Ötztal Bike Marathon 2010 - I have a dream bike ride
|
"The Queen of all passes" the Stelvio with Tibet hut | ©: "Why do you do it properly" Michael Münster | |
asking me my wife on Friday evening at an Italian restaurant in Merano. No negative question, I notice that you posed for some time, but waited for the right time has to ask me for it. Throughout the preparation, I'm not really even asked me, certainly in two days frequently on the mountain. "For myself," I find it to only one. After an accident at the age of 20, with 7 guardian angel and a backpack that has come between road and head, and thus saved my life (then down without a helmet and with 70 the mountain) I gave up cycling. For five years I am now back cycling, the last four years, I train more seriously. First on Alb extreme, the "small round". Then the middle and at some point after I have read the report from my brother (Matt Imkamp) on the Ötztal. 7,500 training miles in the legs and almost 15 pounds less on your hips I make myself on Saturday with the car on the way from Meran to Sölden. I have found in the mountains around Meran still collected a few kilometers and meters. The Stelvio even on the weekend before from Merano, at least 155 km and 2,500 meters, climbed to great weather. The week before the Ötztal I have with roles in Bolzano, spent walking for relaxation in the Texel and swimming in the spa resort of Merano (highly recommended). My goal is: Arrive and while on the bike and at a time. 1.85 and 83 kilos I am for the mountain "somewhat" serious and added, eating and drinking I can do. You should do your body some good, so that the soul is at ease. For me, a never hunger. The weather forecasts are not very good. The snow line will fall to 2,300 feet and it is called for rain. The weather in Merano is very windy but beautiful. Hard to imagine that it will be colder on the other side of the mountain about 10 degrees. As I drive through St. Leonhard I think to myself, "Ok, that's up here tomorrow, not quite the distance from Alb extreme, but the altitude (3,300) which you manage to loose, as in June this year." In the driveway onto Timmelsjoch this looseness is different in proportion to the altitude. I am the Timmelsjoch already moved several times, but always fresh and up in connection with the Jaufenpaß. Up in the crow's nest ", the steep final climb to the bends in the steep wall hanging Jerseys from previous years. The weather forecast in mind, I think to myself: "The You do not get to see tomorrow." Once in Sölden confirmed unfortunately the forecast. It's raining, it's cold and windy to even. My teammates meet me already on the descent from Timmelsjoch on the bike on the steep ramp to the Rettenbachferner and I wonder to what training book actually says that one should bend the day before the race even really sleep the legs.
|
Saturday afternoon in Sölden | ©: Michael Münster | |
My professor is building for me then in my mind. At the first examination, he told us: "Ladies and gentlemen, they have to now look to the Olympic motto: Being there is everything!" Yes, Lord Lieutenant - I'm there, but that's not everything when picking up my race packets! I scent the atmosphere at the finish. How is it well be when (s) around the last corner moves and the dream is actually reality? First, there are noodles, not too many but no children serving. (The good-night beer we can now better off, I decide with my table neighbors). On stage is some way to master the body painting and color tips over three scantily clad ladies. The nearly 500 cyclists in the Ötztal get nothing for watching. My table mates and I ask what that has to do with cycling. Maybe there'll soon Instant jerseys from the bottle to himself kippen.Bei the driver's meeting is about a central theme: Please drive carefully and with a helmet. DenÖtztaler has not yet won the downhill, but already two lost their lives. ZurVeranschaulichung is also possible a picture of a victim of recent years gezeigt.Da I return shortly, the wallpaper was pretty down at that time. Everything hurt, imEimer the bike, but I glad to be alive. I fear before Sunday but no, but Respekt.Mein material I have examined carefully and I am well prepared. I know up to Kühtai all departures and tomorrow it will go slow lassen.Franz Beckenbauer accompanied me to bed, "Look mer mal". If it is still raining tomorrow, I have breakfast and enjoy another comfortable week in Merano ... Maybe I am going to trotzdembis Kühtai and if it snows there, I can always even turn around ... If it is too cold ... The alarm clock is ringing at 5:00. It is out dry but cold. Nutella and coffee thinking Reislaufen bring and digestion. In contrast to Alb extreme: there are no toilet rentals other way! I have my clothes ready the night before down and therefore I am much too soon dressed and ready to go. Herumzuturnen enough time in the room still nervous even though I have all this, yes. Better get out and get on the bike ... But I land in the boot in the rear quarter. No matter the mood of the Rucksackträgernist well. It is cold, my neighbor says 5 degrees above zero. I am attracted to fat, because I love really hot weather. 30 degrees up I feel well. To me, some start in a short Radmontur.Ich had decided not to die today in beauty, but at least my body dasfrieren ersparen.Hubschrauber to circle above us, and shoot more than 4,000 cycling fan Atik, which gives the go-ahead warten.Dieses year three of them. First start at the 30 th anniversary of the classic biker. Not enough to cope dieDistanz of 238 miles and 5,500 vertical meters, handle the 30 drivers that come with Fahrräderndie with antique circuits and much heavier frame. Only two dasZiel will not reach. The second launch starts the first starting block, do the eswerden the winner and the third beinhaltet.Beim the second starting block comes with the ambitious Drivers, who already endure an hour later derKälte and the dreamers who are slightly longer left behind (which ichgehöre). Until I pass the start line already 10 minutes have elapsed. It just takes up about 8.000Schuhe in the right pedal is pressed sind.Es first to Ötz, mostly downhill. 500 meters after the start is already the first ambulance, one injured persons must. Is she in the crowd came to fall, as I found out a week later. She wanted to win in the age group 60 years and there had been a very good chance. The speedometer shows me after 45 minutes a .45 average. My time limit I have just met (I have not taken into account, I had 10 minutes late). Ötz of it goes to Kühtai. More than a thousand meters with many ramps over 10%. So I did ask myself whether I am with the right event and have trained properly. Some fahrenwie the loonies. In retrospect I see that I'd fall on Kühtai about 500 drivers. Ichlasse not bring me out of the concept and go on to my schedule, even if it is difficult zurückzuhalten.Die legs are good, although it is still cold but it does not rain. Just before the pass, you see the first sad faces, which accept the surrender. In the pass is the first food with water, soup and all sorts of bars and Cake. The arrival time is exactly as planned, as are the rest that I have to do without hassle. (In the place my wife's laughing now Schepps!) It is pretty much garbage on the street and I wonder why cyclists have disposable everything forever. On the way to your Kühtai for many gels and bars have just thrown in the landscape, although it was an immediate disqualification. However, the normal German'll take ichmeinen course with garbage - SAVE THE PLANET!
|
|
I am moving back to my winter jacket and make me the exit. With sometimes more than 80 items it is the Kühtai downhill. For me, the other well enough not. One of them was just to ruff and bloody head in the helicopter transported as I drive by. I almost would have gek in the ditch ....!
|
|
traffic hinders us in the downhill and some colleagues reckless overtaking on bends and hope simply that no oncoming traffic. It is freezing cold for my taste and I'm glad to have long gloves on. In the small towns of Innsbruck and there are even many spectators cheering for us. That does gutebenso as the sun can look. The torch I go to a little faster. 777 Höhenmeterauf 37 km distributed. I catch a group with the I offer my timing by nearly half an hour. The most important thing on the burner: Always good and hide in the lee fahren.Auf the burner is a catering service, jam-packed. A music combo provides a great atmosphere undKöche with potatoes from the pan, soup and other treats for the hungry. I just call to my wife and give your decision, I soon will be in St. Leonhard. It will not go out there and from Merano me Timmelsjoch takes up to Sölden begleiten.Die downward departure to Sterzing long, I'm going to Anja (which I do not know, but every participant has his name on the back plate) in the slipstream. It occurs in the shadow of what all goes downhill, Respekt.Der Jaufenpaß is nice to drive. With 8% average slope 1150 meters without additional components such as ramps at Kühtai Timmelsjoch or you can go here well into his rhythm. DieUhrzeit are now all in mind. At 15:30 in St. Leonhard circuit. On the Jaufenpaß ichzufällig meet a group of Pforzheim, which I three weeks earlier on the cold wall Bronner have met imSchwarzwald. The deal with the issue cycle has clearly serious, it would deny aberden Ötztal "nice and cozy with lots of photos. At that time I said goodbye mitden words: "Maybe we'll see," replied: "In 4000 cyclists unlikely, haha!"
|
|
Well, they saw no more comfortable, and wanted to take photos any more. I feel better because I have so far done everything right and I always did have good legs. "What kommtden now after Jaufenpaß?" Do they know about me. "Well that Timmelsjoch ..." I describe the profile of our colleagues and wish you luck, but ever warn you before the town of Moss because: of moss is los.Die's departure from Jaufenpaß is dangerous, there are terrible longitudinal grooves in the street to sink in that mans a tire rim, together with complete and then intense live after the landscape rather kann.In St. Leonhard my wife is waiting for me. Antje also goes for the diaconate. She will accompany me on demFahrrad Timmelsjoch and again after Soelden. It has the silver bullet here Cola. According to Moss, I'm glad, because it's actually going on, the first (and only) trailer.
|
|
On Timmelsjoch with its 1760 meters of altitude on cycling marathon starts in the Ötztal really. Normally, a bike race would end on Jaufenpaß already. According to Moos and stand at the end before the summit kilometer long ramps with 13%. Until the Board in Schönau I have my self-imposed time limit undercut by almost one and a half hours. I could actually run the rest so well and would still come in time to the finish. But that's not necessary. In the bends of the crow's nest, the steep part in the wall of TIMMELSJOCH I actually go past the T-shirts! An unbelievable feeling, especially with the time pad in the back I can still enjoy even without pain.
|
|
at the last drinks station I am unfortunately a novice mistake. I drink too cold cola carbonated. This takes revenge on the summit, I am green in the face. Joy would be in normal condition do not come up, because it is waiting for the ascent to the toll station. Slowly, I'm riding with my wife Timmelsjoch. Again I have a guardian angel. This time, even by bike, this time bringing me safely to Sölden. The sun is almost gone and it is bitterly cold. I take my time because of the gastric circulation upsets me anyway and my placement no matter. Many of them are now on the road and push her bicycle towards Sölden. When you pass the fire almost all sit on the bike the "pedestrian" at. The backpack section is a good company.
|
departure from Timmelsjoch (my guardian angel in the background) | © Photo: sportograf.com | |
uphill is still good, the toll is now in sight and we go completely off after Soelden. As I noticed later, is there a been too quickly, or it was too cold? Instead of driving around the corner it went straight into the forest. Unfortunately, no one has seen so that you were able to later rescue by helicopter. He luckily nothing worse happened.
|
finish line in Soelden, after 12:20 in the saddle | © : foto: sportograf.com | |
Shortly after, I know what it is to drive to the finish of the Ötztal. My name is announced and my journey time: 12:20 h. I would have never thought and in retrospect I could have been faster, but I do not care, not only in this moment. I have achieved my goal without pain and that at a time and I was not only here but in the middle!
The stomach calmed down again and I'll get off my finisher shirt. Colleagues from Pforzheim I see for the second time (which may well be no different, right?). They have also managed, but rather broken. My wife is looking forward just as much as I do. Without your support year-round would not have been possible. I have told you until now not yet, but the time comes for it yet ...
I call first my brother, with whom I had the day in constant contact. He has encouraged me and fail to put above all the fear in an emergency also may discuss the weather with me and tells of his two of Ötztal which he had to stop in a blizzard. He would like to ride with me again the Ötztal. Whether I make it again I have to wonder not at this moment. On Monday morning the Timmelsjoch and a short time later the Jaufenpaß been blocked because of snow. Sometimes one of them lucky. Of these, there was this year Ötztal Radmarathon lot.
muscle soreness the following week I had none at all. The next Sunday I am of the season even the 6-fold Freiolsheimer the Forchheimer cycling club dangers. They have won once again the team standings at the Ötztal. The profile of the RTF is equivalent to: main uphill. 171 km with 3,700 meters of altitude.
I drive in my finisher shirt and enjoy my dream ...
Michael Münster