The 2026 Dax International will be etched in the memory of European long-distance pigeon racing. What is already an extremely tough challenge (Dax, in southwest France, is some 900-993 km from most Belgian and Dutch lofts) was transformed this year into an unprecedented race for survival. By late afternoon on Monday, July 13, in many clubs barely 10% of the pigeons had returned home.
Almost a week in the basket before taking flight
The pigeons were basketed starting on July 6, 2026, but weather conditions prevented their release for almost a week. The extreme heat, with temperatures reaching and exceeding 35°C in the release area, made it impossible to release them while ensuring minimum animal welfare. The release finally took place on July 12, 2026, at 7:15 a.m.
A total of 9,501 pigeons were entered in the international race, of which 3,423 were from Belgium (2,315 older birds and 1,108 yearlings). Participating countries included Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, France, and England, among others.
Extreme flight conditions: heat, wind, and smoke
Once airborne, the obstacles didn't stop. Sustained northeasterly winds, blowing against the north-northeast route the pigeons had to follow, penalized them every kilometer. The physical effort required to maintain their course against the wind caused many birds to drastically reduce their speed or seek rest earlier than usual.
Adding to the challenges was an active forest fire in the Fontainebleau forest, south of Paris, which generated thick plumes of smoke along part of the route. The smoke disoriented many pigeons, irritated their respiratory systems, and forced them to make detours or premature stops. As a result, the average speed of the winners was significantly lower than usual for this course.
Results: Timmers (Netherlands) wins the international title
The international winner in the old pigeons category was H. Timmers, from Oostvoorne (Netherlands) . His pigeon was recorded on Monday, July 13th at 13:07 CEST after covering 993.252 km at an average speed of 703.52 m/min (just over 42 km/h). To put that into perspective: in a race with normal conditions, the Dax race typically sees top finishers with speeds exceeding 850-900 m/min.
In the Belgian national awards, the top finishers were:
- Old pigeons: Peiren Noel, from Zedelgem (886.617 km at 691.03 m/min, recorded on Monday at 10:59 CEST).
- Yearlings: Vervalle Stefan, from Oeselgem (876.594 km at 638.19 m/min, recorded on Monday at 12:29 CEST).
The differences in distance between pigeon lofts explain why the Belgian national champion in old pigeons arrived earlier on the clock but with a lower calculated speed than the Dutch international winner: Peiren Noel's pigeon traveled about 100 km less, which is decisive on a day with such adverse conditions.
The example of Rex de Leeuw: breeding to endure
Among the breeders who made their mark in this edition for reasons other than top finishes, Rex de Leeuw, from Made (Netherlands), stands out. De Leeuw competes in long-distance races, relying on a breeding stock built around the founding stud Ad (NL.03-0334830), a pigeon that achieved an 8th place in the Barcelona National and has passed on robustness to several generations crossed with the Cor de Heijde line.
Both of his entered pigeons returned: NL.23-2303992 achieved 140th nationally, arriving on July 13th at 21:06:17 after covering 991.067 km; NL.23-2303945 finished in 536th national position. Neither won a trophy, but on a day when 90% of the loft hadn't returned by sunset, having both birds back home is a breeding argument that's hard to ignore.
What this career teaches us
The 2026 Dax reinforces a certainty that extreme-distance breeders have always repeated: selection under adverse conditions is the most honest filter. Heat, headwinds, and smoke allow no cheating. The pigeons that return are, in the vast majority of cases, those that deserve to be bred.
Speeds between 638 and 703 m/min over almost 1,000 km are not a failure; they are a true record of what happens when weather and geography conspire against you. And that is precisely why it is important to record each return flight with the date, exact time, and condition of arrival: this is the data that, in a year or two, will allow us to identify which pigeons have the stamina to endure when things get tough.
If you want to keep track of results, pedigrees and lineages of your pigeon loft with the precision that tests like this demand, FirePedigree gives you the tools to do it .
Sources: PigeonBoss.com · PIPA — Dax (int.) 2026