The idea for the cycling adventure came to Thomas Binggeli two years ago. His brother Markus gave him this adventure as a present for his 40th birthday. They rode off in a small group of six people. Now there are over 100 people on the trip. "We started advertising the event last fall. And the response was overwhelming. Many started training last October and have kept it up to this day!" says Binggeli enthusiastically.

The Great St. Bernard as a pièce de résistance

The route started on Saturday, August 20 at the Thömus headquarters in Oberried and rode via Fribourg, La Roche and Aigle to Martigny. Then up to the St. Bernhard, the highest point of the route. The route led through the Aosta Valley via Ivrea, Asti and Acqui Terme to Varazze by the sea on the Ligurian coast. Hilly. A constant up and down. The last climb just before the sea was particularly nasty. Despite the sea air in my nostrils, I had to conquer another 400 meters of altitude. In the end, there were 6,000 meters of ascent and 6,700 meters of descent over the 486 kilometers.

Head versus fitness

The participants were divided into eight groups. They started on Saturday, August 20 between 12 noon and 4 pm. One group rode off at 8 a.m. and spent the night in the Aosta Valley. The rest rode all the way through. At least 24 hours at a stretch, even through the night. Bingelli explains that fitness suddenly became second-rate, and in most cases it was the head that decided whether to finish or not. "Putting the groups together was a challenge," Binggeli continues, explaining: "The mix was crucial. Each group has its leaders, comedians, steam locomotives and local experts. It was the only way to do it!"

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