Bergmeister tackles the toughest races in the world

Martin Bergmeister started on the California coast in 2016 and reached the finish on the east coast of the USA after around 5.000 kilometers and just under 11 days. “This is the second time I’m taking part in this legendary race. In 2, as a rookie, my team and I had to learn a lot. Nevertheless, I managed to finish the race successfully. Despite the immense exertion, this unique race still has an almost irresistible appeal for me,” says the 2016-year-old exceptional athlete.

The route length this year is 4.945 km. There is an altitude difference of around 50.000 meters to overcome. The 39 participants in the solo category have 12 days (= 288 hours) to be included in the rankings as finishers. Extreme climatic conditions - temperatures between 45/50 degrees in the deserts of California and Arizona and 0 degrees in the Rocky Mountains - endless expanses and passes at over 3.000 meters above sea level await cyclists on the way from the west coast to the east coast of the USA.

And how do you prepare for such a race? “I was able to complete my preparation completely according to plan. In December and January, i.e. on the weekends, I did a few training sessions with cross-country skis and during the week mainly on the roller (smart trainer). But since the winter was relatively mild and dry, I cycled on the road at least once every week. From February on I was always able to train on the road and so I have accumulated around 11.500 training kilometers since January,” says Bergmeister.

50% failure rate for RAAM If you take into account the failure rate of 50% for the RAAM, then finishing, i.e. reaching the goal within 12 days, is an incredible achievement and a huge triumph. “That’s why my primary goal is to be recognized as a finisher again. Of course, I secretly hope to improve my final time from 2016 through the valuable experience, especially in the organizational and race strategy areas,” says Bergmeister a few hours before the start. “An important aspect of ultracycling for me is that it is actually a team sport. The athlete may be in the spotlight because he performs almost inhumanly, but without a well-functioning team he will never reach his goal.”

“Everyone on the team has to be as motivated and passionate as the athlete. I am lucky to have family and friends who have supported me for years before, during and after the races. My sons have looked after me at races and I can always rely on my friends. They are as enthusiastic about it as I am. The organizational preparation for the RAAM would not have been possible for me without their great commitment,” says the Brixen native. Bergmeister's crew at RAAM 2019 consists of 9 supervisors.

The biggest difficulties of the race are the intense heat in the first few days and sleep management, which is influenced by the time limit. Nutrition and an optimal calorie balance are therefore also an important prerequisite. As the race progresses, the scheduling of sleep breaks is crucial. Due to the time limit, Bergmeister & Co. are constantly under pressure because the stopwatch continues to tick even during breaks. Breaks that are too short can have serious consequences such as: B. a microsleep on the bike.

The daily workload that Martin Bergmeister has set for himself is 421 kilometers.

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Bergmeister tackles the toughest races in the world

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