Ötztaler Radmarathon 2025 – A Strong Team Effort in the Alp
Phillip started the day with ambition, launching attacks on the Kühtai and Brenner climbs. For a moment it looked like a breakaway might succeed, but the pace in the peloton was simply too high. Later, stomach problems forced him into survival mode, yet he still crossed the line in 7h20, proof of his class and fighting spirit.
For Leo, it was his very first Ötztaler – and what a debut. After a hectic opening and even a missed feed zone, he found his rhythm and gradually moved up the field. On the final climb to the Timmelsjoch he showed his strongest legs of the day, overtaking rider after rider. With a finishing time of 7h41 and 99th place overall, he couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to this legendary race.
Nico opted for consistency, resisting the temptation to follow early surges and focusing on his own pace. That strategy paid off on the Jaufen, where he gained positions, and on the technical descent that followed. But the Timmelsjoch presented an extra challenge: stomach issues made eating and drinking nearly impossible. Running on willpower alone, he pushed through and finished in 7h44, a result he could be proud of. Starting far back in the field, Jurek had perhaps the hardest day of all. Bottlenecks on the Kühtai climb cost him time, and on the Brenner he found himself in a group unwilling to chase. Still, he kept his focus, managed his effort, and rode with steady determination over the Jaufen and Timmelsjoch. His finishing time of 8h16 reflects not only endurance, but also mental toughness.
Four very different race experiences, yet one shared outcome: every rider fought their own battle against the mountains, and together we brought home a top-10 team result in one of the hardest races on the cycling calendar.
