Monmouth-based motorcycle competitor, Vanessa Ruck, also known as The Girl on a Bike, has just landed in Morocco to participate in the second-largest rally raid in the world, the Morocco Desert Challenge. Over the course of the eight-day race, Ruck will tackle 2,658km of the most challenging terrain Morocco has to offer, alongside 560 other racing vehicles.

Riding her KTM 450 Rally Replica, Ruck has made several modifications to her motorcycle to improve performance and durability. With a focus on nutrition, she is well-prepared to tackle the extreme caloric demands of racing in the desert, which could reach up to 8,000 calories per day.

The race days will be long, with anticipated riding times between 8 to 11 hours, followed by nights spent sleeping in a tent. Ruck is also prepared for the gruelling physical demands on her body, managing pain with medication and daily sports therapy sessions.