After 33 hours, 49 minutes, and 31 seconds of laughter, tears, suffering, learning, joy, and a whole lot of teamwork, the Institut Guttmann team has now finished the Škoda Titan Desert Morocco 2025. The nine team members who began this magnificent challenge six days ago crossed the finish line in Maadid and demonstrated how to overcome the most extreme challenges.

“The experience was tough and long. It took a lot of work to withstand the pressure. We were doing something no one else had done, and we didn't know if we would be able to do it. Everyone told us it wasn't possible, but we've proven that it can be done.” This quote from Pablo Montoia just after crossing the finish line sums up much of what the team has achieved.

The Institut Guttmann team has made history by achieving an extraordinary feat, successfully completing the Škoda Titan Desert Morocco, one of the most demanding mountain biking stage races in the world, with an unprecedented team. To commemorate its 60th anniversary, the Institut Guttmann assembled a nine-person team: four patients with neurological injuries (two spinal cord injuries and two brain injuries) and five hospital staff, led by Álex del Arco, who had previously participated in the first and tenth editions of the race.

The team's patients included Iñaki Mujika, a motorcycle mechanic and motocross rider who suffered a vertebral fracture in 2021; Pablo Montoia, a firefighter who also suffered a vertebral fracture in a climbing accident; and José Antonio Bugarín, who suffered a head injury after being hit by a bicycle. And Cristian Casals, a film producer who suffered multiple trauma with a head injury in another accident.

Alfonso Rubio, a nursing assistant; Miguel Sarrió and Roger Rifà, physiotherapists; Jesús Benito, a neurorehabilitation physician; and Àlex del Arco, an orthopedic surgeon and spinal surgeon; were the professionals who took part.

Iñaki Mujika: “We have a great team with great professionals and great people. We had difficult moments, like all teams, but we overcame them. If it hadn't been for the help of Guttmann's team of professionals, we wouldn't have finished. We wouldn't have even made it to kilometer 6 on day one. The credit goes to everyone, but especially to the assistants.”

A 590-kilometer challenge in extreme conditions

During the 590-kilometer trek across the Moroccan desert, the Institut Guttmann team faced challenges such as rain and mud, high temperatures, sand dunes, rocky trails, and steep slopes. This project represents not only a sporting challenge but also a powerful tool for rehabilitation and social reintegration. Institut Guttmann has demonstrated how determination, camaraderie, and resilience can overcome even the most extraordinary challenges.