The Schöckl is Graz's local mountain and has attracted bikers for decades. This race has been a classic for years, but this year I managed to start there for the first time.
The distance was 13km and 1050m, so it was very short but with a lot of elevation gain - perfect for another really tough session before heading to the Salzkammergut Trophy in Bad Goisern next weekend - a race that has been a fixed part of my racing calendar for years.
The starting gun went off at 10am, around 80 bikers sprinted into the "hill climb" because Kaiserschmarren was waiting for everyone at the top of the summit. I didn't know who or what was waiting for me, so I watched the field, rode along and finally picked up the pace myself on the first 1.5km of road. When we got onto the trail, 4 competitors overtook me from the slipstream and started an attack on the first few meters of elevation. Into the forest, on a forest path, we went steadily up the mountain. I concentrated on my performance and let a gap open up - to position 5 in the race.
After the first 15 minutes, the climb was interrupted by a short technical downhill, but then I went back up the Schöckel on the road and forest path. Little by little I gained meters and caught up with one after the other. With my heart rate, the kilometers and the altitude on the bike computer in sight, I pedaled my way onto the podium.
About 3 km before the finish, it was already clear to me that no one would challenge me for second place, but how far ahead was the leader? I gave it my all and finally rolled over the finish line in second place in 58:02 minutes.
The performance shows again that my form on the bike is on the right track for the second half of the Xterra World Cup.
Next stop: Salzkammergut Mountain Bike Marathon July 13th