Some stories are shaped by destiny. The bond between Willy Mulonia and Selle SMP is one of them. For nearly 20 years, Willy has taken on challenges that push human limits in long-distance cycling, and Selle SMP has always been by his side. Because true adventure isn’t just about the landscapes—it’s about the transformation within.
Their partnership is built on performance, resilience, and trust, forged through polar expeditions, desert crossings, and relentless winds. Above all, it’s a story of self-discovery and mental toughness, where every pedal stroke is a step toward new dimensions of bikepacking and adventure cycling.
Iditarod Trail Invitational: The Ultimate Endurance Race
The Iditarod Trail Invitational (ITI) is not just another race—it’s the ultimate test of mental and physical endurance, a battle against extreme cold, solitude, and exhaustion.
Riders follow the Iditarod Trail, the legendary route in Alaska where, in 1925, mushers and sled dogs carried life-saving serum to Nome. Today, that same frozen wilderness is a proving ground for ultra-cyclists and adventure racers, pushing their limits in one of the toughest bikepacking challenges on Earth.
When Willy first faced ITI in 1999, fat bikes, GPS, and high-tech gear didn’t exist. All he had was mental grit, a hunger to test himself, and a drive to find new balance through suffering. "It was reckless—but also deeply necessary."
Since then, every ITI race has become a new evolution—a redefining experience in ultra-endurance cycling.
Burled Arch: Every Finish Line Is a New Beginning
After 26 years of ultra-endurance riding, filled with failures, silent struggles, and reinventions, Willy reached the legendary Burled Arch in Nome, Alaska—for the third time.
But this time, something was different. It wasn’t just a finish line—it was the start of something greater. Every kilometer, every brutal challenge, every bikepacking expedition had laid the foundation for a new horizon—an unexplored future in adventure cycling. "True victory isn’t found in applause. It’s found in looking within and recognizing the rider you’ve become."
Because the essence of adventure? It’s never just personal. Real milestones are shared, earned, and lived together.
Mental Preparation: The True Battlefield
The biggest challenge in endurance cycling isn’t the cold, the terrain, or the distance—it’s your mindset.
Many assume that the greatest obstacle in ITI is Alaska’s brutal conditions, but the truth is, the hardest fight happens before the ride even starts. "Every challenge begins long before the first pedal stroke—on the days when no one is watching, when you battle yourself and prepare for survival."
Because when the cold breaks you, fatigue drains you, and everything inside screams ‘Stop!’, the only thing that can keep you going is mental resilience. And that’s where every ride is won—or lost.
Want to Take on Something Big but You’re Afraid? Do It Anyway.
Fear is part of the process. In fact, it’s the sign that something truly matters to you. "Don’t wait until fear disappears—that moment will never come."
You either learn to embrace it, or you stay where you are. The choice is yours.
The Future Starts Today
Every bikepacking adventure, ultra-distance race, and endurance challenge begins right now. "Tomorrow isn’t the place where you realize what you could have done. It’s where you reap the rewards of what you had the courage to begin today."
And if there’s one thing Willy Mulonia has proven, it’s that true adventure never truly ends. Because the greatest journey? It’s the one that keeps pushing us beyond limits, beyond fear, toward new horizons.