadna Ródenas Wins European Ultramarathon Title
JA Galvan
A year earlier she celebrated her first Saudi Arabia victory by sweeping through all stages. The recent race saw her maintain momentum despite challenges, including the withdrawal of her main rival due to illness. Ródenas carried the field with steady pacing, finishing with a total time of 15 hours, 52 minutes and 42 seconds. Although Eva Lamela faced a tougher schedule by a margin of several hours, the podium reflected a dramatic and demanding course. Moroj Adil completed the women’s podium.
Speaking to EFE, Ródenas expressed joy in defending her title, noting the healthy form she carried into the race. She acknowledged intense competition, yet she trusted her preparation and endured long, grueling stages on tracks that demanded constant effort. The final hours of the race highlighted her capacity to push through fatigue as the clock ticked down toward victory.
After finishing 355 kilometers and accumulating 2,312 meters of climb, she celebrated with the iconic moment of lifting her bike at the finish line. The image captured a union of athlete and tool, symbolizing a journey through hardship that even seasoned pros found challenging. In the men’s race, Luis León Sánchez and Basque Haimar Zubeldia finished in tight contention with Enrique Morcillo in a dramatic finale.
The Titan Desert journey continues to unfold with new ambitions. Ródenas looks toward Costa Rica, where a demanding race is scheduled to begin on November 30. The Saudi victory may feel near, yet the readiness for another challenge remains high, keeping the desert legends on their toes.
From Factory Floor to Desert Crown
Ródenas radiates happiness with every pedal stroke, a love for a sport that found her at the age of 27. Now 36, her path mirrors a late-blooming devotion shared by many athletes who discover their vocation after an initial detour. The journey into cycling began in the context of a triathlon mindset as many colleagues discovered the bug during early endurance events.
Her professional arc grew in parallel with a strong affiliation to the Mondraker brand, the palm-tree city’s own bicycle maker from which she claimed notable titles. There is a clear sense of pride in carrying the brand to distant continents, a story of from factory to desert, and on to the podium.
Elche’s athlete now owns the legend status as Ariadna II of Arabia, a queen of the desert who continues to explore dunes, scale mountains, and conquer new adventures. Representing her homeland with pride, she stands as a growing figure in Titan Desert. Each starting line becomes a stage where formidable rivals must meet a formidable challenge, and the next chapters promise more tests and more triumphs as she pursues the title with renewed determination.