The Zillertal Bike Challenge took place for the seventh time this weekend. There were three stages to be mastered. Two of them in racing mode, one as a funeral ride. 162 km, 5.345 hm, 5 mountain railways are the key data in the fight for the title Prince of the Mountain 2015. You can read how I felt in the following:
As Velomotion in cooperation with CENTURION advertised a starting place with an all-round carefree package for the Zillertal Bike Challenge a few months ago, my goal for the season was clearly set. And I managed to assert myself against numerous competitors, all of whom were equally interesting for this campaign. My trip to the Zillertal has started!
My trip to the beautiful Zillertal started on Wednesday morning. Even if the weather forecast only predicted the very best, I packed all the clothes I had lying around at home with care. True to the motto: Why else did the manufacturer make the bag so huge?
So at 7:22 a.m. sharp, I got on the train in Baddeckenstedt with the firm intention of having a phat train birthday party. No matter how much it annoys the other passengers. You only turn 20 once! I would be lying if I said it really was a great party. A piece of crumble cake and my phone vibrating with WhatsApp and Facebook congratulations were pretty much the only things that reminded me of a birthday. But it doesn't matter, I still have enough birthdays (even if it's not my twentieth)! After a good 11 ½ hours (thanks to the train delay) the time had come. The train doors opened for me one last time that day and I had arrived. The Zillertal Alps towered in front of me and the anticipation grew.
It took me a little while to find the Hotel Eder, because clever as I am, I hadn't even looked at where I had to go. Fortunately, Austrians are actually always nice and helpful and I am just as sociable. A mixture that is very effective even under these circumstances.
Check in was easy and I checked into my room, showered and had a fantastic dinner. I don't think there is much more to tell about the day of arrival.
Not much happened on Thursday until noon: sleeping in, having breakfast, “chilling out”, going for a walk and, above all, waiting. That ended at exactly 13:06 p.m. An SMS from Mario (Centurion Service Team): "Hi Lennard, we're at the Festhalle in Fügen. Your Centurion Backfire Team is waiting for you! See you later…” The action started. Like a madman I packed a few things and took the Zillertal Bahn to Fügen. The time had come, so there it was in front of me, a brand new Centurion Backfire 2016, my brand new Backfire. At least for the next three days of racing.
- A good opportunity to apologize to everyone I've overlooked a bit that day. Anyone who gets the opportunity to ride this bike will understand me. –
8,8kg race hardtail were now in front of me. Helmet on, shoes on, adjust the saddle height and get on the bike. Don't start riding, start racing. It quickly became clear to me that this wheel only knows the states 0 and 1. Either full throttle or standing next to it and wanting to switch back to one.
After the seating position was right, there was a good portion of noodles with starting documents and the riders' meeting for dessert. Of course, I rode my bike back to the hotel. In the meantime, the Centurion Vaude team had also arrived at the hotel. And the next highlight was already waiting for me. Two sets of Centurion Vaude team clothes were ready for me there.
Friday morning: The alarm clock rang early as usual. The time had come: Day 1 of the Zillertal Bike Challenge. With tiredness was not much this morning. Full of euphoria, I sat at the breakfast table at 6 a.m. as agreed. The others came later, so I used the time to get some fresh air. After breakfast we all got ready to run. We were already on our bikes at 8 a.m. and, accompanied by a camera team, drove to the start in Fügen. I wasn't excited on Friday. I knew the form was right, I was on one of the world's best bikes and no matter how many I finished, I could never lose the ZCB. As the winner of a team place at Velomotion/Centurion, this is unthinkable.
The start was hectic and so it happened that the cameraman came out of the moving lead vehicle directly in front of us drivers. It was important for each of us to be in a good starting position for entering the first mountain in Hoch Fügen. The pace was brutal, everyone gave their all in order not to have to book large arrears on the first day. In Hochfügen I came in third, but lost a few positions while filling up the bottles and got on the cable car in sixth or seventh place. On the descent to Kaltenbach, however, I was able to pass a few riders again and a group formed, chasing Benjamin Michael and Jiří Reeh. I was able to break away from the group quickly and was amazed at how Marcus Kaufmann passed me halfway through the second climb. Seven or eight other Kings riders did the same until the finish.
On the descent to Zell am Ziller I managed to catch up with Benjamin, who decided to believe his GPX file. As a result, he got lost and I was able to secure second place, 1:52 minutes behind. In the U23 category I was able to get a good lead of 6:51 on Alexander Hertel in the second hill. The joy for me and the team was huge, because Marcus Kaufmann was also able to win and the entire Centurion Vaude team finished with top results. While I was freshening up and enjoying one of the coveted 10-minute massages in the target area for €2, my backfire was disassembled, cleaned and screwed back together. A service worth its weight in gold. Bike-related excuses were not possible this time!
At 17 p.m. I went to the Riders Meeting, where Jiří Reeh was honored as the winner of the day and was allowed to wear the Leaders jersey. At the Riders Meeting it was also mentioned for the first time that a competitor in the Lord category was missing. The 36-year-old was found dead in the evening on the descent to Kaltenbach. A real blow for participants, organizers and everyone else involved. Suddenly racing was out of the question and so the race management decided to carry out the second day neutrally as a voluntary commemorative drive. From my point of view, an extremely good decision to express our sadness. Our thoughts on the second day of the Zillertal Bike Challenge went to the family, friends and relatives of the deceased mountain biker, who was taken from life far too early without any warning!
On day 3 of the ZBC there was live shooting again, a short and hard stage was ahead of us. Before the start I was a little nauseous. The day of decision had come. I was the hunter and the hunted at the same time. My lead in the U23s should be brought to the finish line and with a lot of luck the overall victory was still within reach. And so we started in Mayerhofen and rolled together to the Horbergbahn valley station, with which we completed a good part of the altitude difference. At the mountain station, the official time measurement started for everyone individually. Together with Jiří Reeh, I pulled away from the rest of the field. On the descent I was able to gain a lead of about 15 seconds, which was already used up at the end of Lanersbach. A group of King riders formed who didn't drive particularly fast in the direction of Tux. Meanwhile, my front tire was starting to get spongy. Stepping out of the saddle was out of the question, the danger that the tire could jump off the rim was too great. Fortunately, as one of the first five princes, I was able to save myself in the mountain railway.
I didn't lose any time despite the loss of air. The Gletscherbus 1 transported us to a height of 2000 meters. Enough time to refill. 600 meters of altitude were still ahead of us. So this is where the decision should be made. It was over with funny. The dawdling off the street was over. Each of us had a knife between our teeth, so Jiří Reeh and I distanced ourselves from the previously open-minded princes. In a brutal attack I managed to drive away. Jiří Reeh collapsed completely and was “only” fifth on the day. I secured the day, U23 and overall victory. By far the greatest success of my career so far.
I owe this victory above all to Velomotion and Centurion Bikes, the two initiators of the campaign. This weekend would not have happened without you. I have had priceless experiences with you guys. I will never forget you! I would be really happy if it wasn't just over now, I have taken you all into my heart and we have become true friends!
I would also like to thank Team Centurion Vaude, the ZBC Orgateam and all friends who kept their fingers crossed for me. The response, especially on social media, is amazing. Your support means a world to me!
Thank You
Your Lennard
