First route decision and a running event

First night of Munich-Milan is over

Some recover, other continue

Joshua Gohl

Stefan Klausen

Bianca Datola

Niek Schumacher

Martin Bourrely

feldtspur

Kevin J

Chris

Adam Egeto

Dome.S Team Peps Express

Daniel Schleh

Torsten

Velozipeden 1869

Stefan Bodenstein

Andreas Wagner

Daniel Ernst

Matthias Unger

Sebastian Käfer

Marc

Eva W.

Martin Lau

Christian

Mattia Donzelli w/o Laura 

Gmei.M Team Peps Express

Alexander Bauer LeXXi SmartSuits

Carsten Krüger

Sandra Prerovsky

Gavin Lord

Stefan Zeilmann

LauchLukas & WattVera

MALOJA AA -TEAM

Prestige Cycling Club

Tim Hessler & Francesco Alaimo

Csaba & Henrik

Rio & Moritz

Elisa & Adrian

Heath&Spin

MEDIA 1

MEDIA 2

## What a week!
More than one week ago, the Supergrevet Munich Milan started. Now, everyone has arrived in Milan. Okay, 2 riders had to scratch in the first 2 days and went back to Munich). But everyone else reached the city, some took a shortcut and a DNF.

We had them all: fast riders who rode through the night, riders, who rested for a few hours during the nights, riders, who enjoyed all the views, the caves and other highlights, riders with mechanicals, riders without, riders with tents, riders with bivi, riders with no sleeping setup at all.

At the finish, we saw many smiles and many happy riders, riders got their finisher beer and could decide between non-alcohol and alcohol version.

The last couple of days were filled with welcoming finishers, listening to their stories, finisher dinners, and more.

Tonight, one last dinner will mark a perfect ending of this adventure.

---
Photo: Pia Nowak / Piarazzi


Last finishers have arrived

Flamme rouge Mattia Donzelli started as a pair with Laura. Unfortunately she was suffering from knee pain and had to scratch around Sondrio. Mattia continued solo / without her and was the last rider chosing the gravel over the tarmac climb. Laura took a train to Milano to welcome Mattio.

The duo Heath&Spin decided to take a shortcut to be sure they will be at the finish line in time for a familys members birthday party. Also Daniel Ernst decided for a shortcut. He writes, it was fun but with his current legs he won't make it to his train back home. Challenges for Daniel already started before Supergrevet Munich Milan has begun. His night train from Utrecht to Munich got cancelled and he had to take a different connection. Then, his first tracker did not work and he started about 45 late. I guess he was the first one arriving at a landslide just before Scuol and walked through the mud. And there were some more challenges for him.

If anyone wonders, the trackers of the shortcut-riders will stay on so that we know when they arrive in Milan. Later, we will put them to DNF.

shortcuts to the finish line

## new wheelset
Team LauchLukas&WattVera had a mechanical with only 110 km to go. A bent rear derailleur lead to a dropped chain and this destroyed 5 spokes. Luckily they were not far from a bike shop and bought a new wheelset. They will pick up the front wheel later and made it to the finish line with a brand new rear wheel.

## roughest section at CP5
Yesterday Nick (organizer) took photos at CP5, the feelings of the participants were quite mixed, since this was in one of the roughest parts of the whole track. Some enjoyed the views, others were swearing a lot.

## many late night finishers
In the night from wednesday to thursday, many participants reached the finish line in the middle of the night. Somehow Nick managed to be there for every single one of them to give them their finisher shirts with a design made by @jule_kritzelt and a finisher beer (with or without alcohol).

## newbie
One of Team Prestige Cycling Club got his gravelbike just two weeks ago and started gravelbiking with this bike. So it was one of his very first experiences. He and his team partner finished this night and were super happy. They enjoyed their ride a lot, at least thats what they said.

## wedding category?
We were joking about a wedding category because cap #79 started 2 days after the actual start. Second and third finisher have wedding invitations in Italy.

new wheelset for the last km

The first team reaches the last checkpoint, at least we think so. The tracker stopped just before it. We texted them to make sure they are fine and its only a issue with the tracker! They have less than 125 km to go. At the same time, the 10th rider reaches the time stop and will be at the finish-line soon.

Unfortunately Laura Donzelli had to scratch due to knee pain. But her team partner Mattia will continue. So keep following the dot!

first team reaches last checkpoint

## construction sites and other hurdles
Yesterdays finishers found some parts of the route under water and Bianca even suggested, if heavy rainfalls continue, to bring swimmsuites. Somehow they managed to find the way, a detour seemed impossible as fallen trees blocke other paths.
![track under water munich milan gravel](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/48Lj4Z4sJhWgyhRmyq5g4L/9f226d08c8aee8c1fdb4ead598f67568/WhatsApp_Image_2024-08-27_at_00.37.55.jpeg)

Luckily today, some of the water already has gone.

## double the fun?
Yesterday Martin Lau (#95) had to descent to Bormio to get his brakes fixed. This morning he climbed up 20 switchbacks before realizing that his front brake still did not work. So he descended again, went to the bike shop again, and climbed up all the switchbacks a second time. Good thing about that, the construction workers had lunch break and he did not have to find a detour.

## breakfast until the rain stops
This morning, Eva (cap 97) sent a voice message talking about her journey. Yesterday she had breakfast at a Chalet and when she and others finished it, the rain was gone. Even the sun came out, perfect conditions in the high mountains, she said. It could not be better. Later, second climb of the day, the heat was challenging her again.

At the rough descent, her thoughts were driving her crazy. Am I right? Did I took the wrong way? She describes it kind of scaring being in this boulder field. But she had fun though and felt strong. At the rifugio she met Marc and Christian again and they said "they have a room for you". And so after 50 km she ended her day, she loved to stay a little longer in the mountains.
Today she felt the high altitude but enjoyed her ride.
## catching up
Cap 79, who started yesterday morning, is on his way to Checkpoint 2. 

## team heath&spin
The team with the not working tracker has arrived in Italy and they had dinner twice.

the struggle is real

## lost & found
Like in every event, some people lose some equipment, others find it. We heard about air pumps, tail lights and a fork pack with important documents in it. What an excitement for the rider, Stefan (#84). Luckily someone found it and gave it to Media Team 1. When Stefan realized his loss, he had no reception, so he did not know that the bag already was found. He descended the climb to search his bag and had to climb again up to CP2.
![WhatsApp Image 2024-08-26 at 10.27.34](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/3LvoXDTj8g8UHPIjLGdSio/cb6a0c19b6988d99ad352ee529051243/WhatsApp_Image_2024-08-26_at_10.27.34.jpeg)
## we have our first finishers
First finisher, Joshua Gohl, crossed the finish line after 2 days, 10 hours and 59 minutes. What a ride! Not far behind, Stefan Klausen reached the finish line. Including the time penalty of 4 hours for taking the tarmac climb he finished after 2 days, 18 hours and 26 minutes. 25 minutes later, the first womenm, Bianca arrived! 2 days, 18 hours and 51 minutes. This also includes the time penalty.
![PXL 20240826 164128694](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/77h3PrsNp1dt78zXgUkZAx/84b476c937f1f8885858c2f53973f07c/PXL_20240826_164128694.jpg)
![second finisher of supergrevet munich milan](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6NG979T8NzXJskeJT8dakj/28d64163a4b6728ee63f471edb12cf6d/PXL_20240826_200000895.jpg)
![first women and third overall finisher of munich milan: Bianca Datola](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1EsrFgVgN22yMkl6TciJOT/16b7552ca94d0fcd4d2d4fcbbe261259/PXL_20240826_202824733.MP.jpg)

first finisher, lost & found, 

For many riders, day 2 of Munich-Milan was a wet one, some even experienced hail and had to hide from thunderstorms. The riders in the front were less affected by this. 
# first riders
While talking about the front. Joshua seems to never stop, so maybe the only photo we will have, is a finisher photo. He has almost reached the last checkpoint, the most southern point of Swizerland. He still has to continue to ride for 127 km. 
Bianca and Stefan, who both chose the tarmac route option, both stopped in the night. Back on track, Stefan overtook Bianca while she was resting.  Right now they are on the ferry together. Both wanted to catch the first ferry but both got catched by a thunderstorm and had to hide for about one hour.
# last rider is ready to start
The last rider is about to start now. He was celebrating a wedding, thats why he starts with a delay of over 2 days.
# route choices so far
4:2 for the tarmac option.

This can bring a surprise, since Bianca and Stefan chose tarmac, Niek, who is on 4th position, took the gravel route. This means, Bianca and Stefan will get a 4 h time penalty. If Niek continues strong, e could still make up one or two places. 
# today morning
Some riders stayed in Scuol overnight, many chose the campsite. Christian was surprised by event photographer [Pia @piarazzi](https://www.instagram.com/piarazzi/) while pitching up his tent last night.
While watching and Instagram stories of the event, I got a pretty clear look: There are thunderstorms, again. Andreas Weber (86) wanted to start early but postponed it for safety reasons. Thats the only desicion you should make in this situation.
# another scratch
Alexander Bauer (#73) is suffering from knee pain since day one after hitting it hard somewhere. He tried to continue but now he found the best solution for himself. He will continue to Milan but he will not follow the route. His tracker will stay turned on until he reaches the finish. Then we will change his status to DNF.
# finisher shirts are prepared
Since the first finisher will reach the Arco della Pace in a few hours, his finisher shirt is ready for him. The shirt design is made by the one and only [@jule_kritzelt](https://www.instagram.com/jule_kritzelt/) and printed by our friend [Kerstin](https://www.instagram.com/krschdn/).

[Check out the design](https://www.instagram.com/p/C_FUkvIMLZ-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==).

thunderstorms

# after sun there comes rain
In the afternoon of day 2, the sky has opened up. Some riders found shelter in a refugio and will continue as soon as the rain stops.

# first scratches
Unfortunately Sandra Prerovsky (cap 89) had to scratch. A lot of things came together, knee pain, shifting wasn't working properly, and in the end a cough was added to the mix. See you!
The second scratch of day two is Carsten Krüger (cap 85) with abdominal pain. He suffered from it yesterday but hoped it would get better overnight. It did not. So he decided to ride back to Munich through heavy rain and then take the train home.
# route options
We did not hear anything about Joshuas (still first position) experiences on the gravel climb, but Bianca was suffering a lot on the tarmac one. I can imagine that the sun was burning. She enjoyed a little rest in drizzling rain, lying on the tarmac.
# tracker issues
Team Heath&Spin still has issues with their tracker. It turned off but won't turn on again. But when I last time heared from them, they were happy and have booked a hotel for tonight. "We are taking it super slow and having a really nice time"

![Team Heath&Spin](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/6WYaQ0UPczMVXdkCHauVop/250d9f1e4b4a31282c7d0c6e337c2f1e/24-08-24-MUC-MIL-45.jpg)

---
Photos: Pia Nowak [@piarazzi](https://www.instagram.com/piarazzi/)

The sky opened up

Joshua has made his route decision and rides the Passo Dordona, the rough and steep gravel option. What will all the other riders do?

Media Team 2 has stopped Niek Schumacher at Checkpoint 2 to let pass 450 runners, who just started a race around the lake.

![Media Team and Niek Schumacher](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/tYOROnPcyV1q7golDbikB/db748e172f2157a3bf0460ab7e3042d7/WhatsApp_Image_2024-08-25_at_10.55.08.jpeg)


We heard about some mechanicals, about some knee problems, about closed kitchen in hotels and more. This means, riders have to deal with lots of stuff next to riding their bike.

During the first night, most of the riders seem to have stopped, at least for a little nap. Some stayed on campsites, others in hotels or hostels.

As the front has almost reached km 400, we will soon see the first route decisions, which will be at km 430. Will they chose the steep and rocky gravel climb or will they take the tarmac alternative?

Bianca Datola is on second position now, about 80 km until we see her route choice.

Last night we got a message about a tracker not working, this means, team Heath&Spin (cap #47) is actually a bit further on the track. We try to solve the problem.

I also got a mid-pack update from Christian, cap #94, who spent the night on the campsite after Fernpass. He is perfectly in his schedule. His voice message sounds happy and he enjoys the route so far.

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Foto: Pia Nowak @piarazzi

Sandra Schuberth

Grevet Munich-Milan 2024 Tracking and Commentary

The Munich-Milan revives a long-forgotten classic that is considered a pioneering event for crossing the Alps by bike. The route originally ran from Milan over the southern end of Lake Garda and up the long Etschtal valley to Bolzano. From there the mystical Brenner Pass was tackled, which was a real challenge under the conditions at the time and was only overcome by the most skilled athletes.

Grevet Munich-Milan 2024

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