Technical downhills, crashes, and strong endurance at the Bike Marathon in Riva.
This weekend, part of our team lined up for the marathon in Riva del Garda. The race kicked off on Saturday morning with a neutralized start in the town center, before heading into a demanding 83 km course featuring 3,500 meters of elevation.
Philip and Martin made good use of the neutralized section to position themselves well for the first climb, aiming to stay close to the front. Felix was also up there at the beginning but soon shifted to riding his own pace, as he wasn’t having his best day on the bike.
Philip and Martin managed to stay with the leading group for roughly the first half of the initial climb. Once the route turned from the main road onto smaller trails, they dropped back slightly and continued at their own rhythm. The two remained in a larger chase group almost until the top of the climb. On the final technical section of the uphill, Martin was able to break away slightly and started the first descent on his own.
Toward the end of this descent, Philip unfortunately underestimated a corner, lost grip on the front wheel, and went down hard. Despite the crash and several abrasions, he managed to get his bike repaired and continued the race with grit and determination. By that time, Felix had already passed him — his steady pacing allowing him to move up.
Martin stayed focused on nutrition and maintaining his rhythm, riding steadily without crashes or mechanical issues all the way to the finish. He crossed the line in 6th place U23 and 48th in the Elite category. Philip also pushed through and, despite the pain and injuries, was able to finish the race.
