On September 1st, I made my biggest cycling dream come true by successfully participating in the Oetztaler Gran Fondo in Austria. The Oetztaler is a legendary and one of the toughest gran fondos, spanning 227 km with 5,500 meters of elevation across the Alps. This event holds a special place in my heart, and I would like to share my journey with you.

In 2018, I bought my first road race bike. At the time, I hadn’t developed a real passion for cycling, but I enjoyed it. My friend Hans (Rouvy nickname Hinni), a passionate cyclist, told me about his experience at his first Oetztaler. I was amazed that a hobby cyclist could achieve such a feat and was deeply impressed. However, it was clear to me that such a challenge was unrealistic for me, and I believed I would never achieve anything like that. Whenever I talked to other cyclists, the conversation would inevitably turn to the Oetztaler. It has an absolute cult status in Germany, often called the unofficial world championship for hobby cyclists. Anyone who has completed the Oetztaler receives the admiration of others. This is likely because it’s extremely demanding, even tougher than some of the hardest stages in the Tour de France, making it a formidable challenge for both amateur and professional cyclists alike.

Despite the admiration for the Oetztaler, it still felt like an unattainable dream for me—but dreams are allowed.

Over time, I started increasing the distances I rode in training, and Hans eventually persuaded me to participate in a 313 km flat gran fondo. I love challenges and was eager to take it on. However, halfway through the race, I was completely exhausted and barely made it to the finish line. One major issue became clear: I couldn’t eat food, bars, or gels during the race. My body simply couldn’t digest anything, leaving me powerless as I had to ride for hours without consuming any carbohydrates. It was a bitter defeat, and I gave up on my gran fondo dreams.

About two years ago, by chance, I read an article about cyclists experiencing similar digestive issues during races. The article mentioned a company that had developed special products (Ministry) to address this problem. I decided to try them, and to my relief, I found that I could tolerate their gels and bars very well. This renewed my hope of tackling the Oetztaler again. In my opinion, there are five key factors that must be addressed to successfully complete the Oetztaler:

1. Fitness
2. Weight
3. Long climbs
4. Nutrition
5. Time limit

Fitness must be built up over several years. Races lasting more than eight hours cannot be completed with just one year of training; you have to gradually increase your endurance by riding longer distances. For example, a year ago, I participated in the Maratona dles Dolomites. The most challenging gran fondos always include several long, steep climbs. Weight also plays a critical role, especially for a heavy rider like me. Losing weight is difficult and takes time, but I managed to shed about six kilograms, leaving me at 86 kg. Every kilogram less helps on those climbs.

Training for long climbs is nearly impossible in my region of central Germany, but races on Rouvy provided a great opportunity to train for those extended uphill efforts. Sometimes, I was also able to train outdoors in the Black Forest area. Nutrition during a gran fondo is another crucial factor. You have to start consuming carbohydrates early in the race, and I resolved this issue by using Ministry products. Finally, the time limit: many gran fondos impose time limits at various checkpoints. To avoid being picked up by the broom wagon, you must push yourself hard from the beginning, finding a balance between speed and preserving energy. This requires experience, but with consistent training, significant improvement is possible.

After two years of preparation, by autumn 2023, I felt ready to tackle the Oetztaler. Hans encouraged me, and we both applied for participant spots. With over 22,000 applicants vying for only 4,000 places, it was tough to secure a spot. Luckily, we both got in for 2024.

Finally, on Sunday, September 1st, the moment arrived. After barely sleeping the night before, Hans and I were at the start line at 6:30 a.m. in Sölden. The race started well for me. I climbed the Kühtai (1,200 m of elevation) as planned, maintaining an average of 220 watts. After a fast descent, reaching speeds of up to 95 km/h, we proceeded from Innsbruck to the Brenner Pass. I initially wanted to conserve energy, but my group was fast, and I decided to stay with them. By the time we reached the Brenner Pass, we had already covered 121 km and 2,000 meters of elevation. I still felt good and quickly moved on toward Italy.

The next climb was the Jaufenpass (1,000 m of elevation). It wasn’t too difficult for me, as it isn’t very steep. After 1 hour and 25 minutes of climbing, I reached the top and refilled my water bottles. Then came the long, demanding descent to St. Leonhard, which felt like it lasted forever. Steep, winding hairpin bends on rough roads made it tough, and my fingers were aching from braking. Once we reached the valley, we were greeted by a heatwave, with temperatures soaring to 37°C. Despite the heat, we pressed on.

The final and most challenging climb awaited: the Timmelsjoch, or Passo Rombo in Italian. It’s a 29 km ascent with 1,760 meters of elevation, averaging an 8% gradient. While the statistics are daunting, it’s doable. However, with 175 km and 3,500 meters of elevation already in my legs, it felt like an inhuman task. Just a few kilometers into the climb, I was running on empty. It was pure torture to keep going. As a heavier rider, I needed to pedal at least 180 watts to avoid stopping, but that became increasingly difficult toward the end. After 2 hours and 45 minutes, along with several breaks, I finally reached the top. Standing on that pass felt incredible. After a quick look at the breathtaking mountain scenery, I put on my jacket and began the descent to the finish line.

After 11 hours and 34 minutes, I returned to Sölden, feeling totally elated. My dream of completing the Oetztaler had come true—something I once thought was impossible. My message to all of you: Believe in yourself and live your dreams.

A big thank you goes to my friend Hans, who rode the Oetztaler with me and always encouraged me to pursue this goal. I wish him a speedy recovery after his accident two days after the Oetztaler. I’m now looking forward to shorter, harder races on Rouvy, and I’ll see you all on the virtual bike.

Daniel (Denny44)