After perfect team building with lots of fun and great experiences, the Achensee Marathon started on Sunday. Like the days before, it was raining cats and dogs and initially my motivation was rather limited. But according to the motto "catch on, hang on" there was no going back and so we rolled into the line-up as close as possible to the start and started the wet and cold undertaking together with a good 250 other drivers.
I used the first few meters to look around to see who had actually started and I immediately noticed that at least Andy Traxl had probably backed out. Otherwise everything I had on the bill somehow. I was the only one of the top riders who decided to wear long rain trousers because I had great respect for the cold and the waiting time and descent into the Inn Valley. But that all went smoothly, only at the Wiesing roundabout and then on the first flat kilometers it was hectic because I let myself be passed too far behind.
Well - and logically the decisive group left right here and the main field was turned off. In the race I had no idea who or how many were in front, at least there were probably 4 or 5 drivers and the race was already decided. So we just rolled there to Innsbruck, where I had to stop and relieve myself. The field was over immediately and the race to catch up felt like an eternity after the field was significantly smaller than in previous years. I just got back to the rails, weaved through the victims of the fall and then caught up again.
In Kranebitten an der Labe I quickly got rid of the rain pants, after all I wanted to try a few things on the final climb and see how the performance level was. One or the other of the leaders could still be caught, I thought. Ulrich was still quite motivated and together we wanted to really step on the gas again up to Buchen. Unfortunately, it didn't come to that, because near Eigenhofen I hit a sharp stone with the front wheel and it started hissing. So dropped back in the hope of getting a replacement - none - so on alone - the field always in sight.
At the bottom of the climb, we stopped briefly with our catering team, handed in the superfluous clothes - dawdled a little and started the climb without much hectic. The race was over and I was amazed that I was still able to access such high wattage. With a constant 300-350 on the flat rim, we went uphill, chatted briefly with acquaintances while driving past and caught up with a number of friends and team riders. Then got a new wheel at the top and rolled with my teammates to the refreshment station in the Leutasch.
There we had to warm up, have a snack and wait together - after all, the tour busses that the organizer had specially organized were not an option for us. We were already wet, so we cycled back to Achenkirch. All together, because even Eberhard didn't let himself be stopped from accompanying us. The journey together was very relaxed - everyone was in a great mood and so our weekend ended really well when we cleared the accommodation after arriving at the finish line, cultivated ourselves again and joined the award ceremony at the lake.
Even if things went so well in terms of sport today, I was totally happy with the weekend and the team building. Everyone was in a great mood, we did countless things together, some of the drivers saw each other for the first time and got to know each other well. Compared to last year, I can feel even more vigor and motivation this year and that gives me the sometimes necessary confirmation that I am on the right track.
Now it's up to me to concretely plan the kick-off event in Füssen on May 16th, which will then be our official start of the season, including a photo shoot and team presentation. I hope that as many drivers as possible will be there and I am sure that there will be as much fun as at the Achensee!
So see you soon in Füssen and chain right!
your Stefan
