Pikes Peak in Colorado became famous in the 1980s thanks to rallying. Walter Röhrl's record-breaking drive in an Audi Quattro, which drifted up the sandy track in under eleven minutes in 1987, is unforgettable. Today, the track is tarmac, but the video is a must-see:
There is no better way to set up a chassis. The tyres point full into the entrance to the bend, drift through the narrow apex at full throttle and then purposefully hurtle into the next straight. Each time, a huge fountain of dust shoots up into the air - like a curtain of sand and small pebbles that trickles down on the cheering spectators. Then frenetic cheering at the finish arch at 4301 metres above sea level: under eleven minutes! Rally world champion Walter Röhrl has won the prestigious Pikes Peak race in an Audi Quattro. Walter is a hero and his car is now the priceless dream of every rally fan. But I don't have a driving licence yet anyway. Because when I watched the race as a teenager in front of our new colour TV, the year was 1987.
I never thought that I would one day be standing on this legendary Pikes Peak in the Rocky Mountains myself. Flynn and Kal, two very talented US enduro bikers, picked me up at the hotel this morning at 6am and shuttled me up the 19.99-kilometre race course in their car - the route is completely paved today.
The air at 4301 metres above sea level is fresh, but less cold than you would expect as an Alpine biker at this time of year. Colorado's mountains are bathed in autumn colours: red rocks, green, red and yellow deciduous trees and a steel-blue sky above. Below, the streets of Colorado Springs stretch out into a seemingly endless, flat expanse. A chesty cough shakes me as we roll up to the trail entrance. I put it down to the altitude. After all, Walter Röhrl's turbocharger had problems with it too.
The Barr Trail was carved into the flanks of the mountain by Fred Barr back in 1918. It winds down a total of 21 kilometres and over 2400 metres of descent through the Pikes Peak National Park to Manitou Springs. "Only the first 100 metres are a bit rough. The rest is the finest flow," promises Flynn and drops into the abyss between two rocks. I follow suit and am delighted that the rocks I land on have exceptionally good grip. The tyres literally stick to the rock. This gives me courage for the next moves through some pretty rough terrain. But then there are a few sections where we have to shoulder the bikes. My body is now wide awake. Highly focussed, I dedicate myself to the next rough but rideable sections. Turn after turn we spiral downhill. In fact, the trail soon becomes smoother and we quickly lose altitude. Nevertheless, my chesty cough won't let up. After two hours of descending - just as we switch from rocky to dusty, sandy ground - the drinking tube in my rucksack rattles: the water bladder is empty. Meanwhile, the trail continues to curve through the red rock and only slowly approaches the autumn-coloured tree line. There, the trail curves become increasingly gentle. This section alone would be worth a ride of its own. But it is 4.30 pm when we finally reach Manitou Springs, completely exhausted. A feeling of victory spreads. Unfortunately, we are not as celebrated as Walter Röhrl was back then.
Information about the MTB trail from Pikes Peak
Location of the trail: From Pikes Peak (4301 m) to Manitou Springs (Colorado, USA)
Length of the trail: 21 km/2400 hm (downhill)
Character: The hiking trail was created in 1918 by the American Fred Barr, after whom the trail is named (Barr Trail). The best way to get to the start of the trail is by shuttle - on the legendary rally route (19.99 km and 156 hairpin bends).
Tip: Take plenty of water and food with you. Unlike in the Alps, there are no fountains or watercourses in the Rocky Mountains where you can fill up your water bottles.
Enduro rider: Holger has been an enduro rider from the very beginning and as such has been travelling the world's great mountains for many years. The chesty cough that attacked him at the summit of Pikes Peak turned into a full-blown case of pneumonia on the trail descent - as he later found out in hospital, still unshowered.
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