With only two weeks to go until the Tour des Stations ultrafondo (240km and 8200m of climbing), it was crunch time. I felt massively underprepared and still needed some BIG days in the saddle to get to where I wanted to be. And I was about to go on a family holiday in Austria.
It was an easy decision: bikepacking there would be the perfect panic training. I rode alone for 3 days across the Alps from Ulrichen, Switzerland to Galtür in Austria ticking passes on my bucket list. Ride, eat, sleep. Repeat.
Here are some photos I took on the way. They are different from what I am used to do as I had no riding companion to shoot. They reflect my mindset on this trip. I enjoyed this exercise in style… judge for yourself.
As for the training, it went pretty well. Three 8+ hours rides followed by 4 days of relaxing and beer drinking and then one more 200km day crushing my legs on the way back were an unusual training camp but I feel way stronger now. Will it be enough to enjoy – and finish – the Tour des Stations ultrafondo? That’s another story. Answer on August 8!
By Alain Rumpf
On Strava:
You might also like:
Share: