I continued towards Freiland, to the Hebalm and on the Packsattel. There I met Adam, who was already on his way to Preitenegg. After a very nice chat, I peddled on towards the Packer reservoir, over the Herzog-Berg down to Edelschrott. Feeling quite hungry already, I went into a bakery to have breakfast. After about 45 minutes I drove on towards Köflach and Maria Lankowitz, then up to Gaberl, where a gravel passage awaited me, from the old Almhaus over to the main road and further on northward. I was concentrating on the group riding approximately two hours behind me. Adam had already brought 4 mountains of distance between us. On the descent from the Gaberl I felt strong gusts of wind, indicating weather changes. On the way up to the Hirschecker Sattel my legs began to feel better, the gravel passages seemed to help. I came down a gravel passage in the direction of Moaster-Haus and was looking forward to the small climb up to Sankt Hemma. But before I reached the small gravel road, I saw a friend waiting. He was taking pictures, on the narrow pass road by an inn. After a short, nice chat, I embarked up the Packsattle. Race director Dani and two other cyclists were already waiting for me at the roadside. I stopped with joy and we talked briefly, already looking forward to our next encounter. In Preitenegg I decided to take a long meal break at a very nice inn on the roadside in the village, which had everything my heart desired. A delicious vegetable casserole and those times two! Afterwards my journey carried on down to Twimberg, then up to the Klippitztörl, which is very nice to ride. A light rain my body down pleasantly and made my waterproof overshoes really pay off. At the top of the pass a heard of cows was crossing the street in a constant back and forth a. The view down from the Klippitztörl down to Wolfsberg always leaves a lasting impression on me. The wonderful view right at the top in the other direction reveals the Karawanken in the background. In a rapid downhill drive with very dangerous bend, I approached Brückl. Suddenly I had a great taste for an ice cream, right at the junction towards Sankt Veit, I found a small ice cream shop, I ate the ice cream with relish and thought about my next plan: How should I continue? When should I sleep? 

I then cycled very comfortably towards Sankt Veit, passing Hochosterwitz, a castle high up on a rock. The low light of the setting sun blinded me, but the cap under my helmet protected me from the rays. When I arrived in Sankt Veit, great hunger overcame me. I found a gas station and various kinds of food. With a fully packed jersey I peddled on into the night. I quickly traversed up and down steep passages, on gravel roads and then went on towards Feldkirchen. A warm breeze from the south warmed my body. When I arrived in Feldkirchen, I looked for a place to sleep for a few hours. The first spot I chose didn’t suit me at all, so I drove on towards Himmelberg, where I found a bus station that looked very comfortable. However, the bench was relatively narrow, which would bite me later. A speeding car caused a bang, startling me into falling the bench onto the asphalt.

 

A sudden pain shot through my ankle and hip, but after a check everything looked fine - nothing had happened.

Since I was wide awake by then and it was time to go on again, I packed my things and set off towards Ausserteuchen. From there a very pleasant, gently sloping road with a torrent next to it led me to Innerteuchen.

Strange thoughts went through my head when I heard the water rush, sometimes it thundered and sometimes it hissed very loudly.

Since my handlebars and partially my body got slightly damp, I put on my thin long gloves, which were exactly designed for this purpose.

The gloves, adorned with rubber nubs, enable a better grip on the handlebars and the feeling of having dry hands, gave me a certain sense of security.

It was raining very lightly, but when I looked to the west and saw that it was slowly loosening up. Behind me the mood turned to twilight.

It was already 4:00 a.m. when I reached Arriach, then I went in the direction of Afritz am See and via Radenthein in the direction of Bad Kleinkirchheim.

I hoped a bakery in Bad Kleinkirchheim would already be open, but sadly it didn't open until 6:30 a.m. I drove to the next town, Eben Reichenau, where I could satisfy my hunger at a gas station.

I felt good when I drove into the Nockberge, at the top of the first pass, race director Dani was already waiting for me and waved from afar, taking pictures. Of course, I stopped for a conversation, which, as always, was insightful and interesting.

In the Nockberge there were many ups and downs, which offered a lot of variety. Because I was in such a good mood it was much easier to climb.

In the Innerkrems valley, it was always easy down the mountain, it was really fun to rush down quickly along a torrent.

When I arrived in Kremsbrücke, I got hungry again and thought to myself that I should take a long break to have a meal before I reached the Glockner.

No sooner said than done: I managed to pass by Spital an der Drau and Möllbrücke, go through Mölltal and Winklern and reach Döllach which lies not too far before the Glockner There I stayed at the Hotel Post.

The hotel manager came up to me very excitedly with the words “Another crazy cyclist”. She said, “I know all the ins and outs already; the bike should be brought to the room, you need a lot to eat and tomorrow you will go up to the Glockner very early”. She was right. Completely perplexed I figured that Adam No. 09 had probably been there before me last night.

At this point he had already reached the Krimml Waterfalls. Thanks to his unbelievable Performance I was in second place and a whole day behind him.

 

Aloud clap of thunder awoke me at 2 a.m. I checked where my competition was going. Antoine had overtaken me and was now about 10 km ahead of me in the Zillertal, maybe there would be a reunion but at this time it was unlikely.

When I drove past where I thought he was, I couldn't find him. He was probably hidden somewhere or on a park bench. I drove on a nice gravel road down towards Zell am Ziller.

A light breeze up towards the mountains made it very tough to ride out of the Zillertal.

After the Zillertal, I headed east again. A few crisp gravel passages along the river Inn towards Wörgl sweetened my early morning.

In Wörgl I went up to the Hennersberg over to Bachwinkel via Niederau down to Hopfgarten.

The route led a little up and then down again to Kitzbühel and then went back to Mittersill via the Jochberg.

The descent from Pass Thurn was brilliant, over about 5 km of slopes with a great view leading down towards Mittersill.

In Uttendorf I peddled up to the right in the direction of Enzingerboden, followed by a 15 km long ascent with a wonderful view.

On the downhill road, race director Dani and I met again, we chatted about the current course of the race and came to the conclusion that it had been very exciting so far. We took a few photos and on I went, downhill again.

When I got to the Salzach, the route led down the right bank of the river to Lengdorf and then to Niedersill, where I discovered a nice little restaurant. Meanwhile the weather had changed and the air felt like it was about to explode - a thunderstorm was imminent.

The timing was perfect. I took a 1.5-hour break to eat, and in the meantime the sun came out again.

Satisfied, I continued up to the Kaprun reservoir, it was humid and the sun burned down hard, it was very pleasant and easy to ride to the first cable car station.

From a distance thick smoke could be seen, as I got a little closer, I saw that power station workers were cutting an old turbine up with a welding torch. An acrid smell rose to my nose. Once at the top, I allowed myself a cup of coffee.

After the descent, the air felt very hot, in the direction of Zell am See. I made quite a bit of ground, but the traffic was very, very heavy.

In Almdorf I found a large public water fountain made from a log, it was very inviting. I plunged into the water with my helmet and glasses, it was pleasantly cold and I also took this opportunity to fill my drinking bottles with water.

Then it went up to the Hochkönig pretty briskly with a pleasurable tail wind and a powerful view. After the descent down to Dienten, there was a small counter-climb until it went back down to Bischofshofen.

Once at the bottom I planned my second hotel night, the Sporthotel in St. Johann i. Pongau was a perfect fit, my request was successful and I booked dinner right away.

I really liked the route through Mitterberghütten, at Einöden I crossed the Salzach again, which was already pretty wide at this point.

From a distance I heard some golfers teeing off, the road lead me right through a golf course.

After entering St. Johann i. Pongau, it went slightly uphill. Just as my sister called, who wanted to meet me, I heard a loud shout, Dani wanted to speak to me too. I briefly explained what I was up to. Unfortunately, that didn't go down so well at that moment. "SORRY DANI!"

When I arrived at the hotel, I was surprised by my sister, her husband and children suddenly standing in front of me. A wonderful moment! We hugged and I invited everyone to dinner.

Meal and conversation lasted a good 2 hours, until we said goodbye at 9:45 p.m.

The room was very comfortable and the bed a dream, as if wrapped in clouds, I finally fell asleep.

 

I started into the new day at 4 a.m., feeling very rested, which did me really good.

The Sport Hotel was very well organized and there was always someone working the reception, i.e. I could leave the hotel at any time without a problem.

It was quite cold driving into the valley towards Wagrain, where Antoine had spent the night. I was really excited to see when he would get going again. I rode in the direction of Altenmarkt and then towards Radstadt there was a very dense fog, it cooled down a lot, so I had to put on my thick rain jacket, and my thick gloves.

In Untertauern dawn was creeping and at the foot of the ascent I took a small break.

 

I was really looking forward to reaching the top because a special class breakfast awaited me there. The baker in Obertauern is SIMPLY FANTASTIC!

After breakfast I went down to Mauterndorf, quickly and without any problems. The temperature was rising, so I removed my jacket.

Via Tamsweg, Bundschuh and Innerkrems I drove back to the Nockberge, right down at the toll station I peddled into the beautiful mountain world of the Nockberge and just before the first hill I happened to meet my teammate from RSG Lebring Martin.

He drove towards me, it was a wonderful feeling to meet someone familiar in this area, we talked for a few minutes, then the journey continued.

On the steepest section up to the Turracherhöhe, Antoine No. 08 suddenly came shooting up to me from behind like a moped. I asked him what was going on, he said: "My legs are fantastic today!"

Happy for him I told him to definitely use this day, but what I saw afterwards was beyond my imagination. Antoine drove up the 23% steep ramp, with his forearms on the handlebars as if the road were flat, WILD.

After this short but crisp ascent, I took a brief break at the top, my state of exhaustion was really bad and my knees were wobbling.

Suddenly I got a message from the race management, BE CAREFUL DURING THE DEPARTURE, LOTS OF CHIPPINGS ON THE ROAD, DANGER OF SLIPPING!

A thankyou to Antoine, he reported this to the race management.

Right at the end of an intersection of the next town in the direction of Tamsweg I found an inn. Lo and behold, Antoine was there, enjoying a bite to eat.

Just what I needed; to take a long break and eat. I ordered enough food and enjoyed the good meal.

Antoine was soon of on his way again. Quite surprisingly, a huge mobile home drove into the parking lot, the driver shouted: "Servus Walter!" It was Hermann No. 04, who unfortunately dropped out after 250 km.

I enjoyed the good company. When Hermann told me that Antoine was already in Tamsweg, about 20 km from there, I just shrugged my shoulders, said “so what?” I told him that this conversation was very valuable and right now more important than any placement.

The sun was already a bit lower as I was back in Tamsweg. The next ascent was the entrance to the Prebersee, I didn't know this one and I thought it would be easy to drive, I was proven wrong, whether it was my physical condition, weakened at that moment, or my subjective feeling.

On the Krakau plain I went quickly through the valley, without noticing it, I drove past Antoine number 08 again. As prescribed in the road book, I visited the Günster waterfall at kilometer 1413.

From Schröder it went into the Katschgraben in the direction of the Sölkpass, a beautiful sunset glowed over the mountains.

The whole Sölkpass road was freshly sanded, and when driving uphill my tire sliped a few times. When I got to the top of the pass, I noticed that the temperature was very warm. However, apparently only on the south side, so I soon had to put my jacket on again. I drove down to Stein im Ennstal, where I found an excellent bus hut to sleep in.

 

I know the Ennstal very well, it was very cold and foggy when I drove past Irdning just past midnight.

The race director Dani had set up camp somewhere in Trautenfels. However, as it turned out later, she had overslept and missed my drive past.

Everything went smoothly on my way up the eastern flank of the Grimmings towards Bad Mitterndorf, past the large hill of the Kulm.

Shortly after Bad Mitterndorf near Kainisch I encountered another small gravel pass as far as Bad Aussee. I had been looking for a vending machine or something like that since Trautenfels, but in vain. Nowhere, not even at a gas station or a train station, could I find one. Antoine also told me later that he had been looking for vending machines, but apparently there weren't any in this area. Perhaps this could be a sign for the areal representatives to set some up, it would certainly make good money.

That's why I hoped to be luckier in Bad Aussee, it's a bigger place. I drove into several alleys to see if there was a vending machine anywhere. Unfortunately, again, in vain, not a single machine was to be found in Bad Aussee. I lay down on a comfortable bench at the bus station in the center of town.

At dusk, around 4:30 am, I drove on towards Altaussee, when I arrived there, I discovered the perfect pastry shop/bakery, but it was not yet open. Half an hour later, at 6:00 a.m., it would open. In the meantime, I drove to a good sleeping spot next to the event hall that I already knew. It was finally 6:00 a.m. and I drove straight to the pastry shop. I was surprised to find that Antoine was already here. He had parked his bike so awkwardly that I could hardly get in by the door, so I put his bike and mine on the bike stand.

Armed with a mask, I went in and ordered a lot of good things, also asked where Antoine was, the saleswoman kindly explained to me that he had taken a seat in the back of the dining room. We greeted each other happily, had a delicious chat while devouring a lot of the good stuff. Together we then drove up towards the Pötschen Pass. I stopped very briefly to take off my jacket, Antoine drove on which makes sense, we should keep a certain distance from each other anyway (regulations). After leaving Pötschen in Sankt Agatha, I had to stop in front of a railroad crossing. I thought the gap between us would increase again, but 2 km later Antoine took another break at a bus hut.

 

I gave him a short hand signal and drove on, along the Hallstätter See in Gosauzwang the road turned sharply to the right into a valley towards Gosau. The sun was already clearly visible above the mountain peaks, and the temperatures climbed up as well. I felt good, my legs and the rest of my body were in very good condition. Up to Pass Gschütt I changed the federal state from Oberösterreich to Salzburg, just as I had previously driven in Pötschen from Styria to Oberösterreich.

The drinking bottle that I bought in Fuschl am Großglockner was not tasteless, so I hoped to find a sports shop in Abtenau that sold an adequate drinking bottle. I searched, found and bought it straight away. Then, up I went to the Postalm, where I met a very nice German bicycle-hitchhiker, we talked very nicely on our way up. Antoine was creeping up from behind as well, and at the top of the pass he had caught up already.

We parted ways in Strobel on Wolfgangsee because Antoine wanted to buy something at a supermarket and I preferred a restaurant with a warm meal. During the meal I developed a plan: As this day was a very hot day and the terrain was rather flat with a light wind, I decided to slow down and continue more relaxed with easy gears. However, my goal was to meet Antoine again that night.

In Fuschl am See I treated myself to another ice cream, enjoyed the view of the beautiful Fuschl Lake, and the pleasantly warm wind that was blowing from the northwest.

 

The ice cream seller had more to offer and made me something very good with bitter lemon. With easy gears on beautiful bike paths, I rode along the lake, then up via Eugendorf to Wallersee.

At the Wallersee I looked for a shady place, there I listened to music and enjoyed the time. It was very hot on these gravel passages by the lake, then slight bends lead me to the Mondsee. In Mondsee there was a certain passage to drive along, the lido, many people were here and the lido had already been closed due to overcrowding.

The route now led along the Mondsee, at the end of the lake in Oberburgau and Au and then further on over to the Attersee.

After a very short, crisp ascent I was finally in Unterach. Gently and with a modest headwind I rode along the bank of the Attersee up to Seewalchen am Attersee. There were many festivities all along the lakeshore already and I was again very hungry. Finally, I found a perfect stand at the end of the bridge over the Ager River.

With a full stomach I drove down the east side of the Atterseeas the sun setting. Huge cumulus clouds could be seen far in the distance. At Weyeregg I turned east into the Bach-Graben.

One of the longer gravel passages with long uphill segments awaited me, it was partly impassable because it was too steep and slippery.

Antoine was already in Kirchdorf an der Krems and had called in for the night, it would still take me about 4 hours to get there. Ed Tapp was also keeping up and had arrived in Mondsee. When I arrived in Gmunden, a strong headwind set in.

 

Despite the relaxed pace, I was very tired. In Scharnstein I booked a bus hut again, large, comfortable and with an all-round view.

In the Kremstal it was a few degrees cooler than on the hill, so I'm looking forward to the next climbs.

The road up to Kaiserleiten was very nice to drive and, as I had suspected, it was a few degrees warmer.

Unfortunately, it was still dark because there is supposed to be a wonderful view from up there. To some extent I could see through the sea of lights in the villages that there would be a fantastic view up here in daylight.

Antoine was on the road again, in the direction of Micheldorf slowly dusk began and at a huge gas station just before Klaus I bought some groceries.

Then in Klaus I took another short sleep break, it felt like 10 hours of sleep. With my subjective feeling that I had had a good rest, I went on towards Hinterstoder and shortly before the driveway, I saw Antoine sleeping in a bus station, totally wrapped up, I didn't want to disturb and drove on up to Hinterstoder.

The drive over the Pyrnpass down to Liezen was so much fun that I didn't even begin to think about stopping. Quickly with a slight tail wind, it went down to Admont and then directly into the Gesäuse, finally to Hieflau in the direction of Eisenerz.

It rolled and I felt no need to take a break. It went up to the Präbichel with a view of the still mighty Erzberg, I felt as small as an ant.

But already in St. Peter in Freienstein I was hungry again, this time I bought the Billa empty, sat down in a shady place and ate a huge amount.

Since my digestion apparently required a lot of energy for this, I became very tired after Leoben was already behind me.

I was also tormented by an annoying headwind, but it was still making good progress.

After Bruck an der Mur near Berndorf it went right up to Sankt Katharein an der Lamming, the hometown of Jürgen No. 07, who was expecting me.

Unfortunately, he had to give up the race early due to a technical problem.

I was very happy, Jürgen accompanied me up to the top of the pass, pointing out a dangerous gravel descent.

Shortly after Etmissel in Palbersdorf I bought a huge portion of ice cream, the Seeberg saddle that followed was really easy to ride.

When I arrived at Checkpoint 3 in Mariazell and had already passed the 2000 km mark, I decided to prepare for the coming night.

Dusk was slowly setting in when I drove through Sankt Sebastian, beautiful wide streets first led up to Josefberg and then to Annaberg.

It went down rapidly via Türnitz to Freiland.

Like fatigue hit me on the head with a hammer, and in a very uncomfortable bus station a short sleep of justice should be possible.

At the time, I was unaware that I had not taken enough sleep breaks.

I had felt a slightly foggy mood for a few days, but subjectively, my waking state felt okay, but it had long been too little sleep.