More than Just Three Peaks – Three Peaks Bike Race 2023 (Part 2)

In 2023, cyclists gathered in Vienna for the Three Peaks Bike Race, a 2,500-kilometer journey through the Alps, France’s Central Massif, and the Pyrenees, culminating in Barcelona. The film captures the essence of this odyssey.

Act One: Vienna’s Kickoff

The race began at Schönbrunn Castle against Vienna’s imperial backdrop. Cyclists launched into a grueling adventure, poised to conquer three iconic mountain ranges.

Act Two: Alpine Challenge

In the Alps, riders faced steep ascents and thrilling descents. The film depicts their intense physical exertion as they conquered challenging mountain passes, setting the tone for the demanding journey ahead.

Act Three: French Interlude

Leaving the Alps, cyclists entered France’s Central Massif, navigating rolling hills and charming villages. The film highlights the unique challenges of diverse terrain, blending cultural richness with the race’s physical demands.

Act Four: Pyrenean Triumph

The Pyrenees became the penultimate stage—a legendary battleground with relentless climbs. Cyclists persevered against unpredictable weather, showcasing their determination against Europe’s iconic mountain range.

Climax: Barcelona Beckons

Cyclists descended to Barcelona from the Pyrenees, adding cinematic quality to the race’s conclusion. The film captures the emotional crescendo at the Sagrada Familia, symbolizing the riders’ collective journey.

Good mornning from day nr. 6 I have to say, that this is the absolut mental low point Good morning from day nr. 5 after the battle in the rain yesterday there are still some clouds in the sky but actually it’s dry I expect the sun coming out in 2 or 3 hours

Somewhere behind me you can see Benoit I’ve spent the night with him at the ATM two days ago yesterday we’ve had a stay at a hotel togehter OK, heading to France now, see you later! We’ve been three guys the whole morning heavy rain again

But I think now the rain should be behind us when I am looking forward I can see blue sky and then it should hopefully stay dry the other two guys stayed at the petrol station one of them needs a new chain I didn’t want to wait any longer, so I continued alone

I have been at the TREK-store at Biehl a few minutes ago just needed some air for the tires crazy, got offered a coffee gave me some energy-gels Lovely store! Please go all there and buy a new bike there! Nice! Heading to Neuchatel now, should not be too far

Than I will switch on my track nr. 5 on my wahoo one kilometer more to go than my track nr. 4 out 10 is ending I have seperated the route in 10 parts not all of them have the same lenght the last one had about 450 kilometers

The next one will also have 450 kilometers but it’s the last big one half way point is behind me already but there was no big party there are many detours perhaps I am able to find some shortcuts from now on perhaps there will be some other detours

But in the end, it’s the second half of the race now switching to track nr. 5 sun is shining all could be fine, but: about one hour ago I got some problems with my lower back never had this before it’s tingling and numb

When I change the position on the bike it’s getting better I will do some streching over there that really annoys me… I am able to deal with knee-problems and pain in the hands and pain in the ass… but a thumb back is really not cool… but good

I have the feeling it’s better on the aero-bars I’ll try some stretching and will change position but good news First big milestone of the day is reached switch on track nr. 5 and from now on heading to France! No idea, how far it is to go

I do not have internet here in Switzerland beacause I only have 50 MB per day and these are already gone I am not able to buy some more MBs good, let’s continue! This should be the first real lunch break in 5 days the sun is burning now that is necassary!

Cola, Smoothie, Orange juice and one XXL-baguette Shoes and socks are over there in the sun hopefully getting dry You do not want to see my feet… it’s crazy, totally forgot about the rain in the morning completely soaked getting better hopefully In the sun there are about 40 degrees, should dry everything

And than it continues update to my back: I have decided, it’s nothing serious! all good! eat and drink first, to get some energy It’s funny without internet I have no idea where I am I know where I am, somewhere behind Neuchatel and nice, my route planning

There’s seems to just a small spike in the route profil and than it is 10 kilometers of climbing for 400 altitude meters seems less than it is acutally some 45 minutes you’re hanging on this climb but I really have no idea how far it is to the border

But there was a customs-car, so it cannot be so far away It’s so nice when you can celebrate “the small things” I am on the top and have already counted 5 French cars Border should be right here… or not. Oh, have a look: Paris! Nice! Routeplanning with Berni part 129

I have planned my route straight on the highway but some locals helped me find a shortcut through the forest Over there is the CH/FR-border! Olé Olé! In the middle of the Jura-mountains nice, like it more than the Switzerland part already passed two climbs next descent in sight beautiful landscape and finally: France!

Country number… five on the list Austria, Italy, Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, France Dinnertime Somewhere up in the Jura mountains two or three smaller climbs to come than descending to the valley and than let’s have a look 245 kilometers already done shortly after the 300 there would be a bigger climb

Somewhere before this climb I try to find a sleeping spot It will be to much to do this climb today I think especially when the body already says “it’s time to stop” but that’s okay for me Than I should be able to enter Parcour nr. 2 tomorrow that would be the plan

Waiting for my pizza, for now beer and Coke Nice Good, Jura mountains done that’s the final descent there will be two more climbs in about 20 kilometers no idea if they count to the Jura mountains but for now it should be flat and than searching for a accommodation

I think I have to stick to my tactics for sure I could go for another two hours but I think my body is looking for a break So let’s give it a break Nothing is going on here I hope, I’ll find a sleeping spot So, amazing change of the plan!

47 kilometers more than planned to go found a 24h-hotel in Bourg-en-Bresse that means I will do the two additional climbs I finish the last mountains and will have done 50 more kilometers than planned for today should be there at about 11:30pm totally fine Ultracycling is

When you reach the “last cow village” in France at 11:30pm get 2 dry pieces of bread a piece of ham and 1 litre of Coca Cola it is so nice! Arrived at the hotel. Midnight and over there, some guys are doing a party… doesn’t matter, go to bed now.

Good morning day nr. 6 I have to say it, this is the absolut mental low point I’ve lost my cap yesterday I couldn’t find it today in the morning and this annoys me so much I hope, they can build me a new one… and everything hurts… the knees hurt incredibly Shit ey!

Knees are hurting, the back is numb my feet looked yesterday evening… never have seen something like this before. but better today but good… 300 to go… This happens, when you have slept for overall only 12 hours in the last 5 nights or 15… I hope, they can make me a new cap…

I’ll continue cycling look who’s over there I am not able to leave this guy behind National holiday in France today, everything is closed found at least one open store something to eat and to drink was quite okay until now some totally senseless corners in the track this annoys me so much

You do a climb over a hill incredibly steep just to go it down on the other side gravel passage, where you could have cycled around easily what a bullshit 150 until Parcours nr. 2 40 degrees, headwind next long, long climb incoming 16 kilometers and I only have a half bottle of water left

I thought there will be a shop before this climb Hopefully during the climb something showing up It’s another challenge today surprisingly today national holiday, everything is closed I am so happy that I’ve bought this HARIBO before everything is closed, even Gas stations and on the top of this plateau nothing, since hours. Nothing.

Two times I’ve got some water from locals in their gardens but nothing else two more climbs to come and than I’ll reach the highest point than another counter-ramp and than finally the descent and than entering parcours nr. 2 these kilometers here on the top the toughest part of the race so far

It stretches like chewing gum up, down, up, down, up, down – a hundred times another climb of 4 kilometers acutally a short descent another climb crazy and the heat, and all the stores are closed but good, let’s think positive The legs are surprisingly good the knees surprisingly make only small problems

With “the knees from last night” would never have worked today I would be in serious trouble the best news is my back is totally fine since a few hours and headwind… here the long, long awaited descent starts I stop crying for now cool is you can see this mountain range

And as I see it, from the kilometers to go that should be the Massif Central and this we have to cycle from the right to the left Southwest direction so somewhere over there should be Barcelona But we do not talk about it it’s a long way to go, but hey:

Checkpoint 2 in sight! descent, another climb and it starts at the foot of CP2 a few kilometers until it starts uphill the problem is, when I do not find anything to eat here than I will find nothing today I really hope for something over there

If not, I don’t know what I can do nearly dropped the bike… The mountain, directly next to the sun, is the goal 8 or 9 o’clock position let’s see, how close we can get okay, I have a plan 24-hours-hotel in Aurillac 5.5 hours to go it’s 9:30pm

When I am able to go quick I will be there at 3 am in the morning but I’ve done checkpoint 2! and can go easily to the Pyrenees and actually I am fit I have to take the momentum It doesn’t make sense to have a bad night out in the forest

Looking forward to it Let’s do this! It’s 2:07 am in the morning cap nr. 186 reached the top of Puy Mary Descent! Good morning from Aurillac day 7 It’s 10am Update to the night before it was incredible tough this decision to do checkpoint two over the night for 6 hours more

It was really tough there are some dogs but, it was worth it checkpoint 2 is behind me now heading south next big stop: Toulouse somehow today evening and than we’ll see, if I can go close to the Pyrenees that would be amazing but than I’d had to to 330 kilometers today we’ll see

But good, with some good average speed not so many altitude meters today – it could work my fitness is interesting my beer belly is totally gone never looked so sharp before just go for 1.800 kilometers in 6 days and you are thin – if you wanna be

Otherwise I am a bit tired. My hands are a desaster feet are ok today knees are saying “hello” over and over again but it is what it is Let’s go to Toulouse The very first open supermarket in France after the f*** holiday yesterday and noone was on the roads

And there was nothing to eat now I got some stuff and than going forward to the end of parcours nr. 2 afterwards Toulouse Hopefully today it will be easier to find food and water was a desaster yesterday but I am good on the timetable rolling good today

Body is quite feed, the left side of my ass makes problems but I’ve learned, everything will go away Later Milestone End of parcours nr. 2! and already on track nr. 7 out of 10 as I’ve planned it 266 until the start of parcours nr. 3 Midday low

I am tired and the left side of my ass hurts obviously a pinched nerve but even this will pass away So after 140 kilometers in the backcountry as beautiful as it is you move so slowly forwards it’s so stressful on a race like this it does not make sense

The actual road is just straight 80 kilometers to Toulouse You would never cycle here on a private ride but for the moment it’s the most beautiful road you can imagine let’s see at what time I’ll be there (Toulouse) Point nr. 1 for the next time: Route planning, route planning, route planning!

It costs me hours and hours 20 minutes ago second supermarket of the day all four bottles filled just because there are so few opportunities it’s raining a bit, you do not drink that much but it would last even for the night bought some food and still on this nice road

Wind from the backside good speed here hopefully I’ll reach Toulouse at 08:30 pm that’s how it looks here I hope it helps… I have a plan now found a hotel quite south from Toulouse, what I really like because the plan was to leave Toulouse behind nice is, that Toulouse than is behind me

And on the other hand, I can pass it a night with less traffic on the roads south of Toulouse is so nice, because the way to the parcours isn’t that far only 100 kilometers should be there at 11:30 Alarm bell at 05:00 am, start at 05:30 5 hours until I reach the parcours

Than it’ll be 11:30 am and than the parcours starts and I have to complete it tomorrow and than I am really good on time: So easy! that’s the game. See you later or tomorrow you are in France when you think – let’s get some “fresh air” and then metal brings money? No idea…

Today Queens stage “Pyrenees” 3 big mountain passes and what am I stupid a**hole doing? I oversleep… lost 1 hour and 10 minutes let’s go good morning Pyrenees sunday 3 passes, plus the way to the parcours and all what comes after sitting on the bike since 5 minutes knees hurt, ass is sore

Half a kilo of Vaseline, it’s ok for the moment but it has to work now what really makes me angry I was too stupid to set the alarm correctly I wanted to set it to 05:30 then it was 00:45 in the night so I thought set it to 06:00 am

I already had an alarm for 06:00 am on the smartphone, so turned it on 06:40 am I woke up and than I realised, that the alarm only was active for “tuesdays” too stupid to set an alarm… lost 40 minutes… on the other hand, I directly jumped out of the bed

Otherwise I would have stayed for 15 more minutes in bed If I want to lie to myself I only lost 25 minutes I will find them somewhere on the road Pyrenees! Never been there – gogogo Incredibly but true: 532 meters until the end of my track and begin of parcours nr. 3

75 kilometers, 3 Pyrenees mountain passes, 2000 and some more altitude meters it’s crazy the oversleep in the morning made me so angry Things are going better than they have in a long time I hope I can keep this energy level high I am looking straightforward on my watts not going too fast

Now slowly over the mountains and stay healthy, and then we’ll see nice, in the village I met Christoph so funny, after 8 days that you meet here at the same time first climb now, didn’t look them up before just knew “there will come some mountains” let’s see: 13.7 kilometers, 870 altitude meters

Average 6.7% steep starts quite serious One out of three is done two to go – nice view here descent on the way to nr. 2 midday low… left Achilles tendon is hurting since about 2 hours so fit and full of energy I’ve been before exactly opposite it’s feeling now

I will continue until the climb starts and there I’ll consume the “emergency-Coke” everything else would not work nr. 2, 8.2 kilometers, 5.2% average, way more enjoyable than the first one Peak-Coke, Peak-Cake, Peak-Beet afterwards descent and then nr. three this one is looking ugly but good, even this one we will do somehow

Somehow… gogogo here we go, the last climb! bit more than 10 kilometers for a bit more than 600 altitude meters also some tough, steep passages but good I think it’s the first time that I am quicker than expected thought to finish the parcours at about 6pm now it’s 3pm

Think at about 4/4:15pm I can reach the top than only the descent worst case: 5pm so one hour ahead of the plan that means a lot of daylight left to cycle to the finisher parcours and than we’ll see what evening and night will bring actually my body is feeling better, funny

Can change in seconds that’s what I’ve learned here we are, the last peak at least from the parcours nr. 3, peak nr. 3, from the three peaks bike race that means 10 kilometers of descent and than, freeride to finisher parcours to Barcelona sounds relaxter than it is 250 to go

End of peak nr. 3 parcours at the corner over there Spain – I’m freaking out Viehla – next milestone Searching for dinner afterwards a steeper climb to the tunnel 5 kilometers and 200 altitude meters and than a long descent dinner did not work like expected

Only at a gas station, did not want to enter the city off the track and loose time that would have made me angry so I had two disgusting sandwiches out of the plastic box for 5 Euro a pack of HARIBO, so I have two now Oreo cookies I have Kinder Bueno

3 liters of water I’ve got last kilometers of climbing, to the 5 km long tunnel afterwards it’s going down there it is crazy… new for me with the bike tough part here inside good is, that on the right side no cars are allowed so I am not stressed by cars

Did not look on the clock, but 5.2 kilometers with 4% let me do an average of 10 km/h than it takes me half an hour but I think here was the peak, from no on going down that’s what you can do sometimes a nice highway-tunnel I already had the chance in Albania (2022)

But There I shit myself, I stuffy German So I finally found my dinner original spain french fries, very nice and than keep going 12 more kilometers to the next long climb this one I will do for sure and than I’ll search for a place to sleep Getting tired now

Last one: 12 kilometers for 550 altitude meters the middle part is ugly than getting flat and a steep final part but good, we will finish this one somehow and than I’ll go down on the other side and sleep Col de la Croi the fith big col of the day

About 25 kilometers until the village where I wann sleep So, the night was a complete desaster the hotel I hoped for was closed cycled 30 minutes through the village a total waste of time didn’t find anything at the end I found this spot I thought it’s quite cool, a big house

Light is going on and off all the time anyways – laid down at 00:15 and directly when I felt asleep a group of people came out the house they were laughing about me 30 minutes later, I was asleep, they came back awake again

And some time later – they came back out again… now I decided the night is over for me so perhaps – when I want to lie to myself – I slept one hour this night light on again that’s how it is that means roundabout 250 kilometers to go until finish line

Hopefully, when the daylight is coming that’s how I know it from Race around Austria I hopefully get some boost and am able to finish it somehow the next milestone is the finisher parcours 90 kilometers earlier, so after about 160 that’s something you can be happy about

On the other hand, all the others are sleeping now I can ride, that’s super. really phantastic. than I will make up a lot of places for sure. Not! my knees hurt, achilles tendon hurts it’s good when it’s over will be a tough, tough day already sind 1:45 on the road again

4.4 kilometers until top of this 21.5 kilometer climb good thing is: what is done is gone will not come back again actually I am in a good condition the question is, will I be able to keep it until Barcelona? I am fighting so hard against beeing tired

Had an espresso and a Red Bull for brakfast and a chocolate croissant and some HARIBO to geht some sugar I’ll continue seems to help that will determine the day today coffeine, find a way somehow 80 kilometers until time stamp Entering finisher parcours All In now full power, quick consuming, continue

HARIBO and Red Bull for a half company another 3 liters of energy drink Don’t know the name… Aquarius 13 kilometers until parcours it was so clear that shortly before the end there will be another incident with komoot The route I’ve planned ended up in a dead end than turned back

New way directly to the highway was half way up the mountain but than I saw a cyclist on the highway good, there it came, my personal moment turned back, directly onto the highway back on track 8 kilometers or 9 until the top and than the fixed parcours until the finish line

Friends of the night, friends of the sun there it is! Entrance finisher parcours F**** flies! the last 87 kilometers with 1.470 altitude meters what a hell climbing up here in the burning sun two big failures in route planning again i cannot say it so often, I could puke

But this view, perhaps the best on the whole tour! incredible! and now: Heading to Barcelona For sure, you do not get any presents here again in the hottest, burning sun 12 kilometers of climbing for 500 altitude meters it’s nice – that’s an ascent, you would plan for a normal ride

If you want to do some climbing 60-70 kilometers, this climb – than you had a nice day on the bike and here it comes after 2.500 kilometers and more or less 48 hours awake it comes… you look on the track and ask yourself: “What is coming up?” “This!” and what are you doing?

You get the next “emergency-Coke” drink it, and continue to ride because it’s like always – you have no choice I have to say it again: this climb here – it’s hard to find the right words hard to estimate the temperature I don’t think 40 degrees was enough

And than 13 kilometers of climbing here after all these burden that is really… really hard… you cannot describe it I think, there is something not right in your head, if you do it anyway but you do not have a choice… it’s a bad idea to stop and do nothing

But mentally disturbed – never had something like this before Left the suburbs behind me 2nd to last climb incoming 1.7 kilometers, afterwards the last one Last climb 7 kilometers for 320 meters of altitude beginning will be fine, the last kilometer will be really tough I think I reached the top of Barcelona

A wall with up to 20% in the sun – look at my arm it is sick, but: There it is – the “thing” I just drive past it because I have to get down to the finish But I am so looking forward to it Hopefully I find water

Three Peaks Bike Race 2023 is history incredible Behind me the triumphal arch I finished 27th – incredible – out of 250 starters No idead how I was able to do this I think I complained a lot on the video

I am sorry, but it was the toughest thing I ever did in my whole life but there have been amazing moments and I hope you feel it while watching this video let’s see, what the future will bring searching for my hotel at first take a shower, wash my stuff

And than I’ll see, what to do in Barcelona See you guys next time!