Sneak Peaks experience report: Orange is the new green on the mountain
BIKE
· 18.11.2024
Expedition leader Raphael Albrecht (Rapha) doesn't just want to attract attention with a thirst for adventure and big numbers. A flight ban for all participants on arrival and departure, offsetting of all CO2 emissions by the organiser, solidarity and FLINTA tickets for underrepresented groups, riding together without a time limit, to name just a few event details that should lead to an open and inclusive field of participants.
Sneak Peaks 2024
Less than half of the starters made it to the finish. This was not only due to the unruly terrain and climbs of up to 30%. Continuous rain, snow and sub-zero temperatures challenged the participants in the late Italian summer, and some of them suffered their first DNF (did not finish).
Laura Niedieck (second fastest woman entrée route) and Lukas Hörnchen were among the few finishers and looked back on an event that has certainly created some memories for life.
The Entree Route in figures
- 487 kilometres
- 16,890 metres in altitude
Laura Niedieck and Lukas Hörnchen
Text: Laura Niedieck and Lukas Hörnchen
The first time
Almost three weeks after the first Sneak Peaks bikepacking expedition, we still haven't fully processed our overwhelming experiences. We, Lukas and Laura from Bochum, took part in Sneak Peaks as a team. With almost 500 kilometres and 17,000 metres in altitude, this was our first off-road ultra-cycling event. At the beginning of the year, we already rode the road race "The Unknown Race 2024". After a few orbits and gravity festivals, we know Rapha and his way of scouting routes quite well, but this event definitely exceeded our expectations. The quote from another rider "orange is the new green", referring to the colours of the climbs on the bike computer, was very formative for our adventure.
Anticipation and excitement at the start
We set off on Thursday morning with a mixture of anticipation and excitement about what to expect over the next few days. It wasn't long before we hit the first metres of altitude and reached the first of four checkpoints after around 65 kilometres. When we arrived at Refugio Cauriol at around 7 p.m., feeling very exhausted, we were unsure whether we should continue to checkpoint 2, as we had a 3.5 kilometre hike-a-bike passage through a rocky field ahead of us. When another driver called out to us from the window of the Refugio that there were free beds, a hot shower and dinner, the decision was made.
Second and longest day
We spent the night in the cosy hut with around 15 other riders and started the day early the next morning with renewed energy. Little did we know that the second day would be our longest day in the saddle with 135 kilometres and almost 5,000 metres of altitude in 18 hours. First of all, a fantastic mountain panorama awaited us at sunrise. Even though all the pushing and carrying of the bike pushed Laura in particular to her physical limits, the view of the beautiful landscape made us forget the effort and annoyance for a short time. One climb later, we reached the second checkpoint, which gave us new motivation. It was always great to meet other riders with whom we could share our experiences.
Some of the climbs were very technical and exhausting. Time and again there were sections where we had to push our bikes, swearing. But at the end of each climb, we were rewarded with breathtaking views of the Dolomites. At sunset, we were joined by a dotwatcher, a person who watches the participants on the map. This was a nice motivational boost and we enjoyed the next climb in good company. Thanks to the very steep sections, there was plenty of time to chat with him - when we weren't running out of breath and couldn't ride any further despite the tarmac. After a night-time encounter with cows, we ended the day shortly before midnight. Our original plan was to reach checkpoint 3. It took us much longer than expected, so we bivouacked in the valley.
A warm welcome at Refugio Scarpa
Day 3 began with the highlight of Refugio Scarpa (Checkpoint 3), where we were warmly welcomed and enjoyed freshly prepared pasta and delicious coffee for breakfast. Here too, the ascent was rewarded with a fantastic mountain panorama. From the afternoon onwards, 16 hours of (heavy) rain were forecast, which is why we didn't linger too long and climbed the next ascent. At some point, we had to avoid the uncomprehending looks of the descending hikers as to why we were pushing our bikes up a mountain with a gradient of over 20 per cent given the weather forecast. We questioned this crazy adventure a few times, but we never thought of giving up. Not even when I, Laura, hit a physical and mental low on the last climb of the day. When the rain caught us, we made it to the hotel. I was very glad that I wasn't alone and that Lukas kept motivating me to keep going.
The many hours up the mountain were worth it for these moments
After a good 9 hours' sleep, we enjoyed a hearty breakfast with two other riders who were seeking shelter from the rain in the same hotel. We continued to Checkpoint 4, where we once again marvelled at the gigantic mountains of the Dolomites. We savoured the Italian cuisine in the evening and took another calzone with us for breakfast.
The last night we slept again in the bivy at 1,700 metres and despite our exhaustion, we stayed awake for a while to marvel at the beautiful starry sky with the mountain massif in the foreground. These moments made the many hours up the mountain worthwhile and we were very happy to be able to share them with each other.
Pure overwhelmingness
On the last day, we faced two more tough climbs. But the media crew and Rapha, who were always in a good mood, provided a motivational boost so that we rolled into the finish in Bolzano in the afternoon. It's just crazy what we've experienced here over the last few days. Despite all the exertions, the positive emotions predominated at the finish - and still do now - which slowly made us forget all the effort.
Team advantage
We travelled as a team the whole time, from which we both benefited with our different strengths. For Lukas, who had to wait for Laura from time to time, it helped a lot to plan the daily structure and resupply together, and for Laura it gave her a lot of security not to spend the night alone, especially in the bivvy. Apart from that, it was just great to experience the craziest adventure we've ever been on together. We had already travelled many kilometres together beforehand, so we knew each other's needs and were able to cater to them. This event had everything, so we experienced extreme emotions from high to low. We got to know our personal limits and pushed them. The mighty mountains of the Dolomites are particularly memorable. On the other hand, the great atmosphere among the riders was formative, because we had the feeling that we had mastered these challenges together. It was not a competitive race, but we shared the adventure mode with the others.
Read more: Hut tour with gravel bike
