Racer Dimitri Coste sends it at Malle Canyon on his S2 Del Mar

I didn’t have time to swap the stock tires on my S2DM for knobbies, but I figured I’d make do. These events are as much about the people and the spirit as they are about the ride itself. When I arrived, I was blown away—the location was breathtaking, and the sand was, well, everywhere.

I ended up skipping the big 100km ride; only a mile in, my photographer friend Pierre Blondel broke the chain on his bike. We got it fixed and headed back to the empty venue, let a little air out of the tires, unlocked traction control and ABS, and spent the entire afternoon free-riding in the sand. It was an absolute blast!

Race day was next, and Malle's racing philosophy couldn’t be more unique: “the art of losing a race all together.” That summed it up perfectly—their events make racing fun, accessible, lighthearted, and completely unintimidating. During the hill climb, my S2DM blew everyone’s mind; deep sand and a stiff setup meant most thought I wouldn’t reach the top with road tires. But the torque was so intense and efficient that, of course, the bike climbed to the top—faster than most. The S2DM isn’t designed for this kind of challenge, but I love that it can still surprise everyone.

The next day, we took it easy and explored Lisbon, riding through its narrow streets and hills under warm, sunny skies. When we finally returned home to Paris, we were exhausted but infinitely happy. Already looking forward to next year!