Events: As one of the first events this year, our editor and ex-professional Flo Nowak took part in the Zurich-Zermatt race. As part of the BMC Teammachine SLR press event, a rather unusual test drive was offered as part of the Chasing Cancellara Challenge from Zurich to Zermatt. With around 500 participants, the distance rules were observed at short intervals on the 280-kilometer route from Zurich to Zermatt. The biggest obstacle was certainly the 6500 meters in altitude and of course the fact that you were not allowed to use a slipstream except for the first 30 kilometers.
The Chasing Cancellara Challenge Zurich-Zermatt was the first event on my agenda since Corona. The day before in Zurich got off to a leisurely start. After I received my BMC Teammachine SLR and adjusted it to my needs, I went on a relaxed tour through the beautiful city center of Zurich and then along Lake Zurich.
The bike fit and the legs were ridden loosely. Thanks to the perfect support from Zurich Tourism, we were able to move into our hotel right next to the starting line after the ride, which was a significant advantage given the early start times. After an early dinner to fill up the tanks, I went to bed just as early for my “nap”.
So here is the first challenge of the day before the actual start: Getting up, because after a short power nap the alarm went off at 0:30 am. After a double espresso and a small bite to eat, I set out at 1:57 with a light and a reflective vest for me.
Right from the start, full throttle and really accelerating, I was able to make up position after position, so that by the 2nd checkpoint I was already in 3rd position. The drive through the night was really fun and easier than expected. Although no big passes had been driven, after a good 100km the odometer showed 2000 meters in altitude. Everything went well until half of the race and I was in 2rd position at the same time as 3nd. In 1st place until then was the Swiss Elite Champion and EuropeTour professional Justin Paroz.
But then came the Grimsel Pass, which leads to over 2100 meters, a 26 kilometer climb that was tough. Here I had to slow down a bit and drive at my own pace, so that I was in 5th place at the top of the pass. Luckily I had great supporters at the track with the BMC crew, who made my life easier. When we arrived at the top, there was half a pack of cheese.
At that point the race could well have been over because the main problem was that I could hardly eat. I only brought pretzels or cheese down, which is a bit meager for another 2000 meters and 100 kilometers. With a top speed of a good 106 km/h I headed towards the valley and made my way towards Visp, where the ascent to Zermatt begins. I was still in the top 5 here, but my strength was pretty much exhausted. Not good conditions when you still have 30km and 1200 meters of altitude ahead of you. The first few meters went ok, but then it was just hell for me, because I could hardly put any pressure on the pedals and even had to stop 3 times and get off the bike for a moment.
In my head I calculated how long I would need, which didn't make it much better, because I rarely had more than 10 km/h on the speedometer, which makes a driving time of 30 hours for almost 3 kilometers. So there was no end in sight.
Even the last aid stations were no longer of any help, because I could hardly eat and drink anyway. Eventually, however, Zermatt came within reach and after a driving time of 10:48 hours and a running time of 11:05, I was able to finish second in the male 2 class and 30th in the entire race. I burned almost 13 thousand calories on the bike alone and covered a total of 12 kilometers with 281,2 meters in altitude. That's about 6486 times to the Zugspitze from Garmisch.
For me it was definitely an amazing event and a great experience. The ride at night and into the sunrise was particularly impressive and the route was also gigantic. It remains to be seen whether I will come back anytime soon.
Website: chasingcancellara.com / zuerich.com/de