I have had Everesting as a challenge in mind for a long time. But I never felt like I could do it. The change came with Rouvy. When I’m done with the challenges and there’s no other Mucker’s race, I’d rather ride the hills than the flats. The next impulse was when, after more than 3,000 meters in two days, I climbed 5,700 meters on the third day. There I decided that I could do it. So when Neil announced this challenge, I signed up without hesitation.

After selecting the route and other details, I chose the time trial mode. I did feel like a slacker watching Neil’s preparation, but I didn’t change anything special. Before L’Etape CZ, it worked for me to ride a shorter route at full capacity two days before and two hours of free riding the day before. So I repeated it. The only preparation was the playlist, but it was simple: Motörhead studio albums. The truth is that I managed to buy an air conditioner during the weather forecast, so the preparation was minimal.

On D-day, I got up a little earlier than a normal Saturday. After breakfast, I applied energy gels and drinks to the trainer, along with a pile of spare clothes and drinks. I started the machine and sat on the bike. Neil was about 2 km ahead of me and another rider about 88 km. The plan was up and down in two hours. I set off at ease and climbed 833 meters after an hour; I was satisfied with that. I continued at this pace and probably added a little. In the second descent, I got off my bike for the first time. I refilled four water bottles (at the end it was 15 liters), changed sweaty clothes, and started pedaling again. I repeated the two breaks in the descent until the end. I had good legs and no problem.

Gradually, other friends from Mucker’s worldwide joined us and gave us support. Big thanks to Chad for keeping me on pace. I still felt okay and believed in a better time than I had planned. I didn’t even see the time of the third rider of the course at the last intermediate time, but I suspected that I wasn’t far away. Silvia joined me on the last climb, and thanks to her, I knew with 500 meters to go that I would be third. Nothing major, but a good feeling.

End. End? Already three climbs before the end, I remembered how I read Karel Soušek’s comment: “Why finish on Everest when 10 km is so close?” So I found Neil on the trail and started pedaling again. I finished after covering 10 km. Tired but happy. Unable to sleep, I waited for Neil to finish. Great admiration for him and the rider who was 88 km ahead of me and I overtook on the last climb, maybe more performance than mine. It wasn’t IRL, but those who ride Rouvy know that this wasn’t free either.

A big thank you to all the Muckers I found by chance and can now take as friends even though we’ve never met. I look forward to that happening. To sum it up, a wonderful experience. Those who think about it, don’t hesitate.

RaTim