1,000km. First Pair. Second Overall.
Ultra endurance racing exposes everything.
Fitness. Equipment. Partnership. Strategy. Character.
At the 2026 Race Around Rwanda, LIOS Ambassador Matt Brokenshire delivered one of the standout performances of the event, winning First Pair and finishing Second Overall alongside professional endurance rider Ulrich Bartholmoes.
They completed the 1,000km course in 60 hours and 3 minutes. Seventeen hours faster than the previous fastest pair in race history.
And Matt did it on a LIOS Paveway carbon gravel bike.
The Race Around Rwanda
Race Around Rwanda is one of the most demanding ultra cycling events in the world.
Known as the Land of a Thousand Hills, Rwanda delivers relentless climbing, volcanic gravel, rainforest, red mud and altitudes approaching 3,000 metres.
Riders cross the East African Rift.
They pass through Nyungwe National Park.
They descend to Lake Kivu.
They climb through the watershed between the Nile and the Congo.
It is not just a physical race. It is a geographical and emotional journey.
Smooth tarmac transitions into volcanic rock. Rain turns red gravel into rivers. Children run alongside smiling and shouting encouragement.
It is ultra racing stripped back to its essence.
The Pair to Watch
Race organisers identified the pair before the start:
“Matthew Brokenshire & Ulrich Bartholmoes – This will be an interesting pair race to watch.”
Matt and Ulrich had previously raced against each other, but in Matt’s words:
“We struck up a great pairing.”
That pairing quickly became the story of the race. Within hours they were leading the pairs category and sitting fourth overall.
Through CP1. Through the Rift climbs. Through heavy rainforest rain. They stayed in contention.
A pairing that delivered under pressure.
By Day 3 they were second overall.
They would not relinquish it.
The Result
Overall Winner Solo: Benedek Borsos – 54hrs 6mins.
Second Overall: Brokenshire & Bartholmoes – 60hrs 3mins.
First Pair: Brokenshire / Bartholmoes.
They finished 17 hours faster than the previous fastest pair in RAR history.
Matt’s summary:
“It bodes well for the season.”
The Bike: LIOS Paveway Carbon Gravel
Matt raced on a LIOS Paveway carbon gravel bike custom painted in the colours of the Rwanda flag.
This was not aesthetic theatre.
It was a deliberate nod to the country and the terrain.
Custom Rwanda colourway. Built for ultra endurance gravel racing.
Why the Paveway Works in Ultra Gravel Racing
The Paveway platform is designed for:
• Long distance efficiency.
• Stable handling at speed.
• Compliance without power loss.
• Structural reliability under sustained load.
• Clearance for aggressive gravel tyres.
In Rwanda that meant:
• Surviving volcanic rock sections prone to punctures.
• Handling red mud in torrential rain.
• Maintaining 22kph averages through mountain terrain.
• Carrying hydration and kit across 60 continuous hours.
Ultra racing is unforgiving.
Equipment either disappears into the background or becomes the problem.
In this case, it performed.
Built to keep moving when the terrain fights back.
The Emotional Dimension
Race Around Rwanda passes through Kibeho, site of genocide memorials. It climbs through rainforest and descends through intensely populated villages.
Riders are never alone.
Within seconds children appear. Villagers observe. Encouragement is constant.
Rain can turn roads into rivers in minutes. Red mud can stop a bike entirely. Altitude strips energy silently.
This is not controlled European gravel. This is Africa.
The support system behind the performance.
A Record Breaking Performance
To contextualise:
- 1,000km.
- 60hrs 3mins.
- 17hrs faster than previous pair record.
- Second overall against elite solo field.
They were not simply category winners. Strategy mattered. Pacing mattered. Partnership mattered.
The bike held up.
First Pair. Second Overall. A record breaking ride.
What This Means
This is not about claiming victory. It is about validation.
The LIOS Paveway is not a marketing bike. It is a performance gravel platform designed for real terrain and real consequences.
Race Around Rwanda is one of the hardest proving grounds in ultra cycling.
The result speaks clearly.
Interested in the LIOS Paveway?
If you are planning ultra endurance racing, multi-day gravel events or simply want a gravel bike that performs under sustained load, the Paveway is built for that purpose.
