Where even cows drink isotonic drinks – an experience report from Salzkammergut

Manfred stands in front of the mirror, adjusts his sailor's cap, puts on his aviator sunglasses, and sighs. He knows that today, he, the captain of the Hallstatt Lake ferry, will not be the star of the show in the area. Klaudia walks out the door and, just to be on the safe side, puts up a sign at the end of the garden on the gravel road: "Spielende Kinder" (Children Playing). They will go out with the children to play anyway, but it doesn't hurt to be cautious. Tobias stuffs a speaker the size of a large dog into the trunk of his car. He is running late, but he proudly notes that the raindrops quickly run off this new type of wax finish. Little Sabine sticks out her tongue as she scribbles the last letters on her fan sign. Her dad will surely be proud when he sees how beautifully she wrote "Go, Dad!" on it.

Everything is proceeding as usual, as it always does at this time of year: today is the Salzkammergut Trophy! Four thousand cyclists descend on Bad Goisern and the surrounding area, cut out from postcards, to ride through Hell and return as new people. The locals are getting ready to do everything they can to contribute to this heroic feat.

Salz certainly didn't get the memo that mountain biking is dying. Experienced mountain bikers need no introduction to this event, but what is perhaps less well known is that since 2017, it has also included three gravel distances. And how great is it that cyclists clinging to drop bars don't have to miss out on this party!

Spoiler: this report will not be a good race preparation guide, it is not intended for those who have 'RACE' written on their eyelids, it does not aim to say anything new on a professional level about an event that has been held for more than 25 years. There are already many Hungarian mountain bikers who have completed it, so the sharing of racing experiences has been available for a long time. The following lines may be of interest to those who are toying with the idea of participating in such an event but cannot decide whether this idea is as far from reality as joining the Tour de France peloton on their everyday bikes. Moving on, this completely subjective discussion will also touch on what we can learn from Salz that can help us improve our own events.

Back to gravel for a moment: It is a fact that the Gravel One route, which is approximately 67 kilometers long and has an elevation gain of 2000 meters, is equivalent to the C distance for mountain bikes. Although the most extreme parts have been removed, the remaining climbs with gradients of more than 30% simply never seem to end, mainly due to the steepness of the ascents.

Although the most extreme parts have been removed, the remaining climbs with gradients of more than 30% simply never seem to end, so even with the gear ratio of an average gravel bike, they will wipe the smile off your face. Unless you specifically like this or have the thighs of Chuck Norris. But! What makes the Salzkammergut Trophy refreshingly exceptional is that there is not a hint of snobbery in it. Here, it is not shameful to get off, push, pull, stop, and cry.

The time limits for each category, distance, and version are set so that anyone who doesn't give up can finish—with perhaps one exception, the almost incomprehensible "A" distance, which requires climbing 7,029 meters over 204 kilometers. It's not hard to see that for some people, even a lifetime wouldn't be enough to accomplish this. But here comes another "but"! The spirit of the entire event is well conveyed by the fact that the last finisher to complete this distance (within the time limit) is awaited at the finish line with the most special trophy and, most certainly, the loudest ovation.

And here we finally get to the point: ovation. It doesn't matter what your heart rate is, what gear you're in, or how many levels you're doing on your bike, anyone who sets off on the Salzkammergut Trophy will receive a celebration they may never have thought they deserved. Not only are the refreshment stations run by the friendliest local volunteers aged 6 to 86, but the teams cheering on the sidelines are also an integral part of the overall Salz experience.

The often random, costumed, flag-waving, competing fans clap, shake rattles, ring cowbells, and, last but not least, read the names of the cyclists who are about to lose themselves in their own spiritual abyss from their race numbers and shout them at the top of their lungs into the cow-patty-scented landscape. Anyone who has ever been to a bike race that lasted longer than half an hour knows that such a distraction is equivalent to at least two extra gears.

With these two extra gears, you can easily reach the top of the next climb, the bottom of the technical section, or the Feed Zone, where the cows may be mooing because their ever-reliable troughs are now filled with isotonic drinks and beer. Can this be organized on purpose? Hardly. So what does it take? For the community to feel that the whole event is theirs.

Anyone who lives here can definitely contribute to the Trophy. Even teenagers can participate in handing out race numbers, refilling refreshments, and signaling tricky turns with hand signals. What's more, it's not just young people who are part of the community here, as is typically the case in our country. The Linzer cookies are simply more delicious when taken from the hands of elderly ladies and gentlemen, who eagerly recommend them.

But lest this whole story turn into a romance novel, it must be said in closing that for an event that operates largely on a community basis to work well, all participants must take a responsible approach. Over a fairly long section of the course, runners from several distances come together and run together. There is a risk in every encounter and overtaking maneuver, even if most of the competitors handle it in a fairly civilized manner.

It is everyone's own responsibility to sign up for a distance that is realistically achievable for them; there are also some particularly pleasant routes for beginners and those who are still getting started. Even though this report focused on the fact that it is a friendly, relaxed environment, and that morals do loosen up at the party after the race, it would be a mistake to think of the whole thing as just a day out, let alone a pub crawl. Everyone here wears nice, tight Lycra, and it is appropriate to behave accordingly. In addition to competitors, the Salzkammergut Trophy is recommended for those who are in good shape, have off-road experience, and would like to try cycling in a well-organized, legendary event in a good atmosphere without any pressure.

Text and photos: Chripkó Lili