An Italian dream came true at the 42[nd] Ötztaler Cycle Marathon
Dreamlike weather for many dreamers prevailed at the 42nd edition of the Ötztaler Cycle Marathon. Some 4335 participants tackled the most legendary cycling marathon of the Alps in Sölden. The Italian ex-professional Manuel Senni won the men's race ahead of MTB world champion Alban Lakata, who despite a defect still made it onto the podium. In the women's class, Germany's Janine Meyer smashed the previous record with a start-to-finish victory. All finishers were celebrated like winners by thousands of spectators. The two-time world champion Johannes Lamparter was super strong as well!
The Ötztaler Cycle Marathon once again more than lived up to its reputation as a Mecca of the marathon scene and a pioneer in terms of innovations. By November, 19,000 people had registered while for just 4,000 the dream of the legendary Ötztaler Cycle Marathon came true – a marathon covering 227 kilometers and 5,500 altitude meters. 4,335 cyclists from 36 nations and five continents started yesterday in Sölden at 6:30 am, followed by four difficult alpine passes – Kühtai saddleback, Brenner pass, Jaufen pass and finally the 29 kilometer ascent to Timmelsjoch. It took thirteen minutes before the last starter left the finish area. There were also some record participants, 15 participants from the starting field conquered the marathon more than 20 times! The absolute record holder was 67-year-old Raimund Frischmann from Umhausen, who tackled the Ötztaler Cycle Marathon already 36 times. "But never in the summer," he joked before the start.
Heat battle in Ötztal
Most of the participants in the 42nd edition came from Germany (53.4 percent), followed by Austria (21.8%), Italy, Switzerland and the Netherlands. They all ensured fully booked hotel beds in Sölden and the surrounding area: the cycling marathon generates 25,000 overnight stays every year on the race weekend, with an average of three nights booked, as well as an added value of 4.5 million. Over 1,300 helpers from all parts of Ötztal guaranteed a perfect event. The starters were also happy about new innovations, such as personalized videos for the finishers and thanks to the ÖRM app, everyone was always up to date when it came to tracking the cyclists. The pictures from the live stream, which lasted 15 hours, were also record-breaking!
Johannes Lamparter in the top field!
Year after year, the Ötztaler Cycle Marathon also attracts celebrities to Sölden who want to fulfill their dream of finishing! The main focus of the cycling world was on the performance of Johannes Lamparter, winner of the overall World Cup in Nordic Combined, who celebrated his cycling marathon debut yesterday. The Tirolean was part of the leading group for a long time. In the end he achieved a remarkable time of 7:40 hours and was 71st in the overall ranking! "I didn't have much pressure on the pedals at Jaufen pass and Timmelsjoch. But the atmosphere was so cool," said the top athlete at the finish line! In general, it seems that winter sports enthusiasts have caught the bike fever, because snowboard ace Andreas Prommegger and ex-ski jumping star Andreas Goldberger also took part in the Ötztaler. World Cup ski mountaineer Paul Verbnjak, who was also one of the favorites, had to quit the race due to a flat tire! The world's best sommelier Aldo Sohm, who was born in Tirol and lives in New York, also made a successful premiere. A prominent sportsman and onlooker gave the amateur athletes and celebrities valuable tips: Toni Palzer from the BORA – hansgrohe team.
Change of leader at Timmelsjoch
After the start in Sölden, the cyclists headed towards Kühtai at the usual high speed. The favorites did not play their trump card for a long time. Around 40 riders watched each other between Innsbruck and Brenner pass. Then Italy’s Tommaso Elettrico made the first decision on Jaufen pass. As a soloist, he mastered the downhill stretch to St. Leonhard and extended his lead towards Timmelsjoch to over three minutes. The Italian is an absolute superstar of the cycling marathon scene thanks to three Gran Fondo world championship titles! But on the way to Timmelsjoch he paid for his escape and he was overtaken by MTB world champion Alban Lakata, former winner Johnny Hoogerland and Italy’s Manuel Senni. The race began anew …
From the operating table to the podium
Italy's Manuel Senni continued what Tommaso started - with an attack. With ease he broke away from MTB world champion Alban Lakata and former winner Johnny Hoogerland, whose pedaling was becoming increasingly rough. Senni from Cesenatico was a professional cyclist until 2021 and also competed in the Giro d'Italia four times. He proved his climbing strength up to the top of Timmelsjoch pass, where he was already more than 1:30 minutes ahead of Lakata and extended his lead by 2:41 minutes when he reached Sölden. Johnny Hoogerland came in third (plus 3:55 minutes), Austria's Hans-Jörg Leopold (7:12 minutes) was fourth. Local hero Daniel Federspiel finished sixth behind Germany’s Anton Schiffer. Johannes Fiegl was the best local from Ötztal in 31st place.
"In 2019 and 2020 I had to undergo four operations in the stomach area. That's why I also ended my professional career. Last year I finished sixth at my first Ötztaler Cycle Marathon and today was my first victory. It was an incredibly fabulous race with such a great atmosphere and so many spectators", Senni cheered after reaching the finish line in 6:49.18 hours. It was the 15th Italian victory, Stefano Cecchini last won in 2017.
Lakata in 2nd place despite a defect
The East Tirolean Alban Lakata performed excellently, coming second despite a flat tire on Jaufen pass. "Of course, I wanted to win. After fourth and third place, second is now the logical conclusion. I think I have to race again next year to top it," smiled Lakata, who was struggling with a technical problem: “I had an imminent flat tire on Jaufen pass, which made me lose more than a minute on the downhill stretch. The chase to catch up took a lot of energy and down from Timmelsjoch I could no longer take full risk."
Start-finish victory in the women’s class
There was a new female winner: Germany’s Janine Meyer set the pace right from Kühtai and was already leading more than eight minutes at Brenner pass. This year she was crowned “Glockner Queen” with a course record and she also won the “Engadin Marathon” by more than half an hour! She didn't suffer a setback at Jaufen Pass and Timmelsjoch either, so she crossed the finish line as the female winner in front of thousands of spectators in Sölden! The 45-year-old from Cologne clearly undercut the previous record of 7:42 hours (year 2016) with an overall cycling time of 7:27.47 hours! She distanced Samantha Arnaudo (ITA) by 19:39 minutes and last year's winner Catherine Rossmann finished third. "With this victory I have climbed my personal cycling Olympus. It was always a dream to win in Ötztal once. My family is here and that I win with a new course record is really unbelievable," Janine cheered and shined just as much as the summer sun.
Ötztaler Cycle Marathon 2024
The Ötztaler Cycle Marathon 2024 will take place on 01 September 2024.
All results of the 42nd Ötztaler Cycle Marathon: www.oetztaler-radmarathon.com/home/the-race/results.html
Information and pictures:
You can find more information about the Ötztaler Radmarathon HERE and pictures HERE.
The use of our pictures is free of charge for advertising purposes regarding Ötztal. It is absolutely required that you indicate the copyright and the name of the photographer!
Ötztal Tourismus
PR & Media
ANNA PIRCHER
anna.pircher@oetztal.com
T +43 (0) 57200 935
