Austrian Christoph Strasser from Kraubath secured victory in the Unknown Race in Spain. The ultra-cycling specialist took 1 day 18 hours 55 minutes to complete the 1000 kilometre route, well under his expected target time of 48 hours. Strasser had finished second in this race the previous year.
Race format with unknown route
The Unknown Race changes its venue every year. After previous editions, the race took place in Spain for the first time. The start and finish were in the Catalan city of Reus, south of Barcelona. The special feature of the format lies in the route planning: all participants ride in unsupported mode and can choose their own route. However, predefined checkpoints must be passed by everyone. The riders only receive the coordinates of these checkpoints shortly before the start or during the race. This means that all starters have the same conditions when planning their route.
Strong competition for Christoph Strasser
Strasser was up against top-class competition. His long-time rival Robert Müller from Germany, with whom he has fought many duels, was also at the start. The German Stefan Fettes, European Ultra Cycling Champion, was also part of the field. Strasser was confident before the race and referred to his good performance data, which he was able to realise during the race.
Extreme weather conditions for Christoph Strasser
The start took place on Tuesday at 9.00 a.m. in Reus. Strasser reached the finish line early in the morning at around half past four. The Unknown Race is known for its difficult weather conditions. Two years ago there was snow, last year there was also snow but also rain and hail. In this edition, strong gusts of wind accompanied the riders almost continuously. Strasser was in the lead right from the start. Before the fourth checkpoint, a mountain massif, the race organisers told all riders to turn back due to a snowstorm. Strasser lay down twice for 10 minutes on both nights. The catering worked well despite fewer shopping opportunities. His legs felt strong and he put a lot of pressure on the pedals.
At this point, you will find external content that complements the article. You can display and hide it with a click.
High plateau and Mont Caro
The course ran almost continuously on a high plateau over 1,000 metres above sea level at a maximum of five degrees Celsius. In the final, Strasser was the first to tackle the 14-kilometre Mont Caro with an elevation gain of 1,200 metres. A gust of wind blew him off his bike. He sent a video to the race organisers, whereupon they closed the pass with a checkpoint for all other participants. As a result, Strasser had even more kilometres in his legs than originally planned.
Christoph Strasser rides the Transcontinental Race
The Unknown Race was the first test of form for Strasser's highlight of the season. The Transcontinental Race, which Strasser has already won twice, starts on 19 July. The 12th edition of the biggest unsupported race starts in Trondheim, Norway. After around 4,500 kilometres across Europe, it ends in Kalamata, Greece. The build-up to this race is going according to plan.
Kristian Bauer
Editor
