1000 kilometres, 30,000 metres in altitude and all in one ride - that's the Hope 1000, just the thing for Jochen Böhringer. The 41-year-old from Baden-Württemberg is always on the lookout for a special challenge. The longer, the better, is his motto. After the long corona break, he was able to take part in the ultra MTB marathon through Switzerland in mid-June.
After his victory last year, he won the race again this year and improved the existing course record by a whole eleven hours (!). It took Böhringer just three days, 17 hours and 30 minutes to get from Romanshorn on Lake Constance to Montreux on Lake Geneva! That meant: only a good two hours of sleep in three days. This year's winner of the Hope 1000 reviewed his adventure with BIKE.
BIKE: How did you prepare for the Hope 1000?
JOCHEN BÖHRINGER: In addition to cycling, my job and family are very important to me. That's why I only have a very limited amount of time for training. In order to still achieve an appropriate level of performance, the focus here is on short training sessions with intensive intervals. I then combine this with really long units from time to time during the preparation phase in order to develop physical fatigue resistance and also the mental component. This is particularly important for joints, tendons and ligaments.
This spring, for example, I cycled to and from my family ski holiday in Austria and also completed two Everestings (Everesting: 8848 vertical metres in one goed..) was integrated into the preparation. I rounded off the training with a big 700-kilometre tour through the Black Forest, Saarland and the Palatinate.
BIKE: What ambitions did you have going into the race?
JB: I already won the Hope 1000 last year (back then it was still called the Navad 1000). That's why it was clear to me that I wanted to be in the fight for the top positions again. However, as the actual position depends not only on my own performance, but also on the performance of my competitors, I have set myself personal goals that I can significantly influence myself. On the one hand, a significant reduction in downtime through shorter sleep breaks. On the other hand, I also kept an eye on the previous course record and used the split times of the previous record holder as a guide during the race.
BIKE: Did you have a specific tactic? If so, were you able to implement it in the race as planned?
JB: Last year, I deliberately only slept for two to three hours every night so as not to completely collapse on the third or fourth day. That worked wonderfully, but with the strong competition, I realised that I wouldn't be able to finish at the front. That's why I made a conscious decision to only take short sleep breaks. That was risky. Fortunately, it worked out. After I had worked my way up to the front of the field, I tried to time my own stops so that I wouldn't be caught up during them.
BIKE: 1000 kilometres and 30,000 metres of altitude in one go. That's a huge number. To set off and know that I would be facing several days of physical and mental exertion requires a huge amount of determination. How did you keep yourself motivated during the seemingly endless race?
JB: I'm generally a positive person, but there were always mental downs, if only because of the physical and mental exhaustion. A few "tricks" help me to get back into a better mood during the race. For example, when I had mental dry spells, I consciously focussed on the beautiful Swiss mountain landscape. I also kept reminding myself of the rewarding downhills during the long, exhausting climbs.
The fact that the challenge is the same for all riders and that the others are also struggling makes it easier. Especially when I then realise my own strengths, such as my good riding technique or my low body weight, which benefits me on steep climbs. In the last third of the race, it helps me to reflect on what I have already achieved.
The positive messages on social media channels or fans (known or unknown) who come to the course to cheer me on are also a great motivator for me. I am grateful to everyone who has supported me in this way! And if nothing else helps, I can reach into my mental bag of tricks and smile to myself mechanically, hoping that the right happiness hormones will be released.
BIKE: One rule of the Hope 1000 is that only support that is available to all participants (e.g. restaurants, cafés) may be accepted. Private support is therefore taboo. How or where did you cater for yourself?
JB: On the one hand, I fed myself with a basic ration of gels and powders, of which I had around one kilogramme in my luggage. On the other hand, high-calorie drinks such as cola and fruit juices and sweet pastries, sandwiches and all kinds of biscuits and chocolate or nut bars that I bought from vending machines, petrol stations, mountain huts or bakeries along the way.
I tried to be as disciplined as possible and only ever stopped briefly to do the shopping and to eat during the journey. Only once did I treat myself to a relaxing panoramic ice cream stop at the summit of Kleine Scheidegg as a reward in between.
BIKE: And what about sleeping?
JB: I always spent the short breaks on the ground in a rescue sheet right next to the route. Sometimes in a small side path, but sometimes just directly on the turf next to a gravel path. Fortunately, once I reach a certain level of tiredness, I can really fall asleep anywhere within a few minutes.
BIKE: How did your body and psyche react to the sleep deprivation?
JB: Physically, especially muscularly, it was surprisingly not a problem. Even on the last day I didn't have to struggle with cramps or anything like that, as I was very careful never to ride at or above my threshold for long sections. In extremely steep sections, I even preferred to push a few metres.
Mentally, however, it was an additional burden. As I only got a total of two and a quarter hours of sleep over the three to four days, my perception was significantly dampened. On the third night, for example, it went as far as perceptual disturbances. At one point, I thought I was going slightly downhill, but I had to pedal incredibly hard to keep going. After I stopped to check whether the brakes were dragging, for example, I only realised that the path was actually going uphill. I immediately took a short power nap to get my brain back on track.
BIKE: Bad weather, breakdowns, crashes ... A lot can happen on such a long tour. What adversities did you have to face during the race?
JB: The route was very muddy and slippery in places this year due to heavy rainfall before the start, which was particularly challenging on the technical trails and descents - especially at night. However, the biggest shock was when I collided with an oncoming car on a descent on a narrow mountain road on the last day, around 120 to 140 kilometres before the finish.
After a quick bike check, I initially thought that I had got away with a few non-critical bruises and minor cuts and grazes and continued my ride immediately after exchanging personal details with the other party. After a short ride, however, I was shocked to realise that the frame was completely broken at the seat tube. I was able to stabilise the frame with a branch and cable ties, but it was impossible to complete the rest of the route with more than 4000 metres of altitude in this way.
Luckily for me, I was able to borrow an old 26-inch mountain bike from a helpful local resident in a nearby village. The bike had no working suspension, rim brakes and ancient semi-slick tyres, but it was a blessing in this situation! As the pedal system wasn't compatible, my saviour even lent me her MTB shoes. The too-small shoes and the unfamiliar bike gave me a bruised toe, feet that fell asleep and downhills that were like riding on raw eggs, but the bike lasted all the way to the finish and I will be eternally grateful to my helper!
BIKE: Were there moments when you thought about giving up?
JB: I never actually think about giving up racing completely, but I do think about giving up on the goals I've set myself. It's tempting to switch from efficient racing mode to touring mode, which leaves more room for enjoyment. For example, to reward yourself for the long climb with a hearty meal on the terrace of a mountain hut. Or to check into a cosy hotel for a long sleep break instead of taking a short power nap on the ground in full cycling gear. In moments like these, however, it always helps me to think back to my goals and why I set them. I then consciously made up for what I had missed in the days after the race.
BIKE: When did you know that you would win and even set a new course record? How did that feel?
JB: On the morning of the last day, I saw in the live tracking that I had a clear lead over my direct pursuers. That's when I realised that the chances of finishing first were really good. Provided that there are no major technical problems or physical breakdowns. I was always worried that I would have to take a long break at some point and Markus Hager or Sofiane Sehili would pass me. Realising that it could really work out with such strong competition gave me an extra boost.
BIKE: Were you able to enjoy the victory and the new course record after the race or did you just want to go to bed really quickly?
JB: When I arrived at the finish line at the Freddie Mercury statue in Montreux shortly before midnight, I was of course super happy. At the same time, however, all the tension of the race fell away from me and I felt extremely tired. It was great that Christine, the wife of third-placed Markus Hager, was waiting for me at the finish line and then guided me to my nearby hotel. Unfortunately, due to the time of day, there was no finisher's pizza or ice cream by the lake and I went straight to bed after a long shower.
BIKE: How long did you sleep afterwards after the extreme sleep deprivation?
JB: Only a few hours, actually. My hunger drove me out of bed early in the morning and to the breakfast buffet. I think the hotel staff also wondered how a half-portion like me could plunder the breakfast buffet by every trick in the book.
BIKE: What physical and mental effects did the race have? How long did it take you to recover from the Hope 1000?
JB: Psychologically, a race like this is more of a turbo boost for me. Tackling such a big challenge, leaving my comfort zone and then being rewarded at the end by reaching the finish line makes me incredibly happy and satisfied. The days of focussing on nothing else can be compared to a long meditation session, despite the physical exertion. It's a complete escape from everyday thoughts and obligations, which allows me to return to everyday life invigorated and mentally refreshed.
Physically, however, it's a different story. The constant strain, especially on my hands, leads to numb fingers, which stay with me for a few weeks after an event like this. For the first few days after the race, I didn't really feel like getting back on my bike because of my thick legs (water retention) and the discomfort in my seat. It was only after five days that I got on my bike for a short ride.
