Advice from Muzcali
Your 2026 playbook
2026 isn’t about adding more to the calendar. For riders like Muzcali, the focus this year is choosing better: where to ride, what to race, and how to spend time off the bike. After spending much of 2025 travelling and logging serious mileage (over 26,500 kilometres, according to Strava), January has offered a rare pause: time to reset before the year gathers pace again.
What to know?
_One: Based in Bangkok, you’ve probably seen Muzcali riding somewhere on the internet. Her year moves between road and gravel, sometimes racing, sometimes not, with much of it shared openly on social media.
_Two: There’s an ease to the way she shows up – generous with her time, quick to encourage others – that’s hard not to feel drawn into.
_Three: Alongside riding, she works as a Pilates teacher, which feeds directly into how she thinks about movement, recovery and staying healthy enough to keep riding long term.
We caught up with her to talk about where she’s at right now and how she’s approaching the year ahead.
MET: What do you want to do better in 2026 than you did this year?
Muzcali: I want to slow down and be home more. This past year I was always travelling, always rushing. Being home helps me reset, think more clearly, and make better decisions in life and in sport.
What’s changed most in how you ride compared to a few seasons ago?
I’m more all-in now. If I want to do something, I fully commit, there’s no halfway. At the same time, I’ve learned to let things go. If I miss an event, it’s okay. That’s helped me try things I wouldn’t have before.
What’s a small change from 2025 that you think will matter most in 2026?
Gravel skills, for sure. I live in Bangkok, so proper gravel training is almost impossible. Instead, I am learning by racing. Jumping into gravel events last year taught me bike handling, confidence and adaptability much faster than training ever could.
What events are you most excited about in 2026?
Sahara Gravel in Morocco. It’s been on my list for a long time. Riding through the desert, sleeping under the stars, and having to push hard every day – I know it’s going to be something really special.
What’s staying off your calendar?
Events I’ve already done many times. I want fewer races, but more meaningful ones. More challenge, more purpose, mixed with more time at home to recharge.
What’s motivating you right now?
Knowing that what I do inspires others. When someone tells me I helped them believe in themselves – even in a small way – that’s everything. That’s what keeps me moving forward.
Any rules you’ve learned about travelling with a bike?
AirTags are life. When you fly a lot, especially with connections, tracking your bike gives you peace of mind and saves so much stress.
How do you really get to know a cycling culture when you’re travelling?
Start with the local community. Ride with them, talk to them, learn from them. Explore the place on and off the bike. That’s how you really understand it.
Any advice for people riding in new places in 2026?
If your heart says yes, go. The perfect time is now. Be flexible, because plans will change, but that’s usually where the best stories come from.
