Focus will be presenting the production version of the Project Y e-mountainbike in the near future. The name of the new bike is not yet known, but this much we do know: It should weigh less than 13 kilos and extend the range to the maximum. Even before the official launch, the Focus team riders want to achieve the unbelievable: Non-stop, without sleep and in a maximum of 36 hours, Florian Vogel (SUI) and Markus Schulte-Lünzum (GER) want to cross the Alps on the legendary Heckmair route from 25 September. They have to cover 400 kilometres and 16,000 metres in altitude on the route from Oberstdorf to Riva del Garda. The trial can be followed live on the website www.focustransalp24.de.
Normally, the classic Heckmair Transalp with the frequently recommended bypass of the Passo di Campo requires five to seven daily stages. Reigning European cross-country champion Florian Vogel and Markus Schulte-Lünzum want to complete the 400 kilometres non-stop in a maximum of 36 hours - without a break to sleep, they will be riding on gravel roads and trails over passes, some of which are higher than 2,600 metres. They want to start between 25 and 29 September 2017 and are waiting for the best weather conditions.
The Focus XC team riders will carry out the campaign on the Project Y e-mountainbike, a race hardtail with an electric drive. Thanks to the lightweight carbon frame developed in Germany, even uphill sections should be possible. According to the manufacturer, the riding characteristics on the downhills are identical to "traditional" bikes. Despite the electric drive, the challenge should not be underestimated: Continuous stress, fatigue and lack of sleep wear riders down during long periods in the saddle. Their ability to concentrate and react deteriorates, even though they have to be particularly attentive on the unfamiliar route.
In addition, the trails are much more difficult to cycle at night than in daylight, despite the headlamps. Above all, a sufficient supply of energy is therefore extremely important. Compared to the "daily bread" of the Cross-Country World Cup, the record attempt represents a completely new challenge for the riders!
The original Heckmair route was introduced in 1989 by Andreas Heckmair, the son of Anderl Heckmair, who conquered the north face of the Eiger. The route is regarded as the first crossing of the Alps by mountain bike and crosses three national borders: First the Schrofenpass (1688 m) between Germany and Austria, then the Schlappiner Joch (2202 m) between Austria and Switzerland, and finally the Chaschaunapass (2694 m) to Italy. The route ends with a descent of over 1600 metres in altitude from the Tremalzo Pass to Riva on Lake Garda.
A good 27 hours later: done!
Flo Vogel and Markus Schulte-Lünzum have done it: the two Focus XC team riders crossed the Alps on the new Focus Project Y e-mountainbike in just 27 hours and 20 minutes. This allowed them to beat their original target time - which many had thought impossible - by eight hours and 40 minutes. During their e-MTB record ride on the classic Transalp route from Oberstdorf to Riva, they were spared nothing - heavy snowfall included.
