Giro di KiKa 2021 (29/8/21 - 3/9/21)

To conclude my sabbatical, I had one last challenge on the agenda. Riding the Giro di KiKa together with Rob and Rob, which included climbing the legendary Stelvio. The main goal, of course, is to raise a nice amount of money for this charity.

Day 1&2: The car completely loaded with bikes, spare parts, bars, gels, recovery drinks, pump, tents, airbeds, etc. The car fills up very quickly despite there being only three of us. When we arrived in Italy we already had a nice foretaste of the Dolomites, which looked beautiful. Along the way we had a telephone interview with the reporter from the AD to get some extra attention for KiKa in the hope that the sponsor amount will increase even further. On the second day we made a short tour in the area to see if the feeling in the legs is good and tomorrow morning we will really start!

Day 3: After a truly freezing night, today it really started. We immediately got the longest stage ahead of us - 130 km and 3000 altimeters. Part of this route was the Sella Ronde, also known among ski enthusiasts. Around 5 p.m. we arrived exhausted at the campground, 4 more days like this, that will be something.

Day 4: Immediately we start with a 14 km climb. Beautiful scenery with forests and rushing mountain streams but a tough start and then the Passo di Fedaia...14 km, 7.5% average ascent with stretches of over 16%. Rain all day, but cycling the last kilometers with a faint sun is maybe the highlight of the day.....what a sun can be nice then!!!

Day 5: Today the Queen stage with 3,200 altimeters. The first col was a tough one where we regularly had to use the 34 behind (for those in the know). The weather was really nice which made us leave gloves and rain jackets at the checkpoint. Not a smart choice, as it turned out, in the mountains you never know. On the last climb of the 1st category (with an average gradient of 9%) it gets colder, starts raining and we even get some hail. At the top we saw some riders shivering and a few were driven up with the broom wagon. Good thing we weren't among them!

Day 6: The 4th day of cycling counted "only" 92 km and 2,300 altimeters. With the beautiful weather this had to be doable, but the Passo de Manghen was no small boy. The climbing seems to be getting used to a bit because with the right attitude and reasonable legs, so far all 3 of us have made it to the top every time.

Day 7&8: After a rest day, today the Stelvio was on the program. The conditions were ideal, beautiful weather and whether it was due to the training of the last few days, our mental strength or the disappointing Stelvio: it actually went pretty easy. After the descent, the finish line awaits where we can collect our hard-won medal. The Giro di KiKa is over.

We ended up raising the fantastic amount of over EUR 15,000, something we are extremely proud of and of course the KiKa cause remains fantastic!