Silence – it started with the sun down behind the two castles
of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Ludwigs II. Even we, the
biker, who just finished pimped up our bikes with the starting
numbers and checked our bikes for the last time, became silent
and watched the sun down over the castles and mountains on a wooden
bank and enjoyed the upcoming silence.
We had high set goals, for our 1week-trip. To ride with our bikes
only by our muscle strength cross the Alps, from Füssen/ Allgäu
to Riva del Garda/ Italy. The Bike-Trans-Alp, the hardest MTB-Race
of the world, the myth of all stage-race.
But who are we, by the way??? The “sugar babe” Ute and myself,
Nils – the team cheater! But this cheating, got nothin incoming
with adulterer. Ute is a better runner than a biker, and my team
mate from the last 3 times was Daniel, and I only wanted to compete
this race with him, but this year everything became new.
Ute and I take us by the hands and made up a new team, a mixed-team
- we made it up in autumn of 2009. We bought for Ute a Rotwild
and changed the running shoes against bike shoes…oh,oh,oh – that
wan´t easy. So Ute´s marathon time of 3:18h wouldn´t become better
this year. Riding practise stood on her schedule. In october 2009,
we travelled to Morocco for 14days to ride across and up and down
the Atlas mountains. During the hard winter, we sadly often left
the bike indoors, but with the upcoming spring, we went to an
exercise camp, to the “holy” lake in Riva del Garda.
After this week, Ute, didn´t want to ride anymore. More than 2200m
of altitude were no problem for her, th eproblems was riding downhill,
even on flat gravel, Ute pushed the brake and rolled down like
a snail, and if the gravel becomes bigger, Ute started to push
her bike downhill, while I was riding smiling down- who cares!
Back in our home forest, we trained on the movement of the wieght
on the bike and only to tip he brake with one finger, we rode
at least the old Bahndamm 64times to get a feeling, and after
that the success came slowly.
Our life, was from now on like a Race King Tyre, it only circled
around the Trans-Alp…
At the first Trans-Alp in 1998, The founder of it Ulrich Stanciu
only let 250 teams with only one roadbook of 20stamps across the
Alps from Mittenwald to the Lake Garda. Nowadays, the 13th Trans-Alp,
the 550 starting places for the 2 persons teams are away after
only 2minutes. Us, the cheaters, had luck and received a starting
place.
The 7th stage, is the shortest and very easy to read: Length 47,73km,
0,km on bitumen, 17,33km on bitumen bike path, 22,35km on gravel,
2,41km of forest ways, 4,06km of paths and 0,51km pushing, seperated
on 2231m of altitude from Male/ Italy to Madonna di Campiglio/
Italy. After a good breakfast we started well motivated. Slowly
we went to the start of this stage, where the slowly start, soon
became to an end, with a steep passage in a forest, we pushed
or carried our bikes. Sweaty and always towards the sun the way
lead uphill until we reached the peak in Bolentia. Now, full concentration
on the 5km long downhill part.
Than we you reach Piano, the hardest ascent of today started,
with 20km and 1300m of altitude on a total height of 2100m, and
the Brenta appears to be in the limits of reach. The heaven changes
its colors, it became dark black and it starts to thunder, Within
minutes the gravel path became a rapid river. We found a cover
in a small mountain huta dn wait for the thunderstorm to end.
Than we go on. NO see of sunshine, we are sinking in deep puddle,
marching thru ankle-deep mud and are able just to ride for only
short terms. The short downhill passage to Madonna di Campiglipo
became to a slippery slate ride. Dirty, muddy and with a MTB 2kg
more heavier because of the mud, we cross after 5:27h the finish
line with a big smile…
We wash our bikes at the bike-wash, and with the water ,all the
muddy remembrance, vanish in the drainage pit, of one of the best
bike days of our lifes. What stays behind, are the thoughts and
memories on the great trails of the 7th stage...
Riva del Garda at the 24th of july 2010 – WE DID IT !!! With a
total time of 49:58:14h, this is the 48th place of 70 in the mixed
team classification – We were very proud and celebrated almost
all night long…
Now, 3 weeks after the Bike-Trans-Alp: We´re fine again and we
know we did a good job and made everything right. What we only
wanted to gain were bruises by crossing the Idjoch and others,
but we finished even without a crash, but with a smile in our
faces. Even Ute is a victim of the Pink-Pirate-Team and became
a Pirate-woman, even if she won´t confess it…
Nils Gieskens |
.. 
Pirate 
