Ötztaler, a legendary challenge in the “Republic of Bikes”

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Ötztaler Radmarathon , the word is enough to scare the fittest cyclists, but also to push them to attempt the great enterprise. The amateur granfondo among the hardest in the Alps he shows up again at the start, with his family 227 kilometres and especially the over 5,500 meters dto climb, this time earlier than the usual calendar: Sunday 9 July instead of at the end of August. They will be over 4,000 cyclists to tackle the ring route (780 Italians) which starts and ends in Sölden, the highest center in Tyrol known for winter sports (and not only), crosses Innsbruck, borders on Italy through the Brenner pass also passing Kühtai (2,020 meters high) the Passo del Giovo (2,090 meters) and the infinite Passo del Rombo (2,509 meters).

Unique emotions

It is perhaps not the most difficult one-day amateur cycling test ever, the Ötztaler, but it retains some characteristics that fascinate the cyclist in search of himself and that make it unique, in addition to the landscape crossed. The fact of predicting only one path first of all, without the “loopholes” of the “medium” or “short” films also foreseen by famous tests such as the Maratona Dles Dolomites which took place the previous week: those who leave know that they can reach the finish line only one way, the longest, or resort to the dreaded “broom wagon”.

The last as the first

Also for this reason the satisfaction and emotion of those who cross the finish line are multiplied: that of the winner, who will complete the course in around seven hours, and that of thelast arrived, which will also take twice as long, but which will be awaited and will be bestowed with all the honors together with the first on the stage of the awards. The latter is another main feature that makes Ötztaler unique, where everyone cheers from dawn (the departure, like the live broadcast on Austrian TV, is scheduled for 6.30) and along the entire route largely closed to vehicular traffic.

When the weather is scary

Then there is the unknown weather that frightens the starters: the 2018 editions are memorable in this sense, with sprays of snow on the first ascent and the whitewashed Rombo from the previous evening or 2013 (which evokes the strongest memories in the writer) who saw the mass withdrawal of over 500 competitors along the first descent wet by freezing rain. This year the pitfall will probably be avoided due to the unusual placement at the beginning of July, but as early as 2024 will go back to basics.

Back to the origins of the “myth”

For next year, the organizers have in fact managed to bring the great event back to the usual end-of-season race weekend, this time on Sunday 1st September, and which has contributed to create the myth. «Last year we took some measures to improve the traffic flow, especially on the South Tyrolean side with a new route in Vipiteno: this commitment has paid off and we have agreed with our South Tyrolean partners to organize Ötztaler 2024 again in the traditional date» explained Dominic Kuen, manager of the Ötztaler Radmarathon a few days ago. Because basically fairness and consideration of the needs of the community are essential when you want to get the respect for bikes.