Pigeon racing is not a hobby for the faint of heart. The 2026 edition of OLR Lasterie Zwiep in Murcia proved that reality with brutal clarity. What we witnessed in the Spanish skies was not a simple race but a relentless process of natural selection. I do not hand out my seal of approval to just anyone who nails a loft together in their backyard. As of today, OLR Lasterie Zwiep is officially Pigeon Boss Approved because Peter Lasterie and Hendri Zwiep breathe transparency and have built an arena where only the absolute world elite can survive.
This edition proved that the Murcia region operates on a completely different level than the races in the north. From the 1,531 pigeons that began this adventure, only 349 warriors remained for the grand final after a grueling preparation of ten training sessions and four hotspots.
The Invisible Wall Above Sevilla
On Friday, March 27, 2026, at 09:00:00 AM, the crates were opened for a 460 kilometer flight from Pinzon, Sevilla. Nature decided to slam the door shut. A steady north easterly wind of approximately 15.5 km/h formed an invisible wall over the entire distance. What should have been a sprint turned into a lesson in pure survival.
The harsh reality is visible in the figures:
More than 31 hours after release, only 66 of the 349 finalists had safely reached the loft in Abanilla.
This represents an arrival rate of roughly 19 percent.
The speed of the latest arrivals dropped to an unprecedented 255.54 m/min, proving these birds fought for every single meter.
First Wave: 30 Warriors on GPLoft
The battle in the sky is over, but the fight for these rare genes is just beginning. Starting April 8th, the first sale of the final pigeons has officially launched on GPLoft at www.gploft.com. These are the “wall breakers” who refused to give up.
Below is the list of the first 30 warriors currently online, matched with their lot numbers and final rank. This is the material you use to build a breeding loft that can take a punch.
Lot | Final Rank | Fancier | Ring Number |
1 | 94 | Team Emerson 1 | IHU 25 S 066955 |
2 | 93 | Team Schalen Bakker 1 | NL 25 1532873 |
3 | 91 | Pv de Verwachting | NL 25 1161683 |
4 | 90 | Barry lofts Mikke Chissle | ESP 25 45708 |
5 | 88 | Chris Melligan | IHU 25 S 032219 |
6 | 85 | Pv de Verwachting 1 | NL 25 1161420 |
7 | 84 | Wallys Flyers | IHU 25 S 097168 |
8 | 83 | Maurice O’donnel 4 | IHU 25 S 098695 |
9 | 79 | Steptoe Lofts | IHU 25 S 114784 |
10 | 76 | Pv de Verwachting 3 | NL 25 1161025 |
11 | 75 | Team Wing Force RD NL 1 | NL 25 4743745 |
12 | 72 | Team van Oosten Luijten 1 | NL 25 1139027 |
13 | 68 | Bracke Fourneau OLR | BE 25 3032082 |
14 | 67 | Team Libertas 1 | DV 08575 25 796 |
15 | 63 | Quintina Pigeons | BE 25 4012568 |
16 | 60 | Bracke Fourneau OLR | BE 25 3032176 |
17 | 55 | Jaser Kurtaj | CH 25 10074 |
18 | 54 | Bauters Jo | BE 25 4093172 |
19 | 52 | Team Enrico Doldersum 2 | NL 25 1005675 |
20 | 51 | Alnwick Lions | NEHU 25 Z 3193 |
21 | 49 | Omnipigeon 1 | MA 25 00199 |
22 | 43 | Malasa Lofts | GB 25 D 30717 |
23 | 38 | All The Bells | IHU 25 S 107173 |
24 | 37 | Luikens Boekelo 2 | NL 25 1555467 |
25 | 35 | Team Schouten | NL 25 1218200 |
26 | 32 | Team WRP Sabol Vreys | NL 25 1094315 |
27 | 28 | Luikens Boekelo 2 | NL 25 1555227 |
28 | 27 | M Jager en Dochter | NL 25 1488381 |
29 | 23 | Team Schalen Bakker 1 | NL 25 1533110 |
30 | 13 | Highfield Lofst | GB 25 N 26636 |
The Crown Jewels: PIPA on May 4th
While this first wave is already creating a stir, mark your calendars for the grand finale. The absolute elite (the top 10 finishers from the final and the prestigious Ace Pigeons) will be sold on PIPA starting May 4th.
The total prize pool for this race reached an impressive 135,000 euros. The winner of the final race, Steffen Sommer from Germany with bird DV 04465 25 3805, took home a first prize of 30,000 euros. These top performers are the absolute world elite, and their genes represent the pinnacle of modern pigeon racing.
Stay Ahead of the Game with Loft Insider
I challenge you to do your homework now. Anyone who wants to play for the big money in Murcia next year simply cannot ignore these references. To ensure you do not miss a single update on these auctions or the deep dives into the bloodlines of these survivors, subscribe to Loft Insider immediately. We will keep you updated so you can bid with confidence and bring home a warrior that knows how to find its way home when the world says it is impossible.
Jan de Wijs
The Pigeon Boss
Questions? Contact Hendri...
