On Monday, four riders now known as the “Fab Four” became the first and only two-wheeled finishers of the 2026 Iditarod Trail Invitational 1000. The group spent over 27 frozen days in the Alaskan backcountry, pushing forward even as everyone else turned back. Find a recap from Kari Gibbons of the Wild Winter Women and photos from their incredible ride here…

Words by Kari Gibbons/Wild Winter Women, photos by Ryan Wanless, Kendall Park, and Emily Wanless

After a dramatic 27 days, 23 hours, and 6 minutes, our first and only 1,000-mile bikers made it to Nome! Rarely a mild day; most were trending around -35°F, and that’s in addition to high winds and thigh-deep snow, all of which required an unimaginable physical load, but more critically, patience. They did enjoy a mild tailwind on the last day, strategically leaving the final safety cabin, the Topcock Cabin, to finish in daylight on Monday, the 22nd. Who can accomplish such a feat? Here is the roll call of those we’ve been calling the Fab Four.

A few weeks ago, when rumours of athletes struggling over Rainy Pass started to hit, the now expected message from Ryan Wanless read something like “I’m fine.” Ryan was a household name a few years ago and keeps updating his resume. He is now at seven finishes total, two of which were the required 350-mile distance, the rest were thousand-mile finishes, one of which was on foot. Ryan’s superpowers are being comfortable pushing his bike for long periods (a nod to that foot division) and truly enjoying the spirit of the race and all the adventure that comes with it.

Erick Basseet made history himself by becoming the third person ever to complete the 1,000-mile distance in all three disciplines! No stranger to adversity, Erick skied the Alaskan Interior last year with only one pole. This year was an elevated challenge, however, and he met them courageously and in good company.

Paired from the beginning, Mayella Krause and Kendall Park completed the 1,000-mile on their first attempt. Two powerhouses in the gym and on the bike, strategically playing the hand they were dealt from day one. Waiting for weather windows crossing the sea ice, holding while the Iditarod Dog Sled Race was paused due to high winds in the notorious blowholes, and then making a break for the finish, being rewarded on the final days with peaceful (in comparison) winds and a high sun finish.

They were all able to take the challenges Alaska dished out head-on, with common themes of resilience, mental toughness, physical adaptability, and an adventurous spirit. Three cheers for the Fab Four!

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