Hope 1000

1,010km
Distance: 29,560m
Elevation

Hope 1000 is a 1000km long event in Switzerland. Every participant must climb 30′000 metres of elevation. I took part in the 8th edition, which was influenced by a massive heatwave, which pinned me down at massive uphills. It was really hard to embrace the struggle and find the “why” am I doing this.

#Bikepacking

A vibrant, wide-angle landscape photo captures a winding concrete path leading down into a lush green valley, framed by the dark, textured branches of a tree in the foreground. On the left, a barbed wire fence with weathered wooden posts separates the path from a grassy field. In the midground, rolling green hills dotted with forests stretch into the distance under a clear, bright blue sky. A narrow road can be seen traversing the valley. The overall impression is one of a serene, expansive countryside scene on a sunny day.

Day #1 How I burned all matches

The start of my Switzerland adventure—Hope 1000. I sat it as my “A” race and I felt strong at the beginning. Some serious heatwaves on the first day blew off all my expectations. Soon I found myself struggling to even continue. Read more

A high-angle view from a winding road shows a vast valley below, surrounded by numerous mountains. In the distance, a large lake is visible with a town built around its shores. A guardrail runs alongside the road in the foreground, and on the left, a traditional wooden house with a red roof sits on the hillside, overlooking the valley.

Day #2 How I found hope

It was clear, that the battle against the hills won’t be the worst. I was licking my would from the first day and thoughts about giving up were endless. Even though Switzerland is a beautiful country, how could I enjoy it when I struggled to breathe. Read more

A sun-drenched, rugged dirt track winds through a lush green meadow, sloping upwards towards imposing, grey rocky mountains in the distance. The mountains are partially covered with dark green pine forests on their lower slopes. On the left side of the track, a simple wire fence with wooden posts runs along the edge of the grassy field. Bright sunlight flares from the upper left, casting a soft glow over the landscape.

Day #3 How I adapted

I have left my thoughts of despair behind me and headed out to new challenges. This day was critical as I was fighting against the lack of sleep and super steep hills. I was winning in bikepacking mental game. Read more

Alt text: A wide shot of a winding dirt road in a green valley, surrounded by mountains under a cloudy sky. A yellow rope fence in the foreground runs along a grassy slope with wildflowers.

Day #4 How I cruised the Alps

My fourth day was tough, as always, but I was already accustomed to the hardness. And I for looking forward to visiting the highest mountains I have ever been to. I really appreciated that I didn’t give up during the worst heat waves. Read more

A joyful male cyclist, dressed in a red cycling jersey and black shorts, stands on a wooden boardwalk, holding his loaded bikepacking rig triumphantly above his head. His shoes and lower legs are covered in mud, suggesting a challenging ride. Behind him stands a bronze statue of a man with his fist raised in the air, mimicking the cyclist's celebratory pose. In the background, there's a bustling city scene with buildings, trees, and a clear blue sky.

Day #5 How I fought my imagination

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Montreux, the finish line, was very close. I woke up in the middle of the night to get there. I told myself I would get there no matter what. Even strong hallucinations couldn’t stop me. I didn’t know I had endured 30 hours in the saddle… Read more