16 Hours on the Mountain

Bendicht and Nick Küpfer from Arni in the canton of Bern are connected not only by family but also by a passion for mountain biking. As forest rangers, the two spend a lot of time in nature for work and feel right at home in the mountains. In the summer of 2026, they wanted to test their limits and set out to break a world record for vertical ascent according to the rules of the German Record Institute.

The race began at 4:47 a.m. on July 30 in Zermatt. From the starting point at 1,860 meters above sea level, their route led up to the 3,070-meter-high Gornergrat and then back down again. They aimed to repeat this ascent as many times as possible within 16 hours.

Spare Bikes for the Record

To avoid losing time charging batteries, fully charged spare bikes were waiting at the starting point. Whenever a battery ran out, the two would simply swap out the entire bike. They stopped only for brief breaks to eat and drink.

Despite the summer heat, father and son maintained their pace until shortly before 9 p.m. It wasn’t just their legs that were put to the test. The countless meters of descent, in particular, placed enormous strain on their upper bodies, arms, hands, and joints. The constant jolts and vibrations on the trails made the record attempt a physical challenge even on the downhills.

Over 18,000 meters of elevation gain

After 16 hours, the results were impressive: 15 ascents and descents, 224.73 kilometers covered, 18,391 meters of elevation gain, and 17,650 meters of elevation loss. With this, Bendicht and Nick Küpfer secured the world record—recognized by the German Record Institute—for the most meters of elevation gain covered in a single day on bike trails using e-mountain bikes. An extraordinary feat and a shared experience that father and son are unlikely to forget anytime soon.

rekord-institut.org