The moment of truth has arrived. The baskets are sealed, the paperwork is signed , and the truck is on its way to the holy ground of pigeon racing: Barcelona. Yesterday evening, on Monday, June 29, my three absolute elite athletes were basketed for the queen’s race of the year. From this moment on, there is absolutely nothing more I can do. The feeding trays are empty, the loft is completely quiet, and the grand waiting game has officially begun. Now, it is entirely up to the pigeons.
Barcelona is not just any regular race. It is a titanic battle against the elements, a grueling marathon of nearly 1200 kilometers all the way back to the Pigeon Boss lofts in Delft. A distance that demands the absolute limits of character, endurance, and pure class. That is precisely why we experience this sport with such massive passion and pleasure. The preparation was intense, the focus was razor-sharp, and motivation is sky-high. I face this weekend with a healthy dose of bravado and rock-solid confidence.
The Three Warriors of The Pigeon Boss
We are entering the arena with a highly selective squad of three ironclad pigeons. Each one is an athlete I can trust blindly, and their performances over the past few weeks have proven that their form is peaking at the exact right moment. Meet the trio that is tasked with turning my ultimate dream into reality:
-
Storm Chaser (NL20-1436402) This experienced powerhouse has proven time and again what he is made of. A true survivor who never backs down from a challenge and always knows the shortest line back home.
-
Juliette (NL21-1135850V) My rock-solid hen who recently proved that she is completely back in the groove. She is calm, focused, and has that unmistakable winner’s mentality anchored deeply in her blood.
-
Returned Girl (NL22-8388408V) My absolute favorite for this race, who set the tone earlier this season at Pont-Sainte-Maxence by storming onto the trap first. She is in phenomenal shape and is fully prepared for the heavy lifting.
Your Competitors Are Buying...
-
Fly Max | Keto Fly
Price range: € 40,00 through € 65,00 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
CarniBoost
€ 29,95 Add to cart -
SymBiotic
€ 29,95 Add to cart -
RecoverAmin Forte
€ 29,95 Add to cart -
Berger Pearls No.1
€ 59,95 Add to cart
The Weather Along the Flight Line: A Fair but Brutal Battle!
The current weather forecasts for Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4, indicate that our birds will face a beautiful, stable, and sun-drenched flight path. No severe thunderstorms or heavy low-pressure systems to disrupt them, but definitely a type of weather where the true champions rise to the top due to the climbing temperatures.
The situation along the flight line from Barcelona to Delft is shaping up as follows:
-
The Release (Barcelona): For the scheduled launch on Friday, conditions look beautifully clear and bright. Temperatures will climb rapidly throughout the day to a hot 30°C. The wind will blow favorably from the south at around 13 mph, giving our warriors a beautiful initial speed boost right out of the gates as they exit Spain. On Saturday, this stable pattern holds, with the wind shifting slightly to the southeast at 10 mph.
-
The Mid-Flight (France/Paris): Once the birds push deeper into France, the playing field changes slightly. Around the Paris region, Friday will bring gorgeous sunshine and a warm 28°C. However, the wind there turns into a northerly direction at around 6 mph. This means our pigeons will face a light headwind right through the heart of the course. On Saturday, the wind in that area is expected to blow from the northwest, while temperatures continue to climb into a blistering 28°C to 31°C range.
This specific weather scenario guarantees an exceptionally fair race. The slight advantage gained from the tailwind at the start in the south will be balanced out by the northerly wind components midway through the journey. It is going to demand pure power, incredible stamina, and a razor-sharp internal compass!
The Suspense is Building to Unprecedented Heights
I will be completely honest: the adrenaline is already pumping through my veins. The suspense in pigeon racing, especially when it comes to a mythical classic like Barcelona, is almost impossible to capture in words. It is a magnificent tactical chess match against nature. You live for it for months, break up nest positions at the exact strategic moment, and manage your animals like elite Olympic athletes. And then comes that one definitive moment where they are released, and you can only hope their internal compass guides them flawlessly back home to Delft.
The entire weekend will be spent with my eyes locked onto the horizon. Every little sound, every sudden shadow in the sky will send my heart rate skyrocketing to two hundred. That is the pure, unfiltered magic of marathon pigeon racing. It unites fanciers across the globe in that exact same intense suspense and absolute admiration for what these birds can achieve.
The conditioning was optimal, their noses are chalk-white thanks to the Koudijs Smoke Tablets, the Keto and the Berger Products, and the pigeons have been prepared with the greatest amount of love and care for this legendary journey. Now, it is their time to dominate the skies.
I want to wish everyone who has basketed their birds the absolute best of luck. Enjoy the suspense this week, much success to all my fellow Barcelona competitors, and we will catch up at the very next update!
Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss
