A Miracle in the Ötztal After my experiences last year when
Ötztal Radmarathon was clear: here I must be there again. Matt did not take long to be persuaded to participate, Ingo was also the idea of the "Iceman" to drive to inspire quickly, but when Sebastian was a bit more persuasion necessary. The first hurdle for a response when Örme is the declaration: 4000 places will be awarded when the online registration is enabled, it is known, however, in advance not, in February 2006, the terse notice on the official website. To get us to sign all four, we shared all relevant data so that each could take the four of us to sign up for herself and others. The All worked so well that Ingo and I signed up almost simultaneously, so that we could return four starting places at once. During a training trip, we managed jointly also convince Jan, apply to it in the draw of returned starting places. Lo and behold, he won the lottery or a starting place. With five riders then there was the possibility as a team to be counted in the team standings.
now took on the project "Iceman" to more specific features: to the many winter miles, then added a few more kilometers, many many meters and some "preparation" marathons, which, however, Sebastian and John of various reasons, refused consistently
;-) I was even beginning of the season once expressed a dream of
8:30 , after my performance of the year (especially my performance at La Marmotte) I did not trust me even a time ranging from 8:00 am to to 8:15. But La Marmotte was in early July and my form, especially in the last few weeks (at least subjectively) does not become better, or less realistic to me appeared to 8:15 plus-minus 5 minutes. "Officially," but I was off again 8:30 as a goal.
Team: Jan, Sebastien, the author, Matthias and Ingo (from left)
The self-made team jerseys
The journey took place in a club based on the VW bus. Good things and reasonably good weather, we made five of us on Saturday morning in the road towards Sölden Ötztal. At the station rose to Ötztal then also Matthias' friend Andrea, who was kind enough to take over the catering for us on the burner. Once in Soelden, we got first place, the key to our apartment into a real luxury hotel and found out on this occasion, we invited as participants of the marathons were our Sunday breakfast to take at this hotel with us, also we had the sauna open for use . THAT is even a service. And, no, I tell not now, which apartment we had, everyone else next year booked there ;-) The rest of the day passed quickly, a short practice round, around the legs to loosen up a bit and go to our home-made jerseys walk a bit (are real club jerseys there despite a lead of nearly a year for us, unfortunately, still do not), then the usual pasta dinner and then went to bed soon.
Ingo, Matt and Jan (from left)
rolling and jerseys go for a drive in the Ötztal
The night before, but then it starts to rain. My worst forebodings seem true to be: it would be the same as last year? Saturday dry and nice to evening and then steady rain through Sunday lunch? Shall be deemed the first glance, had rung the alarm after about 4 am, the weather: low clouds, but dry roads. Hopefully it holds up to the start. After that it may rain quietly drive off only Siffwetter already is not fun. After a luxurious breakfast (see above) take advantage of the other four so prior to twenty six already on the way into the starting lineup, and I may even start this year thanks to my last year of the first starting block. Since Andrea is also the direction of torch on its way, I'm all alone in the apartment and for some unknown Reasons hyper nervous suddenly.
The author of the morning before the start
I
important in the apartment and down like a nervous racehorse must not force me to go and right into the starting lineup. To short after six clock I think it is completely no longer, and also leave the apartment to roll towards launch. When I was standing against six ten point to the start, the first starting block is already filled but very good. I talk briefly with two riders from Team Strassacker, standing next to me, it's about 6.30am point even going on. From the first group I had heard a lot of good, especially after the first exit Ötz unstress be with this group than in the back in the peloton. But puff pastry: a stupid Rumgestecke, brake to almost standstill, again Fall in the pulse is already beyond what I had actually set as a limit for the Kühtaianstieg. I decide to let the pulse of today can be pulse and easy to drive. What else remains for me too! So keep trying for a few positions in the large area make up, earlier, it is usually quiet. And whoever has next to me the same suggestion? The blue and orange clothes and blue Storck with the Lightweights I did know: my friend from Herpersdorf Arber. Quick exchanged a few words, he is drawn even further. Before me appears on a driver in Australia-shirt: this can not only be the K. Roo from the tour forum, and the fact he is. With him I change a few words. Meanwhile, I'm a little further forward, and it will actually run more quietly.
Overall, the pace, however, rather moderate, after 42min we turn into the Kühtaianstieg, much slower I was last year when I had to start back, either. So, tuck in the jersey rain jacket, open vest, gloves off and away went the dance. A quick look at the heart rate monitor: now 175-180. That'll be fun. But anyway, here is the bike race and so I drive it. A new feeling arises in to me: the sense of Rebuilt becoming the mountain. So far I have had in all my Alpine marathon rather back started so that I could clearly pass more people than people overtook me. Now that was at once different: I have a lot of drivers can be drawn, as I hardly even overtaking driver. Not a good feeling. Nevertheless, I get a traveling woman to my left with a characteristic rocking everywhere: that can not only be Anna Corona, last year's winner. It is actually so bad I can not be on the road, after all she went last year 8:12. After a few kilometers, the field has, however, reasonably sorted, I have found my (too fast?) Rhythm, operated such a little Group hopping, but I have a feeling of being only slightly faster than last year, albeit at a significantly higher heart rate. I go to a small group of about five riders, including three Austrians in the same shirt, quite obvious they belong to the same team. Here I hang my first time in a while. It goes through the serpentines. The road is wet, it always trickles a bit. The following flat section we solve the four of us up, before us lies a large group, we want to obtain. On the steepest part of the hole I drive to this group completely: Pulse 195, the acid in the legs. Ok, now for the first time recreation. I try the pulse at least to push back a bit, but somehow my rhythm is such that the pulse does not really go down. Regardless, next year I'll go without the stupid thing by heart rate monitor. That's just so crazy. In the group, Monica Bandini, with their Gregari, also a candidate for the women's competition. Moreover, even in this group: the Herpersdorf with the Lightweights. On a somewhat obliquely retracted cattle grid I get to roll and lie almost flat on its face. After this scare comes back from the front driver's blond with blue helmet and blue and white jersey: Christian Ceralli, the Vorjahresieger. So now I had already surpassed both last year's winner. Somehow not a very bad feeling. About a mile south of the pass I detach myself from this group, actually rather unintentionally, I'm going just keep my footsteps. Via a temporary road is gravel, the last meter goes up to the first pass of the day, the Kühtaisattel. After 1h 46min
journey so far, I am on the pass, so it was not as slow as it had partially felt. I grab me in passing a cup of hot tea to make my wind jacket and decide for departure to dispense with gloves and windbreaker. The road is still wet, but this is less problematic in this exit, as it almost always goes straight ahead. Top is in the gallery for the first time the nine forward at the speed display. Hopefully none of the (slower) riders in front of me now make a stupid Schlenker. In the steep section to reach "unfortunately" 98km / h, I would have cracked so much to the 100km / h! Further down, where it is getting a bit flat, a group formed initially around ten riders, including Tour toboxx from the forum. Rapidly growing group on the way to Innsbruck, around 100 or more riders.
I am looking for a place in the middle of the group; mitrollen simply and eat as much as possible here's the plan now for the following increase to the burner. That with the "Mitrollen" proves to be very soon dream: It will hit a breakneck speed, to "rest" or even "recreation" is not the question. The few moments where the pace is fairly tolerable, I use to me peu à peu reinzuwürgen two Powerbarriegel. At some point a nearly flat track is reached, but rather slow pace, it is even faster: 45-50km / h, the speedometer, almost the whole group moves one row, I'm even in the shadow sometimes difficult at the terminal. Steinach it is finally time we have achieved through our hell of a ride with the top group all favorites (including professional Gerrit Glomser). I hope now quieter pace that I begrudge the field for a short term, but after a few miles will go on the hunt anew. Of recovery can be no question, the pulse is in the same regions as the Kühtai. Ok, I think to myself, you wanted to cycle race, here's cycling race. What should we do it? Can tear off and wait for the next group? No, first you do not know when will the, and secondly, such a group as they make up a huge opportunity insane amount of time, even if there is a risk that you übereißt this total. And so it is also the tenor around me "? Are the insane over there later this we get the receipt, the revenge!" I would have been the receipt for the last 3km to the Brenner Pass: leg cramps! When I was out of the saddle go to the somewhat steeper final kilometer to address, I go almost simultaneously to the left and right calf. I could scream with pain. I quickly lose a few positions, but somehow it is still more or less afloat. After about 3 h 35 min the burner is achieved. 10 minutes, then my calculation.
waiting at the burner top Andrea with new water bottles, fast the empty bottles away, wind jacket and gloves also peppered the car, briefly complained of my suffering, so by for leg cramps, and that they should gear the other, that was the end for me, it works even more so. The first group of three, prompting me to ride, driving me. My legs do not obey me yet again really. To the next group of four, I hang myself tuned, however, go with the wind. Appears before us, the large lead group with about 200 drivers, behind it we meander through the (Forbidden) escort vehicles. Here comes something akin to the Tour de France feeling: Suspended drivers are fighting back in the downhill in the wake of the cars into the field ;-) Once in the plane, my cramps are worse again. My legs have a very painful life of its own. Ok, try using rauszudehnen the seizures. Stand up, leg stretch, lower heel, ouch, I shoot a huge cramp in the front thigh. The same game on the other side. Pain pure. I could cry. I still have about 100 km with two passports, including the Timmelsjoch a super heavy increase, which alone is already a the juice from the legs to move. How can this go? Below purely in the Jaufen tears apart the field. I'm trying to find my step. Especially to go as I do in the calves cramp sitting, standing to go to the thighs. Strangely, the pain under stress are more tolerable, even if your legs feel like himself again and again blocks. I still hang in a group, it also Monia Gallucci (the eventual winner) with their supporters, but it's like playing with fire. Any time could go to the legs completely, and I would stand. After five or six miles my pace of the group is a bit too high, meter by meter, I lose. Now come from behind again drivers back to me. I feel like shit. I had enough to drink? Was it a mistake to omit the Kühtailabe? Or simply the pace was too high? After all, the average was up to the burner at around 34km / h. The Jaufen had I last year, both for growth and for departure to my heart threatens to be a fiasco. To make matters worse, it starts to rain yet. Usually does not bother me, but now and here it gave me the rest but I can not just get off and push, or even give up! Somehow more that are around me but a bit faster, but really good to see that also no longer sufficient. Finally I get out of the forest can see the pass. Not looking up, the only depressed. Chance are spectators cheering on the riders. Somehow I can not even need that anyone even "Bravo!" calls out. Nix bravo, crappy isses, and in such a right. At last, the pass is reached, the Labe this year is fortunately very top of the pass. I fill my bottle of iced tea, a mistake. It is an insult such a sticky-sweet stuff on a bike marathon to offer. Quick yet attracted the wind vest, looked at the clock, I wanted to my exact departure time "stop" 5h 06min before.
Despite the cramps I had been driving on Jaufen 1h 06min. Üblerweise the cramps in the downhill worse instead of better, I sit totally stiff on the bike it is nothingness enjoy departure. Because of the cramps I can race to the corners as not so good. Then, you also have a fast fall, which I am already slipped with two wheels, and an evil to waste all that I almost moved into the guard rail, to do so. Still, I can get four or five drivers. After 22min I'm in St. Leonhard. A departure time, which I am under the circumstances, really proud. Down in St. Leonhard I've only once so blue that I not even the timing for the start of the rise Timmelsjoch perceive (if I had not 'ne official from St. Leonhard meantime, I'd still the firm conviction that there was no timing). I eat again, drink from the icky, too sweet iced tea, and I consider the question of how should I climb with my legs this monster of a pass called Timmelsjoch.
The Timmelsjoch: for me the most brutal passport, which I know so far (is maybe the fact that it had been operating only when Ötzi, at least the south side)
After leaving my legs to do just nor hurt are really stiff, I have cramps in places where I did not think that there are muscles. Again the phenomenon: when I try to cramp rauszudehnen, I get elsewhere the next. Once again, I fired a single woman at the roadside, is so lovable meant, but at that moment I could have beat them for the igniter. I am not "Bravo!", "There!" or "You can do it!" felt. Strangely, I never thought of it is to get off your bike and give up, only to give up the idea is pervasive. But who can force me to give up if I am not prepared to do themselves? My legs do not where I'd show's it. A sign announces the beginning of the climb to the mountain standings Timmelsjoch; 19.8 km to the Labe in Schönau. The first few miles are a pain, I do not know how to even connect virtually painless. However, I develop so slowly a certain disregard of the cramps. Hintermoos it is steeper. Here I had last year, my weakness, had to leave for the first time many people on the mountain. Today, it is suddenly the other way: even though I completely bad, I see drivers in front of me again, and they come closer. Including the driver, who had me on abghängt Jaufen very early, such as Stefan Thaler from the VCR from Regensburg or even my old acquaintance with the blue and Storck Lightweights. I had the Jaufen despite the pain somehow instinctively made the right one? Anyway, I have to overtake morality, and I really desperately needed. Towards the end of the steep land behind moss I've approached fought on two drivers, which I had previously overtaken in the Jaufenabfahrt before me in the first kilometers of Timmelsjoch rise again had to stand. Then, finally, the flat section is reached, here I wanted to relax a bit, but the opposite is true: when the load subsides, the cramps worse again. The flat piece is a torture more than once, I do not know how to connect properly yet. And there are still more than 10km of which 8km with a slope that you just can only be described as brutal. At the Labe in Schönau I grab just in driving a water bottle and fill it - also in driving - into my water bottle. After the Labe it will be very soon steep, one part bad because it means agony, on the other hand, are more tolerable to the steep sections of the cramps. With difficulty I screw me up in the company of two other riders up the steep switchbacks. Suddenly, a short cry, and we're just a couple: the third seems to have now also met my fate, convulsions. Whatever, therefore, for two more. I alternate between standing and sitting down. In the convulse always standing up to the thigh, then sitting down to the thighs, the calves do the same. I'm long on the largest sprocket and go only so between 10 and 11km / h. Cycling feels different. The last drinks station is reached, as last year I let myself in passing a cup of cola rich, and as the year before I throw it away after three or four sips again. I can not drink at such a load on the wheel of a cup. Regardless, the cola was always more for the psyche. But it goes anyway, only the head if I think about it, I would be behind it determines that with such legs in general no longer cycling CAN. But stay, in the end even give up? Here, 5km before the pass? No. Never. Still pile up on me three, four or five turns. I do not really look up and do it anyway. Somewhere up there has to be the redeeming tunnel. And indeed, after countless painful kilometers viewers to terminate the tunnel and thus a kind of redemption. After the tunnel it (as usual) is freezing cold on top of that had been blown on the last kilometers, a nasty wind. So vest and into the exit. Pretty much 7h 30min shows the Clock, which would be slightly above 8 h, 8 h was no longer under it.
"Now that you have your dream!" written in large letters at the top of the pass of the Timmelsjoch. For me it was more of a nightmare, before the end of the builders of the Timmelsjochroad however, had built two more downs. Initially it was but first downhill, go really fast is no longer there, the one blowing a stalwart against the wind and the other can be pain in the neck and back (the legs I leave it now left out) do not really aerodynamic position for longer. In the ascent to the toll gate at least I can drive this year with some momentum into it, but here is simply nothing more. Overtake me here alone again three or four riders. But I do not care, I just want this stupid run, which is partly not, survive and to Objective come. After the toll, come again some steep downhill turns, where I had fought last year in the gums around my sub9h time. Although I would say that this year I'm still broken, the legs work in the now following flat piece back halfway. A group of five closes from behind me, I can take even in the group leadership. We pick the drivers who overtook me in the ascent to the tollbooth again. The last short uphill section at Zwieselstein is surprisingly little that dar. And then, after 227km Sölden already achieved. The last 1000m, the last 500m, the last 200m, the final bend, over the bridge and Then it is done. The first view is of the Clock: 8h 05min 23s. Madness.
And today, a day later. Did this Ötztal Bike Marathon was fun? Actually, no. It was suffering from the first minute, and the second half were just more agony. It is a complete mystery on how to cycling with those cramps at all, let alone such passports at such speeds. I look at my times, I'll call the pain of my still aching legs back to mind (as far as that is which), can only shake his head. There is simply no longer now for me to understand what happened there. The legs were really from the burner, not to use the bike, more than once have I been on the wheel are bent on the roadside to see, but some strange force has stopped me to rise from the wheel. I think I'll never really understand what I was there on the wheel.
brief summary of the other results:
toboxx from the tour forum, I've hit the target again: under 8 hours! Giant respect and congratulations!
I also met the target nor K. Roo, mala (both from the tour forum) and my colleagues Herpersdorf: all very much under 9 h, h. partly under 8:30 Also, congratulations to you on a thick, if you read this.
still standing at the finish I heard ! Sebastian ear man from Freiburg "the announcement, a look at the clock: 8:33 h!! I thought I can hardly believe my ears. But he really was. Then he rolled a little later than the start line when I was standing at the end even 8:30 for him to book. Unbelievable. The very first time about 200 km, even when the Iceman and then 8:30 the same hour! A huge accomplishment I sort almost higher than my own.
When Sebastian and I left the target area, came in rapid succession, we meet Jan and Matt on their way to the target: both with 8:56 or 8:58 and just under 9 to under the magical mark. Bold performance!
Ingo came a little later to finish: 9:16 h. Also a super performance!
We had started with five people, have come with five people isn goal, four of Ötzi novices, have undercut one of which in turn three on the first go-9h border. A Super Team Result! The results of the team standings are unfortunately not online yet, but perhaps it has indeed served in top 20 for the team title.
Fabio has achieved his personal goal of a time at 10:30 h, 10:35 and also an improvement of the previous year by about 2 hours (!). Here again a huge congratulations!
Fabio and the author in the evening at the awards ceremony
As in the previous year, this year again split times taken:
| route | time | place |
| Ötz-Kühtai | 01:04:10 | 80 |
| Kühtai-Innsbruck | 00.44.10 | 71 |
| Innsbruck-Brenner | 01.06.00 | 40 |
| Brenner-Sterzing | 00.25.41 | 259 |
| Sterzing-Jaufen | 01.06.19 | 141 |
| Jaufen-St. Leonhard | 00.22.12 | 72 |
| St. Leonhard-Timmelsjoch | 02.01.30 | 79 |
| Timmelsjoch Sölden | 00:35:15 | 188 |
Compared to the previous year, the burner time stopped a little further up. The Timmelsjoch time was this year stopped directly below St.Leonhard. The times are not so directly comparable with previous periods. Compared with the previous year I am up in all sections!
are pictures of the way there (in hopefully obvious reasons), no. Perhaps it is in the coming days to one or the other image, Ingo and Andrea had also made a few pictures.
