Nationalpark Bike Marathon Website
Sat 26 Aug 2017: Confirmation of last year’s exploit with new mountain bike
After last year’s super race time, Alex' planning and preparation was defined along last year’s practices. So before this extended race around the Swiss National Park in Graubünden (137km, 4000m elevation), Alex felt in good shape; and in fact things went very similar to last year’s. But let us start with Beatrice:
As last year Beatrice' preparation was not optimal, but she could do some runs in the weeks before, and her experience in mountain biking in general as well as for this course in particular, is helpful. The trail is from S-Chanf to Scuol, 47km, 800m elevation. As the conditions were optimal - fairly hot though - she could almost beat her best time from 2015. Beatrice hit the finish line after 2:21.36 and was 27 out of 75 in the women’s category of 40+. Only 2 female racers ranked before Beatrice were older, and 3 of the same age. What a girl.
Alex took his new race fully BMC Fourstroke 01 to the start which he bought months before. It’s got 11 gears and one chainwheel, and a full suspension. The start was a bit weird as he almost lost this saddle bag with the extra tube and tool in it; but luckily that went ok. He basically lost 2 minutes in the first 1000m climb, and from there the segment times for the remainder were very similar to the year before. In general as expected, the uphills were a bit slower and the downhills faster which was due to the suspension and its extra weight. The last stretch of 45km was really fast and mostly untypical mountain biking. It was essential that Alex was part of a group of 5-9 riders where he was generally able to bike in the slip stream of the others which was less effort, but yet at the decent heart rate. There are a number of small uphills which were ridden really pushy.
Eventually, Alex finished in 7:37.57 which was good for rank 17 in his men's category of 50 years and above which consisted of a total of 156 ranked riders (total rank including the pros is 180 out of 604). So his racing time was 2 minutes behind last year’s which again was excellent. Compared to last year his physical condition was visibly better though, as last year he could hardly walk when he got off bis bike…
As a comparison: the winner in the category of professionals rode the 137km in 5:33.32, i.e. roughly 2 hours faster.
Alex - Vallader 137km, 4000m elevation: Total ranking / ranking ü50
Beatrice - Puter 47km, 800m elevation women: Total ranking / ranking ü40
