Team Update:
Withdrawing from ARWC France 2026

For the past few months, Team Dirt has been working toward one of our biggest goals yet: racing at the Adventure Racing World Championship and representing the Philippines on the world stage.

After a lot of discussion, we have decided to step back from that plan for now.

It was not an easy decision. We wanted to make it happen, and we spent a lot of time looking at different ways to push through. But international racing comes with a long list of requirements, and we reached a point where continuing with the plan no longer felt practical for the team.

Sometimes, wanting something badly is not enough. The timing, preparation and support also have to come together.

This year, they simply did not.

A Grassroots Team from the Philippines

Team Dirt has always been a grassroots team.

We are Filipino athletes who love adventure racing, the outdoors and the challenge of moving through difficult terrain together. We train around work, family and everyday responsibilities. We do not have a big organization behind us, and much of what we do is built through our own effort and the support of people who believe in the team.

We started by joining local races; learning as we went.

Over time, the races became longer, harder and more demanding. We learned how to navigate when we were tired, how to solve problems along the way, and how to keep moving when plans started falling apart.

That is part of what makes adventure racing special.

It is not only about speed or fitness. It is about staying calm, making good decisions and taking care of your teammates when things get difficult.

Our World Championship goal came from that same mindset. We wanted to see how far an all-Filipino crew could go.

Even though we will not be making the trip this time, the effort was not wasted. The process showed us what it takes to prepare for a race at that level. It also showed us where we still need to grow as a team.

Looking Toward India

For now, we are turning our attention to Adventure @ Mechukha in Arunachal Pradesh, India, scheduled for November 14 to 23, 2026.

The race is an ARWS Asia Regional Championship and a World Championship Qualifier. It will cover around 450 kilometers, with teams given five days to complete a course involving trekking, mountain biking, kayaking, navigation and rope sections.

It will still be a major challenge.

Mechukha is not a small race, and getting there will still require serious preparation. We need to look at the full picture and see how things come together over the next few months.

For now, it gives us something to work toward.

Racing in India would allow us to compete internationally while staying closer to home. It would also give us another chance to test ourselves in a long expedition race and continue building toward the World Championship in the future.

This is not a replacement for the original dream.

It is another step toward it.

The Dream Is Still There

Pulling out of the World Championship plan is disappointing.

We wanted to be there. We wanted to race alongside some of the best teams in the world and show that a team from the Philippines could stand on the same starting line.

But adventure racing teaches you that plans can change.

A trail may disappear. A river may become unsafe to cross. The route you prepared may no longer be the best way forward.

When that happens, you stop, reassess and choose another direction.

That is what we are doing now: taking a step back, but not giving up on our dreams.

We will continue training. We will continue building the team. We will continue partnering with brands who align with our goal. We will continue looking for opportunities to race outside the Philippines and learn from stronger and more experienced teams.

Team Dirt is still a small grassroots team doing its best with what it has.

We may not reach every starting line we aim for, but we will keep finding ways to move forward.

The World Championship dream is still there.

It will just have to wait a little longer.

If you wish to support Team Dirt, please visit our Support Page