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The riders are rolling and the adventure has begun. Freedom Challenge 2026 is underway. And Freedom family, just to think, there is something very special about these opening days of Freedom when the riders are standing on that freezing start line, sometimes carrying years of preparations and dreams with them, and that feeling that nobody really knows what lies ahead, what the mountains are gonna be like, and the weather, and the river crossings, and how you're gonna cope with the sleepless nights and those countless decisions. All of that still waits out there somewhere on the trail.


Today is Friday, the 12th of June, and the trail has been open since Monday. We have five batches out there tackling the elements, which up until now have been kind. My name is Julia Fisher, and this is the Freedom Trail podcast, which is proudly delivered to you by our new logistics partner, Igmi's Express.


In the pack this year we have Ron Rutland. Very exciting to have him on the trail, and he shared some of his pre-race reflections with us.


Riders featured in this episode:





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