The Nationalpark Bike Marathon is the race which drives Alex' mountain bike activitites by a large extent. It is the highlight of the race season. Alex was able to participate each year since 2011. At the beginning with Tim and Beatrice who went for the short (47km) race as a team. Later Beatrice raced with Kai. Once Tim biked in the Junior’s category. Beatrice rode the Puter 47km-race from S-Chanf to Scuol on her own when the boys no longer joined us.
For Alex it was not always the same course he raced. For the first two years he chose the Jauer-course from Fuldera (Val Müstair) to Scuol (104km, 2800m elevation). After two years he thought he should have the physical (and mental) condition to be able to manage the full circle with start and finish in Scuol (138km, 4000m elevation), called Vallader. In 2018 the full circle could not be raced as the weather was too bad, so instead the Puter course was selected (not all racers’ voices were positive on this decision of the race committee). In the pandemic 2020 the race took place which was due to a great effort of the race committee. The marathon was three weeks later in mid September on an alternative circle-course (start and finish in Scuol), which was exclusively in Switzerland, as the committee did not receive the admission from the Italian authorities to go on the normal course through Italy.
The 2011 edition - our first participation - is remembered as the historic race as it was cancelled after 5 hours. Unexpectedly, a snow storm passed through the valley even on lower elevations. Beatrice and Tim stopped at a shelter which was quickly set up by the inhabitants of a small village. Alex was at the highest point at 2687m when the snowfall started with strong winds. He managed to get down to the valley with a quick stop at a small farm covered with snow. We were told that some racers faced real undercooling. But this experience did not keep us away from the following year’s edition.
Link to the official website of the Nationalpark Bike Marathon
Results:
Alex:
2023: Vallader 140km, 4000m: 8.01:44. ü50: Rank 38/145, 26.2%. All (incl pros): Rank 141/357, 39.5%
2022: Vallader 140km, 4000m: 8.15:35. ü50: Rank 21/103, 20.4%. All (incl pros): Rank 117/323, 36.2%
2021: Vallader 140km, 4000m: 8.03:39. ü50: Rank 24/151, 15.9%. All (incl pros): Rank 131/411, 31.9%
2020: Alternative: 107km, 2900m: 5:47.32. ü50: Rank 24/97, 24,7%. All: Rank 134/319, 42.0%
2019: Vallader 138km, 4000m: 7.51:19. ü50: Rank 27/173, 15.6%. All (incl pros): Rank 187/504, 37.1%
2018: Puter: 47km, 800m: 1.42:07. ü50: Rank 18/84, 21.4%. All: Rank 130/304, 42.8%
2017: Vallader 138km, 4000m: 7.37:57. ü50: Rank 17/186, 9.1%. All (incl pros): Rank 180/604, 29.8%
2016: Vallader 138km, 4000m: 7.35:45. ü50: Rank 16/136, 11.8%. All (incl pros): Rank 145/551, 26.3%
2015: Vallader 138km, 4000m: 8.02:49. ü50: Rank 33/147, 22.4%. All (incl pros): Rank 258/595, 43.3%
2014: Vallader 138km, 4000m: 7.53:36. ü40: Rank 47/226, 20.7%. All (incl pros): Rank 164/580, 28.3%
2013: Vallader 138km, 4000m: 8.07:33. ü40: Rank 89/233, 38.2%. All (incl pros): Rank 260/554, 46.7%.
2012: Jauer 104km, 2800m: 6.22:49. ü40: Rank 35/91. All: Rank 99/232
2011: Jauer 104km, 2800m: annuled
Beatrice:
2022: Puter: 47km, 800m: 2.26:08. ü40: Rank 19/40. All: Rank 53/94
2022: Puter: 47km, 800m: 2.27:01. ü40: Rank 19/40. All: Rank 54/81
2021: Puter: 47km, 800m: 2.28:31. ü40: Rank 23/49. All: Rank 56/95
2020: Puter: 47km, 800m: 2.28:36. ü40: Rank 16/27. All: Rank /
2017: Puter: 47km, 800m: 2.21:36. ü40: Rank 27/75. All: Rank /
2016: Puter: 47km, 800m: 2.26:21. ü40: Rank 37/92. All: Rank /
2015: Puter: 47km, 800m: 2.17:24. ü40: Rank 24/108. All: Rank /
2014: Puter: 47km, 800m: 2.23:31. Gross/Klein: Rank 54/143 (together with Kai)
2013: Puter: 47km, 800m: 2.37:18. Gross/Klein: Rank 61/131 (together with Kai)
2012: Puter: 47km, 800m: 2.55:15. Gross/Klein: Rank 48/99 (together with Tim)
2011: Puter: 47km, 800m: annuled (together with Tim in Gross/Klein)
Tim:
2013: Puter: 47km, 800m: 2.25:02. Jun: Rank 45/49 . All (male): Rank 287/445