After a year's absence I am back in Sölden at the BP station at the start of the Ötztal marathons and freeze for now. The mixed weather the previous day has given way to the happiness of a clear night, what we have to pay with temperatures in the low single digits. A lofty goal I had set myself for this year: that damn pin with the words "under 8 hours" had this year ago. With Flo, Matt and his girlfriend Steffi, I'm in the first starting block and I am glad that I immediately see some familiar faces such as Harry and Michael. The mutual congratulations and replace the final race results shortened the waiting time until the start but then a little bit. Still times quickly succumbed to the oppressive bubble and back into the starting lineup. We still get told by the most important information, including such information as tingling that that it was in Kühtai just two degrees. The route spokesman told again that there are 238 km altitude at 5500 - funny enough, the Italian-language speaker speaks only of 229 km. That will probably be the reason why the Italians are so fast ...
clock is at 6:45 then be the starting signal, and the race to which I have prepared myself all year and got starts. Only a few meters behind the starting line like the first moment of shock: there are already first on the asphalt, and I almost in the middle, I just concerned that my speedometer was up and running, what with the long gloves is not that simple. Ice cold to me, I can hardly hold the wheel straight, because I will tremble so, and my hope that it would go quickly not being met - driving the lead vehicle, I think, very slowly, the thing more dangerous than safer . I feel anything but secure on the bike, I'm cold and I just hope that I am departure to Ötz healing over. Finally moves to the lead vehicle, and the tempo is higher. I will unfortunately not by warmer anyway. After about 40 minutes, about five minutes slower I had hoped that the Zitterei is finally over, and Ötz is reached.
bent on an estimated hundredth position, I round the roundabout and immediately try to orient myself on the front. In my arrogance I drive through a gap, which is actually not really big enough and clear it from almost an Italian man behind me calling all of curses, what comes to him so - "Testa di cazzo" there is the friendliest, what I get to hear. I'm so sorry, was my mistake, but now I'm looking for as quickly as possible into the distance. The first two steep miles sorted so slowly the field, and I will draw the fastest first. As it becomes flatter after about two miles, I see the lead group to slow down before me and end with a small spurt in the gap. But I hardly open-minded, I must also see already that this group is exactly the 0.5 to 1 km / h. faster than is good for me. I will tear down again and find myself first in no-man's land "between the first and second group. Slowly close to other drivers to me, while others have to realize also that the top group spends it too quickly. Secretly, I had been hoping with the best of the Kühtai come, but this plan is now in just three kilometers waste. Now we must find our own passage, which at this umrhythmischen mountain and the cold is not exactly easy. After all, spoiled by nature with a splendid morning atmosphere, and the retreating fog and the clear, cold air, give them first pitch kilometers a special magic.
Ochsengarten it goes after the steepest section of a construction site, although - is not a problem - at least for the front groups. In the meantime, has a relatively large group together and together we strive towards the first pass of the day. Just below the pass are my parents. Quickly in passing the prepared food bag used to stow the bottles and on we go.
After 1 hour and 41 minutes to reach the top of the pass-Kühtai, that is about 61 minutes travel time for the Kühtai - that is to my taste. Quick purely down a gel, rinsed with a big gulp, vest clogged up and put on long gloves again. The descent is spectacular and as always, very quickly, after a little more than half an hour is reached Innsbruck. Now we have to deal with the burner.
The experience from the year 2007, when I had tried desperately to run to a group and bring a lot of strength had left without my efforts been successful, my plan this year is to hide me consistently. No meters, I want to go in the wind, instead, the motto is save and catering staff. Apparently still have a few others the same plan, because the pace is anything but fast. But well, I can eat in peace and me a little talk with Harry and Peter, both of our fellow sufferers Trondheim-Oslo underwater. Overall, the burner drive runs without major events, almost boring. Only the question of when and where I stop to pee on the best deals, me. When Harry with the same ulterior motives on steep section just before the pass out of our group goes, I agree with him and introduce myself to the curb. Unfortunately, it takes far too long again with the Pee, and until I'm done, the entire group is already rushed past me. Just before the old toll booth I got the end of the group but caught up again. Now just have to go smoothly with the Board passing everything. As already are Rebecca and Andrea. I brake a little off, rid me of my long gloves and attack while driving past my bag with water bottles and other gel. However, I have everything packed up in my jersey pockets, the group is also hurries away again, and I all alone on a limb. Crap. With an effort I am trying the group again come closer, but in the rather flat and easy exit to Sterzing I have no chance to come closer again. Cursing, I step on the pedals. Such a shit. This costs time and energy. Approaches from behind another driver who is in the same dilemma as me. At least we are now a couple. Together, we grumble about our ill-timed pee stops, and try as best as possible to the gas. That cost me time, unnecessary grain and above all the chance to look at me Jaufen a good rear wheel. On the short flat section between Sterzing and the beginning of the other drivers Jaufenpass close from behind us.
The Jaufenpaß is achieved, now it is. A glance at the clock and I start to expect: a little over four hours, I am now heading for the Jaufen I give myself an hour for departure to St. Leonhard 25 minutes for travel on Timmelsjoch I plan it two times hours and the descent to Sölden should as 35 minutes to be realistic. Ok, on 8-hour course I am well, but I wants more. So take off jacket, shirt open and off you go. On the Jaufen I am, on the other hand I had in all my recent participation at the last miles Jaufen always a crisis, especially in 2007 I had thrown on the wheel Jaufengipfel the best in the ditch. But I'm wasting no discussions. It rolls well, and that I had lost my group on the burner, now the little psychological advantage that I now always on and overtaking driver. On the other hand, I find little support in my effort a little bit of time to make up for lost. But my kick is good, and I still do not feel that I could face a collapse. The journey continues. I try the remaining miles to the summit to assess and calculate has to go as fast as I, to five-hour drive up to be - because I found the remaining kilometers but not exactly know, a rather error-prone task, but still a job. Meanwhile, the at least one or the other drivers I connected. I try to continue my pace as steady as possible to keep, and let drivers pull sometimes, when my pace seems too high. Finally the tree line is reached and the view of the recent return to the top of the pass is released. Right here I had all my previous participations my major crisis, but this year I have divided the forces obviously better. The tread is still around, so make this the last time Return no insurmountable obstacle seems to me dar. After 5:02 I reach the pass of Jaufenpaß. Do I need a drink? A quick look at my water bottles: one is still quite full - That should be enough to Labe in Schönau. So the vest on and then pulled down my favorite departure. In my head I renew my account: Eight hours minus 35 minutes for the departure from Timmelsjoch minus two hours for the ramp is 5:25 Timmelsjoch H. 23 minutes for the departure. That should still be created. More cautious than I had from my memory, but quickly I navigate through the many turns. Always a quick glance at the clock. To fit. On the last downhill miles before me a five or six drivers appears large group. This fits so perfectly, I'm not the first, flat kilometers of TIMMELSJOCH alone. Since rankommen I must. I again give everything in the downhill and just at the roundabout in St. Leonhard I made the connection. Again, a quick glance at the clock: 5:25 h. exactly perfect.
's now the fun begins. From here, the Iceman Ötzi the on Timmelsjoch will see who has the powers divided well, and who has relentlessly covered the beginning. Also I have already had the very wide range of experiences. To the Timmelsjoch driveway of my first Ötzi I remember only vaguely, on my second participation of the head was victorious over the body, I drove plagued by cramps legs, and my date last participation plagued me at the foot of the rise the naked fear the mountain will not to create. And today? I would call it cautious optimism. Sure, I feel my legs and the increase is always long and at times very steep, but at least it's about my big goal here today to crack the eight-hour mark, and for that I must Timmelsjoch according to my account in less than two hours cope. The magic numbers in my head are 7:25 h. This was the brand that had to be achieved at the pass. So go on, not wasting any time. I ride in the group in which I meet, Peter, with the guidance that has really matter now, if that makes any or if there are on it which only. On the first rising slightly more pieces, I even take the lead alone. Ok, that seems to pass time quite well. Still, the rise of flat passages is interspersed, in which the group is useful, and I always can just relax in the shadow of others. Appears on the roadside, a group of Italians who cheered us enthusiastically and offer us "acqua per tutti" and thus cool off at the meantime ensure surprisingly warm temperatures. So far it runs fine with me. My concern, however, the steep kilometers from moss. that my leadership would avenge there? Regardless, two hours for the Timmelsjoch are indeed feasible, but a lot of lush buffer I have not. I must go now. In return for our moss group disintegrates. With two other riders I ride out from the group. I quickly found my footsteps. I remember as I was two years slipped up with 8 to 9 km / h here and the feeling had to stand, today is consistently double-digit rate, usually commutes 11 to 12 km / h. But I get a driver after another, where it seems to me to be taken before two years. My two companions had indeed I can draw, but I get drivers to drivers, which I sometimes call out encouraging words. Nevertheless, I long for the flat piece with the Labe, on the other hand, I want to win too quickly to height because it is above cooler. Down here it's me in the meantime but a bit too warm. Fortunately, there are the regular Timmelsjoch kilometer data, which to me makes my computer games but significantly. On the basis of remaining kilometers and meters, and the estimated rate of climb and previous average speed I try to accurately extrapolate whether the magic can be reached 7:25 or not. The result is more or less the same thing could work, but I can not accurately predict it. At least I'm still a second job in addition to pedaling. On reaching the flat piece I meet a German who calls out to me again a few words of encouragement to get it to hang in my slipstream. So glad I the flat section I, it breaks my rhythm. Here I could certainly go a bit faster, but I'm glad I enjoy a little break and be able to use this period to cater to me again. At the Labe I grab when passing a bottle of water. It should reach to the finish. My tactic drinks so far risen perfectly. The exuberant Jaufenlabe has not avenged. At the back, Peter and a companion open again. The five of us take the last ten miles to the summit. When looking up at me Erik Zabel's words comes to mind: "Look at the shit. Ick but would merely jeworden Surfer. "But it will help nothing. Now needs to be stepped on once correctly. And I will do it too. Without feeling that I have to drive very fast, falling one by one back from our small group. Now I am alone. Only the Mountain and I - and the magical 7:25 in the head.
From the road I will be fired again and again. Somehow running today. The speedometer is also at the steepest sections not less than 11 h. km / To reach the "5 Tornante" sign that I had deceived me last time and thought it only five turns are up to the tunnel. This time I know better. I reach the Getränkelabe and I let my usual cup Cola rich that I drink the usual three sips alibi. It is for a brief moment something flatter. This time I use this section is not to recover, but the throttle. Ok, how far it will be until the tunnel? Three miles? Well, I drive in the torque 11 to 12 km / h, ie just over five minutes per kilometer. I take time six minutes, then I have a little buffer. How fast can I go to the last two flat miles? 20 km / h? 20 km / h, ie three minutes per km from here, then makes another 24 minutes to pass. The seven hours are not yet on my clock. I am beginning to believe that I can make it. Now, last kilometers before the tunnel. Before me, a driver is fighting in a gray shirt. Seems neat to have one in the shoe. But my speed is now declining slowly but off in the direction 10 mph. Still, I'm inching closer to the driver. Finally I can read on his starting point the name: Christian Ceralli. This may not be. Has ever won here yet. Yeah, that was my debut in 2005. There must be some other Christian Ceralli. Those are not the temporal regions, in which a former winner on the road. In passing I throw him a quick look in the face: The fact he is. I have just overtaken an ex-champion. distracted by this thought forget I for a moment even my calculation. In addition, the tunnel portal and thus achieved the worst managed. Now, two flat kilometers. I take a ride and go to another driver who complains about his back pain. Together, we reach the pass. The clock shows 7:15 driving time. This should fit all. Quick cover nor the vest and then we jump to second in the downhill.
Now for the climb and the flat piece in Obergurgl. From behind Christian Ceralli closes with us and leave us on the opposite slope are also equal. The uphill section is now more a chore than a real obstacle. In a recent steep turns are my parents and redo Photos. I call them a confident "That's off!" Too.
On the next flat section in Obergurgl affected me but then again doubt. According to my calculations, it should still be 17 km, and now these headwinds, and two drivers, both want to drive really only at the rear of the other. Here I get it again fear for my sub-8 hours time. When at last Zwieselstein is reached, however, allay my fears again - the goal is nearer than my calculation, it has suggested. By sweeping down to the last Sölden. The 1000 m-plate. As always, the road is lined with spectators. My companion from the exit I have to be drawn before the final turn then, but in order to place it's not me. The time counts and is much less than eight hours. After 7:48 I have my own personal victory achieved, and role in the appropriate pose to the finish. A glance at the speedometer reveals my calculation error: instead of the expected 232 km are there only 226 km. I had made the descent is six kilometers long and me so himself again scared the associated horrors.
meet the goal I Harry again - its one minute ahead of the torch he has to the Target expanded to three minutes. Flo is also the target - is, in this case I had incredible 7:23 in his words ("I have something for so long did not train on the third and probably breaking a mountain.") Always waited for him that I am back Timmelsjoch would collect. But this favor, he has not done me.
After a couple of cyclists ("Funny Sammer, Puntigamer!") I go back to our apartment, shower and pull around me and then come back just in time to the target to Steffi to make and receive. Incredibly strong in 9:39 it has finished its premiere Iceman in 25th place among women. In its 10th place with AK it has even more for the Top 10 served. Placements, one of those when my Ötzi can only dream of.
reached after 10:21 with Matt, the last in the league the goal. It was not his day, but thanks to a brilliant campaign he has also achieved the goal.
the evening were all back in good spirits and it was a giant pizza joint destroyed.
Finally, again our thanks to all who have supported us: Uwe of the rig for his efforts because of a bus, Andrea and Rebecca for the food on the burner, my parents for meals at Kühtai and photos, and Last but not least to Jan for me with his last year at this time Performance has spurred.
greetings and respect for your debut performance even at Die.Radproleten.
PS: Sorry for all previous readers. Since some hair-raising grammatical errors were in it, which I now - hopefully all - have found and corrected. That's what happens when you think after several hours of Berichttippens proofreading can save verschämtzubodenblick * *
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