It's one of the great mysteries of the human psyche: why do people pay money to go mountain biking on a Sunday until they're drooling and squinting? The answer is simple: because it's great. The tingling sensation when filling in the registration form. The transformation of the body over the course of the training kilometres. The melting away of excess kilos. The strengthening of the legs.
Then the big day X, when all the super-emotions a person can feel condense into a concentrate. Excitement. Fear of falling. Doubt. Determination. And finally, the rush of happiness hormones as you cross the finish line. Fervour and addiction. That sums up the marathon feeling in a nutshell. It's no wonder that tens of thousands are gripped by it year after year.
Günter Dietze and his son Albrecht could never have imagined what a boom the Erzgebirge Bike Marathon they created in the small town of Seiffen in the foothills of Saxony would trigger. Inspired by mass ski events such as the legendary Wasalauf in Sweden, they organised a 100-kilometre MTB race at Whitsun 1993. An extreme distance by the standards of the time. At the time, there were only downhill and cross-country races on the scene. 214 daredevils ventured onto the 100-kilometre course, some of them wearing training trousers.
Together with races such as the Grand Raid Cristalp, Swiss Bike Masters, Kitz Alp Bike and Dolomiti Superbike, the EBM fuelled a Europe-wide long-distance fever. Seiffen became a kind of place of pilgrimage for the marathon scene, similar to Wacken for heavy metal fans. More than 1500 riders travelled to the showdown in the Ore Mountains year after year. Crowds of spectators lined the hotspots such as the steep climb to Wettiner Höhe or the downhill to Seiffener Grund. Then came corona.
After two years of the pandemic, during which the EBM could only take place in reduced mode, the 30th anniversary will be celebrated this year on 6 and 7 August. There is a good chance that Germany's oldest marathon will return to its usual party mode. The time of tough coronavirus restrictions seems to be over. And the Dietzes, who are still in charge of the organisation, have come up with a number of special features for the anniversary.
In addition to the classic distances (40, 70, 100 kilometres), the triple distance EBM300 will also be held. This has 300 kilometres and almost 9000 metres of elevation gain and will start the day before the actual marathon. There will also be a separate classification for riders with classic MTBs. A dinner with all the winners in EBM history, to which all other participants are also invited, is also on the programme. Another highlight is the traditional finisher's certificate including a personal photo at the finish in the form of a BIKE magazine cover, which will be designed in the look of 1993 to celebrate the day. BIKE has been a media partner of the EBM for many years.
So everything is great? Not quite. After two years of the coronavirus crisis with races being cancelled, postponed or only taking place with conditions, the sport of marathon running is now also in a kind of crisis. The number of participants in almost all events has fallen massively. This makes it difficult to organise them economically.
Many long-distance enthusiasts who used to plan their entire season at the beginning of the year are now foregoing long-term bookings due to the uncertain situation. When in doubt, they spontaneously tackle a challenge such as the Stoneman Trail. Some marathons are therefore on the brink of cancellation.
Unfortunately, the Erzgebirge Bike Marathon has also been cancelled, as the shocked fans recently learned in the EBM newsletter. After the anniversary race, the Dietzes and their organisation team want to decide how to continue with the race. Whether it will be the last EBM. Or whether the marathon will be continued with a modified concept.
It will therefore be a historic weekend in two senses. Endurance fans should not hesitate and make sure they secure a starting place.
Comment: Henri Lesewitz, BIKE Editor-in-Chief
"Don't hesitate, register!"
The sentence in the newsletter that the 30th Erzgebirgs Bike Marathon could possibly be the last was a shock. Marathons like the EBM are much more than just sporting events. They are the DNA of a grandiose, exciting lifestyle. They are guard rails, because focussing on day X directs your attention to the essential things in life: Fitness, health, and fun in the fresh air. Like Christmas, birthdays or New Year's Eve, marathons were the reliable highlights of every year.
Then corona roared into the sport like a comet. The decades-long rotating wheel of registration, training camp, preparation and race was broken from one day to the next. Booking a marathon that might be cancelled, postponed or only run in compromise mode? Hardly anyone wanted to do that. Understandable.
Many events are now hanging by a thread. There is only one way to save the sport and all its fascinating facets from the crisis: We have to sign up! Don't hesitate and help keep this wonderful sport alive. A season without Day X would be as barren as a landscape without mountains.
Interview: Albrecht Dietze, organiser of the Erzgebirge Bike Marathon
"A rollercoaster of emotions"
A subordinate clause in the newsletter shocked fans of the Erzgebirge Bike Marathon: this year's anniversary race could be the last edition of the cult event. EBM boss Albrecht Dietze explains the background.
BIKE: What attracts bikers to marathons?
Albrecht Dietze: It's still the feeling of happiness that you can't buy when you've completed a self-imposed challenge and perhaps even tested your own limits in the process. In addition, of course, there is the enjoyment of nature, your own fitness and the always pleasant encounter with like-minded people. The "complete marathon package" lets you escape from everyday life and switch off. It's always a bit of an adventure. You never really know how it will turn out. It's a lifestyle and still has addictive potential.
How did you come up with the idea of EBM?
We were already involved in the cross-country skiing marathon scene during the GDR era. At the Iser Mountain Run in the Czech Republic - also known as the Wasa Run of the East - we experienced some memorable goosebump moments with several thousand participants. When MTBs came along, it was clear that an MTB marathon was needed. We were immediately infected and threw ourselves into the organisation with enthusiasm. It was neither planned nor foreseeable that it would turn out like this.
How do you think the sport has changed over the years?
As far as the actual sport is concerned, basically not at all, and that's a good thing. At the top it's still about top sporting performance, in the midfield it's about achieving personal goals and at the bottom it's about finishing. Of course, everything has become more professional in all areas. But in my opinion, that is of secondary importance. The spirit you feel is still the same.
What is the current situation after two years of the pandemic?
Very well for us. We organised the EBM 2020 as an "individual" event and had over 1,000 participants over the three months. We were extremely grateful for that. Last year, we had a proper race again with only very minor cutbacks. All of our sponsors have stuck with us and 99 per cent of our sponsors have remained loyal, with some even increasing their contributions. One fly in the ointment is the fact that - like almost everywhere else - there seems to have been a coronavirus-related decline in the number of participants.
In your newsletter, you hinted that it might be the last EBM due to the decline in participants. What does that mean? And what feelings do you have at the thought of possibly organising the final event?
The last word has not yet been spoken, but yes, the 30th EBM could be the last. I'm going through a rollercoaster of emotions myself. On the one hand, it's our thing, we've experienced great moments and emotions, friendships have developed and we've also received a lot in return. On the other hand, we are 30 years older, my father is 84, still fully involved and is indispensable for the organisation. The organisation, if you really put your heart and soul into it, is a year-round task that the family and I have been paying for with a loss of personal free time for 30 years.
When and according to which parameters do you decide whether and how to continue?
We don't know that yet. In spring, we will sit down with the hard core and discuss it. I think we have to recognise that society has changed towards more spontaneity and individuality. This means that we also have to change, the effort involved has to be reduced, sustainability plays a role and the aim has to be an improvement. The key question is: What does a modern MTB marathon really need today? I have ideas in the drawer. Now we have to clarify whether this is feasible. There are talks to be held with politicians and the authorities and then we'll see. And the development of the number of participants will certainly also play a decisive role. In this respect, it's less about economic issues and more about the investment in leisure time in terms of the overall result.
How will the anniversary be celebrated?
The anniversary will only be recognisable by small but subtle details. The race numbers will have a similar design to 1993, including the sponsor logos. The T-shirt will be designed in retro style and the traditional certificate will also be the cover page of the 1993 BIKE magazine. We are also planning a Champions Dinner to which we will invite the winners of the past. Everyone is welcome to attend. Then there will be a Classic Ride. Anyone who starts with a bike from the 90s, including a jersey, does not pay an entry fee. We will have special nutcracker trophies made for places 1 to 8 in the overall standings, which will only be available once. And the EBM300 will take place again, as in the early years over 10 laps, except that the laps are no longer 10 but 30 kilometres long.
