Jochen Czabaun

Age: 52

Location: Konstanz, Germany

Cap number: 33

Your bike: Canyon Endurace CL SL Disc 8.0, Ultegra with SON delux 12 Dynamo and a Syntace C3 Aerobar

Your key items of kit: I use my proven clothing and equipment from different outfitters. I’ll take a bivvy bag, sleeping pad and sleeping bag. For navigation I use the Wahoo Elemnt Roam and as back-up the Sigma ROX 11.

Rainer Zeller

Age: 48

Location: Berlin, Germany

Cap number: 77

Bike: TREK Checkpoint SL6, SON dynamo & B&M I-QX Frontlight, Cateye ORB & OMNI3 Safety Lights, Rene Herse Snoqualmie tyres (700C X 44), Shimano Ultegra 2x11 speed (50/34 & 11-40), SQlab 610 saddle, Wahoo Bolt for navigation. Bags: Topeak Framebag, Saddlebag Ortlieb Two High Visibility, Roswheel Road Accessory Pouch, Acepac Fat Holster Food Bags

Your key items of kit: I love my Snoqualmies from Rene Herse and my Brevet Bib from Rapha more than anything. They offer me the comfort I need to enjoy the race. The eye rides with you...so I covered my frame and rims with reflective points!

Fanny Bensussan

Age: 35

Location: Paris, France

Cap number: 21

Your bike: Steel frame custom from Jolie Rouge Cycles Son Dynamo, Sinewave light, White Industry components, Ergon saddle, 3T Tbars, Shimano Ultegra

Your key items of kit: All gear from Helmut Equipment, Rapha kit, Alpkit bags

Alessandro Grisotto

Age: 53

Location: Conegliano Veneto, Italy

Cap number: 4

Your bike: Orange OPEN with Shimano GRX group set 36x10-42 and Shimano XTR PD M9120 pedals. I ride on a selle italia novus endurance saddle and my DT Swiss wheels with a Son dynamo in the front.

Your key items of kit: I'm taking a bivvy bag and sleeping liners as well as my Polartec Alpha jacket. While riding I have my GoreTex Shakedry waterproof, and Push Hard tee race with Assos shorts. To navigate I'm using a Garmin eTrex 32x and a Garmin 530.

Ulrich Bartholmös

Age: 34

Location: Munich, Germany

Cap number: 81

Your bike: I´m riding on a OPEN U.P.P.E.R. – a custom build 2020 setup which I call “LA MACHINA” with Lightweight Meilenstein EVO Rims powered by a Rotor 2inPower with 52/36 and 32-11 Shimano Dura Ace Groupset. All the stuff I need I carry in Apidura Race Series Kit. To light up the night I swear by Supernova Lights. Without luggage my bike weights less than 7kg – helps me to love climbing a lot 😊

Your key items of kit: The main goal with my whole setup is to keep it light and simple! On the bike I consequently use only the lightest parts – but those that are also proven in harsh conditions. I use a minimalistic and also super lightweight Apidura kit for my luggage with clothes in the saddle bag, food and spareparts in the Top-Tube- and Framepacks. Mostly I love the new Apidura Musette which I carry on the seatpost – I use it a lot on the quick refuel-stops to grab as much food as I can 😊

Paul Berkhout

Age: 53

Location: Harde, Netherlands

Cap number: 61

Your bike: Trek Madone 9.0, 25mm tyres, 50-34/14-28 chainset, Ortlieb seatpack and an Ortlieb 35l waterproof backpack

Your key items of kit: tent and a goosedown sleeping bag and some clothes

Moritz Durchdewald

Age: 40

Location: Heidelberg, Germany

Cap number: 58

Your bike: Canyon Endurace CF SL, Rotor Q-Rings with P2M Powermeter, SON dynamo hub with Supernova lights and E-Werk for autonomous electricity supply, Apidura handle bar bag, Ortlieb saddle bag.

Your key items of kit: Rapha cargo bib shorts for enough pockets to carry stuff, yeti fever sleeping bag and ultralight Sea2Summit mat to get some sleep, Garmin 830 and Wahoo Element to navigate.

Daniel Ehrl

Age: 40

Location: Born in Bavaria, Germany but living in Vienna, Austria

Cap number: 16

Your bike: Surly Straggler custom built; Sram rival 2x10; lowest gear 34/36; Son dynamo hub powering front and backlight plus charging usb (forumslader); mudguards front and back to keep bike & rider clean; continental grand prix 5000 32mm with tubes.

Your key items of kit: Down sleeping bag and sleeping mat to make the nights outdoors as comfortable as possible if necessary. My Garmin Edge 1030 plus smartphone as backup. The most essential item is of course a camera on top tube bag to take pictures so I can share moments with friends back home afterwards.

Werner Weisbecker

Age: 55

Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Cap number: 84

Your bike: Canyon Ultimate AL with Campagnolo groupset

Tobias Herfert

Age: 36

Location: Heidelberg, Germany

Cap number: 78

Your bike: 2007 Cucuma Luna aluminium frame, mechanical Ultegra 10 speed (11-28, compact crank), front wheel with hub dynamo and headlight, with which the navigation system, telephone and battery rear light can be charged during cycling. This is my first race bike and I love it, since it accompanied me for a decade in training (summer and winter), in races and marathons, brevets and long-distance trips on vacation including some minor accidents. I hope Luna holds up to the TPBR, after all, after 12 years, original parts are still in use (rear derailleur, gear lever).

Your key items of kit: my rack! I have problems with large frame bags and saddlebags as soon as my legs hit them (and they always do). That's why I mounted the Apidura saddle bag upside down on the luggage rack and also a Vaude bag on the side. The apidura includes a small sleeping bag for sudden sleep attacks. The small frame pocket is for wallet, phone and small items. KommVor saddle from tune (very comfortable) and the handlebar attachment (aluminium) from Zipp - also very comfortable.

Peter Lohinger

Age: 54

Location: St. Georgen im Attergau, Austria

Cap number: 62

Your bike: 2019 Rondo Ruut ST, Shimano Ultegra 50/34 – 11/34 with mechanischen TRP brakes, Pancho Wheels with SON-28 hub, Conti GP 4Season 28mm tyres.

Your key items of kit: Sleeping mat and bivvy bag, and my Garmin Edge 1000.

Stéphane Pochat

Age: 48

Location: Aubagne, France

Cap number: 76

Your bike: Chiru Vagus (titanium), Klite lights, Garmin Edge 1030 plus, SP dynamo and mavic all road carbon wheels.

Your key items of kit: GPS garmin edge 1030, Apidura bags, hamac light and my bivvy bag.

Marcis Martinsons

Age: 38

Location: Riga, Latvia

Cap number: 53

Your bike: Canyon Endurace CF SL Disc 8.0 Di2 with many additional custom parts to make it best Endurance bike ever had :) I will use Continental 5000 28mm tubeless; carbon aero-bars with TT gear switching buttons, SON dynamo connected with B&M E-Werk and battery and SON Lights; Full Apidura bikepacking bags. For navigation I use good old Garmin 1000.

Your key items of kit: I'm only taking the most necessary clothing, minimal sleeping kit - in a nut shell - minimalistic approach to be as fast as possible and to save grams and kilos.

Stefan Blum

Age: 50

Location: Lenggries, Germany

Cap number: 70

Your bike: Canyon Endurance, Di2 with disc brakes, aerobars, DT Swiss wheels on Conti 5000 (28mm).

Your key items of kit: Simple orthovox bivvy and lightweight sleeping mat for emergencies, should work up to 15ºC, therefore strategy night through in the saddle or hotel or south of France :-). Wahoo Roam for navigation (backup: Google Maps on iPhone and a small reminder of brain-based sense for orientation), four Apidura bags and a Restrap handlebar bag. A lot of clothes onboard, since wheather condition may vary also in July in the Alps, still not sure what to take with me (it's my very first bike packing race.) No really key item, everything is key.

Stefan Lachinger

Age: 43

Location: Vienna, Austria

Cap number: 85

Your bike: Custom steel frame from Orlowski/Poland. IRD Wide Compact crankset (46/30) and 10speed 11-34 cassette using a Microshift derailleur and 105 STI Levers. TRP Spyre brakes. Self built wheels with H+SON Archetype rims and a SON28 dynamohub at front.

Your key items of kit: Edge 830 for navigation, outdoor smartphone as backup. Some clothing, tools and an inflateable mat + bivvy + liner as emergency sleeping kit if I find no hotel.

Ralph Schwörer

Age: 52

Location: Freiburg, Germany (Schwarzwald)

Cap number: 68

Your bike: BQ (from Freiburg) Disc Race RS, Ultegra Di2, bikepacking-race-wheels by RADPLAN DELTA with SON deluxe, Supernova E3 Triple 2 front light.

Your key items of kit: Cumulus sleeping bag, Therm-A-Rest NeoAir UberLite sleeping pad, everve me bib shorts, Garmin GPSMAP 64s

Gerhard Dashuber

Age: 56

Location: Garching an der Alz, Germany

Cap number: 30

Your bike: Lapierre Xelius Ultimate, XL, Sram Force AXS, Front 35-48T Back 10-36T, DT-Swiss PCR 1400 Spline with Continental 5000 Tubeless 28mm

Your key items of kit: The most important key element is navigation and nutrition. I have been vegan for many years. I have two cycling pairs of cycling shorts, two jerseys and a rain jacket and rain pants. Arm warmers and leg warmers, gloves, helmet and glasses, cycling shoes, a T-shirt. That's all! At night I want to cycle long, sleep little, but then in a hotel.

Tomas Dvorak

Age: 34

Location: Salzburg, Austria

Cap number: 80

Your bike: I am riding a Trek Checkpoint ALR4 2019 on the Continental GP4S Tyres @ 32mm, which should provide a bit more comfort and safer ride in case of bad weather. All my lights are battery operated, tested by years of everyday commuting.

Your key items of kit: I am taking a full bivvy set and plan to sleep as much as possible outside. All the sleeping gear is stored in the front drybag mounted to the aerobars. The saddle bag contains just clothes and food, all the tools, spare parts and hygiene is stored in the frame bag. I'll be navigating solely by my smartphone.

Philippe Greif

Age: 37

Location: Berlin, Germany

Cap number: 64

Your bike: Specialized Diverge Comp 2020. Bags by Apidura/Revelate Designs, Garmin Edge 1030.

Your key items of kit: With a Son Dynamo and a full bivvy setup I am opting for a maximum flexibility. With regard to the weather forecast I also got a shower cap!

Gerold Lehmann

Age: 60

Location: Vienna, Austria

Cap number: 40

Your bike: I am riding my new Rose Backroad with a 2 x 11 GPX groupset. I will be running 28" wheels with Continental 4000 tyres with an SP dynamo on the front wheel connecting to the front light and for charching up a powerbank (necessary to charge my smartphone during the ride).

Your key items of kit: I have two Assos trousers with me. I’ll take a bivvy bag and sleeping bag but plan to sleep most of the nights in hotels. All the stuff is in two Arcel panniers and in an Ortlieb accessory hanle-bar-pack. Navigation will be done with smartphone and a Garmin etrex-device.

Torsten Frank

Age: 49

Location: Wuppertal, Germany

Cap number: 44

Your bike: I'm riding my No.22 Bicycles Drifter with a Sram Red etap AXS 2x groupset. It's my bike of choice for all things from fast gravel to continent-spanning ultraracing. For a race like the TPBR, I run DT Swiss ERC 1400 Spline 47 wheels with a SON delux dynamo hub in the front wheel, powering a Forumslader charger with integrated powerpack and a kLite Bikepacker Ultra (road) light. For the rear I run battery/usb charged lights.

Your key items of kit: Navigation and recording by my trusty Wahoo Elemnt. I have an ultralight inflatable Sea to Summit mat and an ultralight BorahGear Dyneema bivy. Together with my Patagonia Puffy jacket which doubles up for early morning alpine pass decent coziness this forms my sleeping system. Safe for some really atrocious weather I'll probably only sleep once or twice in a hotel this year - but we will see how this pans out. Hopefully I and all the others will have much fun and a great and safe race.

Sofiane Sehili

Age: 38

Location: Paris, France

Cap number: 94

Your bike: Bombtrack Tempest C, Hunt Aero 30 carbon wheels, René Herse Chinook pass tires 28c, ultegra/105 groupset, a mix of Ritchey, Deda and Cannondale for stem, seat post and bars, Profile aerobars, Fizik saddle

Your key items of kit: Apidura bags. Supernova airstream front and tail light. Garmin etrex 20 and edge 810. Dhb kit (Aeron lab ultra light bib, rain defence jersey, HP waterproof jacket). No sleeping kit hahaha! My best asset for this race is the colour of my bike. It's red and everyone know red bikes are faster!

Jost Schumski

Age: 34

Location: Wuppertal, Germany

Cap number: 36

Your bike: Since the beginning of the year I've been riding my 2019 Veloheld Icon X with a Shimano Uletrga Di2 groupset. With gravel tyres I rode through Denmark during the Transcimbrica and now I use Continental GP5000 Tubeless tyres. The SON Dynamo spend enough energy for light and all my devices.

Your key items of kit: I will take a Sea to summit ultralight mat and a Outdoor Research Helium Bivy with a cheap sleeping bag. I will keep them in my handlebar role and all other clothes in the saddle pack.

Gabi Winck

Age: 57

Location: Brixen, Italy

Cap number: 101

Your bike: Simplon KIARO DISC; ULTEGRA DI2; SON delux 12 Dynamo; Front light SON edelux II; busch&müller USB-Werk; Syntace Aerobar, ISM PL 1.1 Road.

Your key items of kit: I hope that in the end I don't carry too many things in the Apidura and Revelate bags, that I find my way safely to Nice with the Garmin Edge 1030. I also want to dream for a few hours in my bivy: MSR Pro Bivy, Therma-a-Rest, Neoair; Yeti/Passion One (total 1010g) ...and last but not least that my seat bones are not too strained in my beloved cycling shorts Nicenora from Dos Caballos.

Jens Becker

Age: 54

Location: Waltrop, Germany

Cap number: 10

Your bike: Ridley Fenix SL with Campagnolo Chorus, SON Dynamo with Edelux 2, Syntace C3.

Your key items of kit: Garmin Edge 530

Dominik Zimmermann

Age: 39

Location: Germany

Cap number: 19

Your bike: Merida Scultura, Ultegra group set, SP Hub Dynamo, Profile Design Aero Bars.

Your key items of kit: I’m taking a down sleeping bag and mat with me and plan to sleep outdoors as much as possible. Oh and a tiny mossy net as there is nothing worse than trying to get some sleep while being eaten my mossies. 2 pair of cycling shorts is another luxury I’m taking. Some rain protection gear and a warmer fleece jacket, leg warmers, gloves when it gets cold. Navigation will hopefully happen through a SIGMA Rox 12 if it doesn’t crash.

Andrew Phillips

Age: 31

Location: Yorkshire, UK

Cap number: 90

Your bike: Bespoke Orb carbon gravel frame with Ultegra Di2 groupset, Orb Sparta wheelset, and Continental 5000TL tyres.

Your key items of kit: Navigation with my Wahoo Elemnt. For lighting, I have a Sinewave Beacon powered by an SP dynamo hub, my trusty Exposure Tracr rear light, and the obligatory Orb Bidon for side visibility! Everything else is packed into Topeak bags, with a small saddle bag to minimise swing when climbing out of the saddle. Gore waterproofs, and a Rab Down jacket to sleep in complete the package.

Ivan Brown

Age: 44

Location: US citizen living in Barcelona, Spain

Cap number: 29

Your bike: I’ll be riding a mostly stock 2019 Canyon Endurace CF 8.0 SL with Di2 to save my hands, Syntace C3 aerobars, a Supernova E3 Pro front/back light set powered by a SONdelux 12 on a Hunt wheel, and a set of SKS Raceblade Pro XL mudguards to keep my bum and back dry.

Your key items of kit: In an effort to keep somewhat cool and dry and to save on multiple applications of sun cream I’m going with Castelli ultra-light, UV blocking sleeves and legs. A pair of winter gloves, an extra pair of shorts, and an extra pair of socks rounds me out. I’m bringing a bivvy, sleeping mat, bag, and pillow. Sounds like a lot, but I want to be able to sleep anywhere and it’s all ultralight. I was planning on taking my chances on running with only my Elemnt Roam and my phone as the emergency backup but, of course, my Roam just started developing a dead spot so there has been a last minute purchase of a Lezyne Super Pro I still need to figure out how to use.

Gerald Minichshofer

Age: 25

Location: St. Marien, Austria

Cap number: 88

Your bike: I built this bike based on a mountain bike frame for touring through Indonesia. It worked so well that it became my favourite bike. Stronglight 99 crankset, Dura Ace 7700 derailleurs, Campagnolo Ergopowers, Mafac cantilever brakes, SON generator hub and lights, Rene Herse handlebars and tires, Gilles Berthoud saddle, fenders and bags. Weight without bags is 12.3kg but I lost some weight to compensate for the weight my faithful machine gained.

Your key items of kit: Appcon3000 to charge electronic devices with the generator hub. Wide Rene Herse Rat Trap Pass tires for comfort on almost any terrain. Dromarti shoes which are also good for walking. Borah Gear bivy bag and Thermarest mat for sleeping outside if possible. Shower cap to protect the leather saddle.

Fabian Wurm

Age: 30

Location: Siegen, Germany

Cap number: 115

Your bike: Canyon Endurace CF SL 7.0 Disc (Shimano 105) with Profile Design T2 Aero Bar. Son Delux Hub with Mavic Open Pro and Mavic Aksium rear wheel. Supernova Frontlight. Powermeter 4iii left crank

Your key items of kit: Sea to Summit Ultralight sleeping mat, Sleeping Bag (Sea to Summit Spark), Rainjacket (Gore Shakedry), Castelli Jersey and Bibs. To navigate I use Garmin Edge 1030

Full racked bike weight: 18kg.

Stephan Simmermacher

Age: 52

Location: Munich, Germany

Cap number: 72

Your bike: I will be riding my Cannondale Supersix compact with 11-32 cassette.

Your key items of kit: Bags - a tailfin on the rear and a Gramm framebag with my 3L hydration bladder. Lights - Lupine Pico, Rotlicht and 2 battery packs Sleeping - I will carry a bivvy and a down jacket. Navigation - Garmin 1030. I have changed to a waxed chain and will try to see if I can make it to Nice like that. I've als got some JBL Bluetooth headphones just in case.

Gernot Stenz

Age: 52

Location: Munich, Germany

Cap number: 95

Your bike: I'll be riding my trusty old 2010 Canyon Ultimate CF SLX with a Dura Ace 7900 group set, Dura Ace C24 wheels with GP4000S 25mm tyres. Battery lights only.

Your key items of kit: As usual, I take my Elite Maxi Cincio bottles, my Topeak FuelTank plus a small Apidura top tube bag. Main kit will go inside the Viscacha bag.

Daniel Rigaud

Age: 49

Location: Jongieux, France

Cap number: 104

Your bike: Chiru Vagus Titanium, CEC Wheelset, Sram Force, Specialites TA Horizon 48X32, Vision 4D Flat Mas, Sinewave Light.

Your key items of kit: Bikepacking front ByMarion&Quentin, Rapha kit and Wahoo Roam

Lisa Grützmacher

Age: 32

Location: Berlin, Germany

Cap number: 100

Your bike: I will be riding my beloved Cinelli Vigorelli Road with an Ultegra groupset and a Praxis Works crank. I also rely on the Hunt 4 Season Aero Wheelset which have never let me down over the last 8000km. My bags are a wild mix of Apidura and Outershell Adventures, mostly for food and tools, suncream, raingear and charging gear. I ride without a dynamo hub so I will have to charge my Wahoo Element Roam, phone and lights with powerbanks. I don't plan to sleep much and will mostly rest wherever I can find a spot to lay down, therefore I carry a light sleepingbag, a mat and a superduper Alpkit Bivy, borrowed from a friend.

Your key items of kit: My Outershell Adventures handlebar bag! Usually it carries my camera, but for TPBR I want to focus on riding. Let's hope I can live up to that fast cheetah look.

Tomas Zaplatilek

Age: 34

Location: Hradec Králové, Czech Republic

Cap number: 50

Your bike: I'm riding my Canyon Inflite AL 2018 with Shimano Ultegra groupset. I changed my cassette for Shimano XT 11-40 to feel better in the steepest uphills. I will use 28mm Pirelli tyres.

Your key items of kit: For the third year I trust my Apidura bags - seatpost bag (14l), framebag and handlebar bag. This year I will test the waterproof socks from the local store Pod7Kilo.

Hans Versmissen

Age: 43

Location: Turnhout, Belgium

Cap number: 112

Your bike: I'm riding my comfortable Kona Libre DL. The small GRX gears should bring me up the climbs, without blowing the legs too soon. I'm very happy with the handbuild DTSwiss alu wheels with the Continental 5000's.

Your key items of kit: My bags are a combo of the thrusted Ortliebs and some new Agu pouches. They carry some clothes for all types of weather and leave a lot of space for food. I use a Garmin Edge 830 for navigation. My main front light is a HopeTech R4. I ride in a pair with Jan. We will ride to enjoy this race at the maximum. We take no sleeping gear with us. My favorite piece of kit... sun protector factor 50!

Jana Kesenheimer

Age: 25

Location: Innsbruck, Austria

Cap number: 32

Your bike: Specialized Diverge 2020 with Continental 5000 TL 32 mm mounted, Restrap saddle & frame bag, Specialized tob tube bag and Ortlieb waterproof packsack in front, mounted with a DrJon deck system. Bottle holder at the back from wohoo for extra aero water carrying...

Your key items of kit: Lupine Neo Light in front with a 6.9aH battery pack, sea to summit Traveller triI sleeping bag and mat, Cumulus lightweight bivvy, Assos Bibs and Specialized Sworks Cross Country Shoes.

Xavier Gregoire

Age: 49

Location: Maurienne, France

Cap number: 103

Your bike: Cannondale Supersix Evo with Apidura and Restrap bags.

Your key items of kit: My Nemo Zor 20S sleeping mat.

Thomas Ceyrowsky

Age: 37

Location: Düsseldorf, Germany

Cap number: 25

Your bike: My bike named Argos is a GT Grade AL(uminum) 105 from 2016. The 30-46 crank and the 11-34 cassette should come in handy in the mountains. Tyres are Continental GP 5000 (clinchers) on Hunt’s Four Season Gravel Disc wheels. On the front wheel there is a SON 28 dynamo hub, powering the B&M IQ-X front-, the SON backlight and the Sinewave Revolution charger.

Your key items of kit: My favourite pieces of kit are armwarmers combined with a rain jacket. I plan to bivvy (sleeping mat, bivvy, quilt and inflatable pillow – my personal luxury item - in the handlebar bag) as well as to sleep in hotels. GPS is a borrowed Wahoo Elemnt Roam (thank you, Frederic!).

Niklas Muxel

Age: 25

Location: Koblenz, Germany

Cap number: 60

Your bike: Giant DEFY Advanced Pro 1 with custom KÖNIGWHEELS SL50. I use a 28mm wide CONTI GP5000 TL for more comfort, tough roads and maybe a little bit of gravel. Gearing wise I ride a Shimano Ultegra DI2 50/34 and a 11/34 cassette, which is perfect for climbing through the alps :-)! The light system is a raveman PR 1200 and lezyne ProStrip 3000. I´ll charge them with one of my two power banks. For navigation I use my trusty Wahoo Element Bolt and my smartphone with downloaded maps.

Your key items of kit: My aim while packing was "pack light", so I only took things with me, which I will need a 100%. The key items for the packing are my Apidura race series bags. I love these packs, because they are extremely lightweight, waterproof and reliable. I don't have any sleeping kit with me. I will use a lightweight down jacket with an ultralight bivy bag, if necessary. While riding I´m wearing a bright yellow kit from VAN|RYSEL for better visibility day and night :-) In addition to my red bike I look like a Spanish flag :D