From July 1st to 3rd the Zillertal Bike Challenge will take place again. The 3-day marathon race has been an integral part of many athletes' racing calendars for several years now.
3 days, 167 km, 5.300 vertical meters and 5 cable cars - these are the key data of the Zillertal Bike Challenge 2016, which await the participants in the Prince/Princess of the Mountain category. The route is largely the same as that of the big King/Queen classification, but the Zillertal mountain railways make the junior route about 3.800 meters easier. Nevertheless: With a maximum incline of 35% and some tricky single trail passages, the route is a great challenge and anything but a bed of roses.
Last year Velomotion offered me a unique opportunity in cooperation with the professional team TEAM CENTURION VAUDE. We were looking for an ambitious U23 driver with a good portion of dynamite in his legs. My Zillertal adventure began. You can read the whole story again here:
cycling: Lennard Heidenreich from Team Velomotion wins the U23 of the Zillertal Bike Challenge
Cycling: Although the mood at the race after the death the day before yesterday was still gloomy - credit where credit is due: "Our" Lennard Heidenreich from Team Velomotion powered by CENTURION won the Prince of the Mountain classification of the Zillertal Bike Challenge. Markus Kaufmann also defends his title. He actually got it. A few months ago […]
This year, the Zillertal Bike Challenge once again lures with high mountains, high prize money and the title of Prince of the Mountains. So that you can prepare yourself optimally for the highlight of the season, I will introduce you to the stages of the Zillertal Bike Challenge.
Zillertal Bike Challenge / 30.06.2016/XNUMX/XNUMX: Proper preparation is the be-all and end-all
It's the day before the first stage. I hope you have arrived safely in the Zillertal and have stayed in one of the beautiful holiday resorts. The kick-off event will take place today in the Festhalle in Fuegen.
15:00 p.m. to 18:00 p.m.: You will receive your starter package in a sports bag upon accreditation. The bags have different colors to make them easier to distinguish. For us princes and princesses they are blue. The sports bag serves as a transport bag for your luggage during the three days of racing. If you want, you can simply drop off your filled bag at the luggage station provided for this purpose in the starting area from 08:00 a.m. This will be brought directly to the respective target area, where you can pick it up again. Be sure to pack a post-race sweater, your Riders Pass and your F&B voucher card in this bag.
A team of mechanics from Centurion is ready in front of the festival hall. Adjustment and maintenance work is free of charge, maintenance work is not covered. Required spare parts are charged at standard market prices. Do yourself a favor and save yourself the stress. Come to the Zillertal with a fully functional mountain bike and at most have it checked today.
17:30 pm: The first Riders Meeting: Important points such as special features of the route, dangerous spots, weather forecasts and any route changes are discussed here. Participation is mandatory for all starters.
17:00 p.m. to 19:00 p.m.: Time to fill up the storage. A large portion of pasta with various sauces awaits you in the Festhalle Fügen. With your F&B voucher card, which you will find in your starter bag, you have the opportunity to fill your stomach with the other starters. Enjoy it - you need the grains tomorrow!
My tip of the day: Legs often feel heavy after a long journey. Get on your bike and roll easily 20 kilometers. I'm sure you'll feel better afterwards.
Zillertal Bike Challenge / July 01.07.2016st, XNUMX: Here we go! The first day of racing is coming up
A good 68 kilometers await you - over 1.800 meters uphill - 1 cable car - up to 28% incline.
It may only be the beginning of your adventure, but no one will be afraid to put the cards on the table today. Everyone wants it: The leader's jersey of the princes of the Zillertal Bike Challenge.
JOIN – ZELL AM ZILLER
The first stage is special because all categories start together. It is very difficult to assess how far ahead you actually are. In order to avoid falls and defects, it makes sense to stand relatively far in front of the starting block. The first stage of the Zillertal Bike Challenge runs from Fügen in the direction of Hochfügen. The field is rapidly expanding. The new Geols Panoramabahn takes the princes and princesses up to the Onkelsjoch. From there follows a long gravel descent to Hochfügen. Here you can briefly strengthen yourself at the refreshment station, because the descent through the Finsinggrund follows, the ride through the town centers of Kaltenbach and Stumm and then the Stummerberg awaits. It goes uphill to the Kapaunsalm and Kreuzjochhütte. The end of the 1st stage is a rapid descent over two sections of the Wiesenalm single trail to Zell am Ziller.
My tip of the day: Today you will be confronted with all the toughness of the Prince category for the first time. After you've been torturing yourself uphill all the time, you sit in the cable car for minutes. Use the time! Eat plenty of gels and iso. The stage is long, even the fastest princes don't finish in less than 3 hours. You can also use the time to relax and stretch your muscles. In order to get a feeling for the change in load, you can try in advance how it is to stop for 5-8 minutes between the intervals and enjoy the view.
Zillertal Bike Challenge / 02.07.2016: Now it's really getting started!
Second day of racing.
Legs feel good?
Then you didn't get everything out yesterday!
Legs feel bad?
Then you should ask yourself what went wrong in your regeneration.
You can expect about 60 kilometers - 950 meters in altitude - 2 mountain railways - up to 35% gradient
ZELL AM ZILLER-MAYERHOFEN
Starting at the leisure park in Zell am Ziller, you ride to the valley station of the Rosenalmbahn and take it up to the mountain station of the Rosenalmbahn (the official timekeeping only starts here). After a short but very demanding ascent to the highest point of the 2nd stage at the transition yoke at over 2.500 m (caution: snow fields are possible) it then goes down to the picturesque Wilde Krimml (2.062 m) and from there up to the Isskogel (2.260 m ). From here it's very varied, partly on gravel paths, two single trails and then the last 4 km on asphalt directly down to the Isskogelbahn to Gerlos. Caution is advised about halfway at the Latschenalm, as here you will meet all other participants coming up the mountain for a short distance of 400 m. From there, the Isskogel cable car takes you up to the Arena Center. From here it's another 10 minute steep climb. (ATTENTION: Here you will meet the participants coming down the valley!) Then follows a short, demanding descent to the Innerertensalm, a short climb up to the Gerlostal Alm. Then a breathtaking panoramic path leads several kilometers through picturesque alpine pastures. From the Kreuzwiesenalm, the route leads over the Gerlosberg and a section of the single trail back down to Zell am Ziller and along the Zillertal cycle path to the destination in the center of Mayrhofen.
My tip of the day: Remember that you are moving in the mountains! Both sun protection and rainwear can be very important here! In general, it is always better to be a bit too cautious than too brave. Races are won uphill. Downhill they can only be lost. Today I recommend no more than 1 teeth on the chainring for all 11×30 riders. Trust me, I'm pushing a few watts - I doubt anyone on the track is faster on a 32 than a 30.
Zillertal Bike Challenge / 03.07.2016: Final! The final sprint is waiting for you
There are two mountains in front of you and each of them easily has the potential to be decisive for the race. You probably know your closest competition by now. So think carefully about when and where you want to attack today.
34 kilometers await you - approx. 1500 meters in altitude - 2 mountain railways - up to 23% gradient
MAYERHOFEN – HINTERTUX GLACIER
From the Europahaus Mayrhofen, you drive through the village and enjoy the advantages of the new Penkenbahn and overcome the first big climb in just 8 minutes.
From here it's a gravel road to the Granatalm (refreshment station!) and on to the Wanglalm. From there, a well-developed gravel road leads in serpentines to Vorderlanersbach.
There the route joins the Tuxerlandesstraße L6. The route leads through the towns of Lanersbach, Juns and Madseit to the valley station of the Hintertuxer Gletscherbahn - Gletscherbus 1. Here you get the last chance to gather yourself before the last of your strength is mobilized for the ascent to the Tuxer Ferner Haus at 2.660 m.
My tip of the day: My victory last year showed that the last stage can be decisive for the race. It's time to attack. In order to win the stage, it can make sense to only attack 100 meters in front of the Tuxer Ferner Haus. However, it should be clear that this attack is not good enough to erase large deficits in the overall standings. The following applies: the more time you need, the earlier you attack. Drive your attack in such a way that you can also complete it. You can only break away from your pursuers in the long term if you carry out your attacks consistently. So give it your all! 1000 euros and the title Prince of the Mountains are waiting for you.
Good luck
Your Lennard
