The story is a little longer, after all it all started on Tuesday with the journey to Füssen, where one of the cycling weeks in Füssen was on the program again in preparation for the Tannheim Cycle Marathon. But first there was a long overdue visit to my main sponsor, the Doser company in Füssen. As always, a very fine thing, received great praise for the season so far and a little later I was already sitting with the guests of the hotel summer on the bike, did a leisurely tour of the Plansee with a nice cafe and great entertainment with boss Wolfgang Sommer and guests.
I was also allowed to get on my bike on Wednesday and Thursday, which is great if the bike tour is on the cheat sheet and doesn't fall victim to various other tasks. In any case, it was a very relaxing day, despite a lot of appointments and meetings outside, but something should continue for the coming season and I have a very good feeling about that! On Friday I traveled to the Tannheimer Tal to visit my friend Markus and his family Berger Hof – one of my (many) favorite stations in the Tannheimer Tal. As a keen cyclist himself, Markus is a great host for sporty guests and likes to go on tours himself if he has time.
I used the "calm before the storm" to relax, diligently screwed on the material (thanks Cycling Zacherl and Stefan from Mountain riders in Vils for the help!), chatted with the many cyclists and went with the photographer Marco Felsenhauer on tour, who, as always, went to work in a highly professional manner and staged me and my equipment appropriately. I enjoyed the calm before the storm until Saturday morning, then it was time to arrive, prepare and finally go out together. With almost 15 riders, we did a leisurely lap, visited the detour to Jungholz and the "gallop" over the cycle path to Grän. In the evening the noodle party, tactics meeting, supervisor briefing and the briefing, made final arrangements and sunk into bed tired.
Finally, the alarm clock rang at 4:30 a.m. – too bad that I could only partially enjoy the great breakfast at the Berger Hof today – after all, I find it hard to accelerate on a full stomach. Luckily everything was routine at the start, the team riders were well organized among themselves, positioned in the front rows of the starting grid and off we went. Right in front, and set the pace on the bike path - I think it worked quite well - at least there was no rush at the front. On the main road then a short preload to warm up and then first concentrate on Mona, who despite her heavy fall at the marathon with bruised ribs and extensive abrasions on her back could not be dissuaded from starting.
She fought hard up to Jungholz, but as usual she didn't want any help - a fighter by nature, our Mona. After Jungholz, the field was still about 200 men strong - almost all team riders were there and it was totally comfortable, relaxed to chat in the race, for many it was new territory that I was swimming somewhere in the back third somewhere and that in a marathon... Above all, the landscapes in the Allgäu were a dream in the morning sun, so I think the new route is an absolute enrichment - especially for the pleasure riders! Hardly noticed by me, somewhere in this area 10 riders broke away, but as discussed before, we had Stephan Schwarz a hot iron up front and were not under pressure.
Max and Ulrich covered the other escape attempts perfectly, so Ulrich soon found himself in a group that we were able to catch again on the steep Riedberg Pass. The field selected itself properly, but things went playfully for me and so I helped Ulrich and a few other drivers, who just managed to catch up with the new chasing group on the last hole. Then, in the Bregenz Forest, Max cursed after nothing at all went forward in the field and his legs were left dangling. So a lot rolled up again, even 2 women and some other team riders. The leading group was already 4 minutes ahead and the calculations slowly began to determine whether this could still be caught up.
It all depended on how big the group of pursuers would be after the Hochtannberg, because the way through the Lech Valley with a strong headwind can only be survived in a group halfway unscathed. Somehow I had the feeling that nobody had any real ambitions anymore and that the group might even finish. This suspicion increased when no one really put any pressure on until Schröcken (beginning of the steep Hochtannberg). The group was already tearing up, but it wasn't a fast pace for the top guys. When after the first ramp nobody was still lifting their ass, I plucked up courage and went away alone - irresistible for the others, who didn't react at all and continued at the same pace.
I quickly tore a big hole, but would that be enough to drive 4 minutes to the top? I knew: if I didn't catch up to the pass, my accent would be a complete waste of energy, because in the Lech Valley you were lost on your own. In addition, the leaders would certainly be tired and the pursuers would still be fresh, so not a good starting position and quite a big risk. Somehow that kept me from getting 100%, but when the first riders came into view from the front I picked it up again and at the pass I was a good 1:30 behind the 5 remaining leaders. I got this information and a bottle at our team label - many thanks to our hard-working supervisors!
Then full risk on the descent, past cars, buses through the construction site, the town of Warth and the beastly piece of gravel (or rather scree desert) in the short counter climb. I prayed my tires would be okay, but like all year, my Mavic Yksion Tubular was rock solid! I couldn't gain much ground on the long, straight descent and there was still nothing in sight in front of me. I saw myself "starving" in the Lech Valley - that's it then... All the cars were stuck in the construction site, so there was no hope of catching a breeze from them. I just had momentum from the last steep step when suddenly cars and a cyclist came into view.
I shot past it, it was my teammate, Stephan Schwarz, who was plagued by cramps and couldn't take a step anymore. But it wouldn't have made any sense to help him, because behind the next bend the lead could still be guessed at and I bit my teeth to bridge the last few meters. DONE - I was on it... Totally amazed where I had come from, I immediately took the lead and instructed the group about the race situation. Luckily, the 4 remaining drivers supported me as much as they could, but I was happy to take the lion's share of the lead and many failures when the lead changed, in order to defend at least a small lead over the pursuers up to Weißenbach.
The Lechtal stretched on forever, only the bike path and the many holes to be plugged provide variety. Luckily I got a bottle at the Labe in Weißenbach and the others hadn't had a bottle for kilometers either. Then I didn't hesitate and stalked off, but (as almost expected) I still had at least 2 of my fellow combatants breathing down their necks, who didn't want to let me go away so easily. Considering that I booted up the Gaichtpass with 330 watts and that my pursuers allegedly "can't do anything anymore" on the flat, they were enormously "annoying, because behind me. As it flattened out I had to fight hard, power dropped and the pursuers got closer.
When I turned around again in Nesselwängle and had a good view to the rear, I suddenly saw a group of 7 or 8 people - in front of them a motorcycle - the shock was great - that had to be the chasing group! That was maybe a minute, if not less and still 7 kilometers to the finish line... For me it was as long as the rest of the race, I got stitches in my side from the crouched sitting position and cramps were slowly becoming apparent. Only when I couldn't spot a group at the 1000m mark and a little later merged into the home stretch via the parking lot and the underpass did I realize what I had achieved. A great feeling, because the Tannheimer is one of the home races for the many team riders and partners from the Allgäu.
At the finish, enthusiastically received by the many team riders who had chosen the short route and my main sponsor - Jürgen Doser - I had no time to lie down anywhere on the grass and get over my stomach cramps. Mentally not quite “arrived” there was the winner interview, etc. – which fortunately I found good words for and my stomach had calmed down again. Before the next interview, I drank half the refreshment station, only then did the large group of pursuers around Andi Traxl cross the finish line. So my adrenaline bomb in Nesselwängle was probably a combination of short-distance drivers and my 2 pursuers and not the chasing group - it doesn't matter - the lead of less than a minute would not have left any room for breather.
One after the other, the team riders rolled in, Stephan Schwarz finished in the chasing group, Max Aigner and Ulrich Bartholmös unfortunately had to pay for their diligent help at the Gaicht Pass. A little later Monika Dietl came to the finish line - as always well looked after by Josef Czernin, Jörg Schmid and her friend Tom. Completely exhausted and in pain, we took care of her together - my victory quickly faded into the background while we took care of Mona. The joy and surprise about her 3rd place and my victory with the now almost complete team riders was all the greater. We passed the time in the finish area until the award ceremony.
The yield was enormous today: the Kirchmair Cycling Team was represented at almost every award, Mona won her age group, and 3rd place overall, Stephan Schwarz was only displaced by Andi Traxl to 2nd place in his AK (8th overall), and captain Stefan secured his 4th victory at the 7th edition of the Tannheimer Cycle Marathon! A terrific weekend for the entire team right on the doorstep - so it can continue! We'll see each other again soon on the Arlberg, where the last joint training camp for the big highlight, the Ötztaler Cycle Marathon, is on the program. The Arlberg Giro and the Highlander Cycle Marathon are the last dress rehearsals for the highlights at the end of the season.
If you feel like it, you can also join us spontaneously - in the Hotel am Arlberg we have the perfect conditions for the joint training week, to which drivers who want to get to know our team are also invited. In October there will be another new treat - together with the Ritter Hotel in Tannheim there is a long weekend, where a few relaxed bike rides, as well as gourmet & wellness are on the program. The perfect occasion to unwind at the end of the season and enjoy a few days of active relaxation in Tannheim & the Allgäu!