RACE ACROSS AUSTRIA EAST TO WEST 2025 – AFTERMOVIE

RACA EAST TO WEST 2025

edition02 2025

www.raceacrossaustria.com

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Copyright: RACE ACROSS AUSTRIA
Filmed by: Kovac Visuals

[Music] It begins on the eastern edge of Austria. Quiet town, a nervous breath, and the sound of cleats clicking into pedals. The journey ahead. Ride across an entire nation. From sunrise to sunset, from valley floor to alpine sky. This is the race across Austria, east to west. Over a thousand kilometers, more than 16,000 meters of climbing. A road that tests not just your legs, but your spirit. There are no shortcuts, no easy winds, just endless turns, rolling horizons, and the steady rhythm of wheels cutting through silence. Some ride alone, lost in their thoughts. Others find strength in brief moments together. An encouraging word, a nod, a glance that says, “Keep going.” This is what the race across Austria is about. Heat. Heat. [Music] The noise disappears. Ahead lies a thousand km of silence, struggle, and self-belief. No crowds, just the will to keep turning the pedals. Every breath is a step closer to something greater. Because out here, it’s not about racing others. It’s about facing yourself. [Music] I signed up for the race across Austria in November last year. I uh just uh thought it’s it’s a cool idea to uh cycle through Austria to see uh the whole country in a few days. Um yeah, probably I’m going to be more concentrated on the road than on the scenery for some uh time, but I try to to enjoy it as as much as possible. And yeah, just uh I just wanted to to see where my limits are and I think I can reach them um with with ultra cycling and see how far I can go. [Music] Day one is coming to a close. The riders are deep into their journey, chasing the last light of the day. The road behind them is long. The road ahead even longer. Tomorrow, the mountains will rise. The first real climbs are waiting in the distance. But for now, the weather holds, spirits stay high, and the rhythm of the race begins to settle. East to west, the journey has truly begun. I think I’ve caught a cold in the night. So, let’s see how it goes. Let’s make it down to Mura and hopefully everything goes well. The heat yesterday was actually not that bad and the open bag at night was quite an experience in the dark all by myself. It is important to have a good light. Then it’s pretty safe. But the quietness and everything is really unique. I had no leg warmers on, so it was pretty bad. And the upper body was good. So, I also had a sleeping bag. So far, so good. Heat up here. [Music] This is perfect. Really perfect. It’s a great great adventure for me. Yes. I hope I will arrive in in for Balbe on Saturday. It’s my my my goal. And now it looks good. But I think tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, the weather will be changed and that could be a little bit difficult. Let’s see. [Music] Sometimes you got to sleep with your own night. Run wild. You got to let it out. Those good vibes. I’m on a trip with you. Go down. Salute the sun. You’re the morning light. I know you’re feeling home again. You’re branching out into the never. [Applause] It’s very hot today and the climbs are very steep, but I’m feeling okay until now. A beautiful route, beautiful landscape and yeah the organizers are very nice people and also all the other riders riders are very nice and helpful until now. It’s a good journey, you know, pretty good. Uh weather is fine. Bike is working properly. So, it’s kind of just uh pushing biggest challenge. I don’t know. Maybe, you know, in the beginning of this climb, now it’s already done. Uh but so far, that’s basically it. Actually, it’s a beautiful country and I just, you know, every time uh I’m just uh confirming that with every view. Uh but also just to put a little bit more climbing into my legs. So and uh actually enjoying Alps. It’s adventure all the time. I think uh signing up for this race um um can be a challenge uh for everyone. Um so I think it’s uh for everyone who just wants to um be on the bike for a few hours for a few days just enjoying the moment being in the moment and going through ups and downs. Um so many emotions which are going to come up. Um, with ultra cycling it’s uh it’s a steady up and down all the time and you’re just trying to to push through it when it’s uh when it gets uh really uh really difficult and you just try to enjoy it as much as possible um when you’re when you have good times and when you’re in the flow. So, I think it’s uh um the best possibility to to get out of your comfort zone and um reach something you thought you’re not capable of. It’s just uh got to the base camp like 2 hours ago. Um it was pretty hard today because the sun was very intense. Um so I decided to sleep a little bit. Um and I slept Yeah, I didn’t really sleep like probably for a drive for 1 hour, but I slept about 10 minutes probably. And after that I felt like Um I don’t know what’s what’s happening right now. Probably the sun was a little bit too hard for me. Um and but I don’t know that feeling from myself. So actually feel a little bit a little sick. But yeah, it doesn’t make any sense to to go on like that. But now I just get some things from the supermarket and maybe rest another hour and after that I will see if I feel better. And if not then yeah I’ve decided um what I’m going to do. But the plan A would be to continue during the night and yeah, pushing through, but yeah, we’ll see. I’m not in the best situation right now. Um, but yeah, uh, weather is not that good. Um, little bit of rain, but I just looked it up on the weather forecast on the weather map. It looks like it’s going to get a little bit better, especially during the night. Um, So yeah, since it was so hot today, um I would be looking forward to some chilly wets during the night and yeah, maybe get to to go um sleep there um at Taling or somewhere or even even do it during the night. Um but yeah, it’s a long way. Um but yeah, I will see. [Music] [Music] Ultra cycling is so simple. You’re just on the road with your bike and you just have to push some watts and try to to um yeah, just keep going. And uh for me it’s uh yeah, such a beautiful thing to do. um be in the flow, being in the moment. I think there’s nothing else um where I can enjoy the moment and be in the present as much as uh while I’m on my bike. And yeah, I’m just happy to to do that uh for a few hours and for a few days as long as possible. And I’m just happy that I’m healthy and fit enough to to do this and to yeah um that I can and have this experience. Welcome. [Music] [Applause] [Music] But I think a few hours of sleep and then start earlier to get not too late on the go clock now. Yeah. But let’s see few hours I need. As the next day starts, another race begins. The riders of the 500 kometer challenge are joining those who’ve already spent a lot of time on the road. Fresh legs, quiet focus, and the promise of a long day ahead. Today, the road tilts upward toward the highest point of the race across Austria. The great mountain waits cloaked in cloud and wind. The forecast calls for rain, maybe even storms at 2 1/2,000 m. It will be cold. It will be brutal. But this is what they came for. A test of strength, will, and of heart across the spine of Austria. [Music] [Music] [Music] I’m doing good actually. Uh had a good rest last night and yeah, that helps me a lot. Uh and I’m glad to be here. Well actually at first I thought I will do it in a team but after,300 uh 130 kilometers my partner he he gave up and and then I thought let’s do it by myself because I’m here and I want to have the experience and now I’m so happy because uh it fills me up and uh I love cycling. I’m happy that I didn’t quit and yeah that I give all and and don’t sit at home and wait for better times. Just make it happen. [Music] Not so good. It’s hard. It’s cold. Yeah. And like my Achilles tendon or what is hurting and like bit swollen since 10 kilometers uh before high glute and not quite nice but I taped it and now yeah many rests on the way and um it’ll do. A little bit windy, a little bit cold, and a little bit heavy legs, but everything else is okay. Now, it was a wind like this, and I fall down with my almost with my bike. [Music] Heat. Heat. Yeah. Heat. It’s pretty cold and the wind is strong. I just hope that the weather is on the other side. The weather on the other side is better. But I’m not sure if it is. Do you know [Music] [Applause] [Music] can’t do anything about it? Will be warmer in turn on Z. was fun until a few minutes ago. is a nice high wind. How I’m feeling? Good. It’s really like that. I like biking in the nature as in the life. You have sun and you have rain. But the wind shouldn’t be So heavy wet, some warm hand gloves and then right down to towy. Ah, I think that will be nice. Ah, great challenge. Great challenge. And yeah, today a little bit wet challenge. [Music] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Well, it was not that easy. Yeah, not the perfect day to to write up the pizza, but finally I I did it. Now I have to ride down. It’s I hope it will be a little bit easier, but I hope it’s not too dangerous. I’ve reached the bed was quite okay and then I just started um the weather was yeah beginning to rain area and for me to a little bit worse so but there’s no other option the other option is to wait but I don’t know if the weather is much more better in a few minutes or in half an Now, um the the other thing is if you don’t do anything, it’s a little bit cold up here. So, you have to write and so I will eat something and then I will write down safely. I hope so. And I will see the sun inc. [Music] Yesterday was pretty cool. At least the first 5 hours was amazing because it didn’t rain and my legs felt great and um all day long my legs felt great and the ghost blocker was quite challenging but also like kind of mysterious. Um that’s what I really liked. But the cold and the rain made like my lungs feel really bad and hurt. So, I’m I I’m thinking of uh not finishing actually because I don’t want to make me sick sick for 3 weeks or something. But my legs are like saying like please continue, but my lungs are saying no, stop. So, unfortunately, I think I have to stop trying it next year again, I guess. After a long brutal day in wind and rain, the morning finally feels different. The storm has passed. The skies begin to open and with it a small sense of relief. Yesterday tested everything. Strength, patience, and will. Today the road still climbs. The challenges remain, but the light feels warmer. The air calmer. The riders roll out once more. Tired but steady. Chasing the west and the promise of a brighter day ahead. through the bullet. I won’t play a second fiddle with you. You look away just when they pull it. You got to step up here. You miss your times up now. I’m no fool. I know what you are up to. Keep things cool, but it won’t help you this time. [Music] No, no, it’s my first long unsupported ride. I didn’t expect such conditions on the goka. Uh I know the gossoka from mountaineering, but that’s a new step in my life. my my drive was dead and I needed to go to the repair shop. So, but in the end, I’m I’m a lucky girl. So yes, I got a new one. So I was able to go straight to the 10en. Y and this was a tricky one. Quite steep, never ending. But here we go. I’m happy this time. No, this time. Yeah, this time. No, no. Every turn of the pedals now feels heavier, but the end is near. It’s the last push. One more night before the light returns. And now a new race will begin. The gravel 100. Fresh faces joining the road already written in sweat and silence. But more importantly, the long distance riders find themselves on their final stretch towards the moment every kilometer has been leading to. [Music] I’m glad it starts soon. No, so far so good up and down and but now I actually enjoy it. I don’t I got my power back. So, that was hard. Rainy and cold, but also really beautiful. I think the last climb is a little unfair, but after that, I’m really fine. [Music] I’m right here waiting for you, baby. [Music] After days of wind, rain, and endless horizons, the finish line appears. Pure emotion, raw exhaustion, and the simple joy of arrival. Each rider carries their own story of battles fought in silence, of moments when quitting felt easier than going on. But they didn’t stop. They kept turning the pedals, chasing the line across a country. The race across Austria, from east to west, through night and storm. Yeah. I think the moment you cross the finish line after like 4 and 1/2 days, you can’t comprehend all of what happened. And I think everyone can try it if you want to. It’s nice. [Music] You don’t want my [Music] One of the mother [Applause] [Music] when I’m at the finish. I uh I think I want to tell myself that I um did everything I can to just keep going because I just want to go to the limit. I just want to to push myself um as far as possible and um just want to be proud of myself. Um but I’m actually already proud of myself for doing all the work um since um since I signed up for for the race. So yeah, just uh going to enjoy it and um just want to be be happy uh and yeah, relieved and relaxed afterwards. Yeah. [Music]