Omar Di Felice

Adam Bialek

Simon Morandell

Patrick Endriß

Daniel Burtscher

Kevin Wernhammer

Tomáš Křováček

Erik Lommel

Thomas Wiese

Claudi Decker

Peter Dietz

Günther Altersberger

Ramunas Valeika

Rik Deckx

Jan Van Gorp

Niclas Huber

Guido Melzenbach

Marc Förschler

Simeon Eckhardt

Philipp Gesang

Miguel Brichant

Christoph Hartmann

Igor Talevski

Michael Morschhäuser

Daniel Berescu

Andreas Bauer

Stefan Kiene

Pierre Yves Rosoux

Martin Klauser

Jonas Götte

David Krueger

Max Eckl

Patrick Weber

Franzi Buss

Timo Kramer

Niko Presl

Emiel Boersma

Sonja Hastenrath

Joost Heyvaert

Lukas Thierau

Nikolai Nantschev

Arne Böttger

Marc Schnitzius

Olaf Kreuzberg

Rainer Schmid

Pavel Růžička

Toni Säilä

Benny Karl

Nicholas Fowell

Miikka Isoniemi

Thomas Dendl

Winfred Peereboom

Eyvind Bergström

Martin Haubold

Thomas Vergote

Jens Hielscher

Philipp Stadler

Ferruccio Labita

Hendrik Düsberg

Vesa Vuori

Joris Bosch

Tobi Schulte

Michael Wiese

Benno Sellin

Karl Paratscha

Lammert De Jong

Lennard Van Oosten

Richard Kuchar

Michael Danner

Robert Sovina

Mahbubur Rahman

Sebastian Lobinger

Walter Fiessinger

Olaf Zenker

Leo Braun

Denis Zyulyamov

Joshua Lequen

Gerhard Kohl

Felix Turian

Bart Van Den Akker

Moritz Klauer

Becca Frank

Volker Puetz

Sebastian Tenkleve

Janina Bertram

Severin Jacobi

Simon Jetzinger

Jakob Kuntz

Maximilian Roth

Suraj Srinivas

Åsa Hittig

Henrik Hittig

David Schönberg

Bogdan Ceapraga

Iulian Ene

Vlad Coman

Iñaki

Fynn

Paul

Erich

Severin

__Stories of MdBC25
Chapter 2: Kevin, the Warrior__

It is 10:30 p.m. Darkness has fallen over Munich. The air is still. And then a silhouette approaches. Broad shoulders, determined stride, the unmistakable aura of a man who has stared into the abyss... and pedaled through it.

Kevin has arrived.

Sixth place. "Congratulations!" I shout.
He responds with a low, half-smile and a gravelly “Danke.”
He sits on a bench, breathes deep. At last—rest.

Kevin isn’t just any rider. He looks strong, the kind of guy you'd cast in Gladiator 2. As an organizer, you love guys like Kevin. You can design the most punishing, soul-crushing route imaginable—and he won’t complain. He’ll just keep going. Because Kevin doesn’t quit. Ever.

He takes off his shoes. Then the socks. And there they are: his war wounds. The soles of his feet—completely skinned. Just raw, red pain.

“I think I’ll have to see my doctor,” he says, almost casually.

I stare. He sees my look and feels compelled to explain, as if this were a normal Tuesday.

“Well,” he begins, “I reached Monte Zoncolan. The ramps were brutal. Too steep to ride. Walking with cycling shoes? Impossible. So…”
A pause.
“I went barefoot.”

Barefoot. Up Zoncolan. Ten kilometers of scorching asphalt. In 40°C heat.
Rest? Not an option.
From there? Still 450 km to Munich.

“Where are you from?” I ask, half in awe.
“Graz, Austria,” he says.

Of course. Graz. Where legends are born and pain is just a suggestion.

“I knew something was wrong, every pedal stroke hurt like hell. But, you know... it is what it is.”

He looks for his hotel. “Four kilometers north,” I say.
“And my drop bag?”
“Four kilometers south.”

His eyes widen, not in fear, but in quiet surrender. Not to the challenge—but to honor. A man this proud doesn’t complain. Doesn’t ask for mercy. He simply... endures.

“Tell you what,” I offer, “Wait here. I’ll fetch the bag. But listen—another rider is arriving in 30 minutes. If I don’t make it back in time, film the finish, will you?

“Sure,” he says. “Though honestly—I can go get the bag. Eight more kilometers is nothing.”

And I believe him. Kevin could probably ride another 800 km and still arrive before breakfast.

“No, really. Rest. Wait here.”

I go. I return. Predictably, Kevin is exactly where I left him—still at the finish line. He’s not sitting. He’s merged with the bench. A warrior in hibernation. His eyes closed, body still. I suspect he’s astral projecting over the Alps.

![Kevin](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4voZ04odzTai2nDHCJLlO5/57a18a8b5d4ae7103ce0426b9c5bd701/PXL_20250625_213101060.jpg)

I snap a quick photo. He wakes suddenly, eyes darting around like a man who’s unsure which century he’s in.

“Relax, Kevin. Here’s your bag.”

“Danke,” he says once again, with the same quiet strength.

Then he walks off into the night. Feet shredded. Body drained. Spirit unbroken.

__Kevin. A great guy. A greater warrior.__

Stories of Monaco di Baviera Classic 2025 - Chapter II: Kevin, the warrior

__Thursday. Two days before the start of the Monaco di Baviera Classic 2025.__
I meet them by chance: three Romanians waiting for a fourth. They’re here to welcome Daniel, another solo Romanian rider, before heading off for some beers.
“We’ve been celebrating,” Vlad tells me with a grin. “It’s been a year since we last saw each other.”
Hydration—via beer, naturally.
The moment you see them, you sense it: they’ve been through things together. There's an aura—something about their energy says they’re not just here to ride. They’re here to reunite.
Bogdan, Vlad, and Iulian meet once a year to ride. Exactly one year ago, they did a 600km brevet in northern Italy. It was there, by complete coincidence, that they first heard about the Monaco di Baviera Classic.
“We’ll do it next year,” they decided on the spot.
Bogdan, based in Germany, is the mastermind of the operation. He coordinated logistics, reviewed the route, and broke it down into eight equal stages.
Vlad is old-school. The kind of guy who wears Eastern Bloc-style ear warmers even when it’s 40 degrees out. The kind who includes a full pack of cigarettes and a lighter in his minimalist bikepacking kit.
Iulian is quieter. More of a follower. Steady and loyal.
__On Friday, the day before the challenge__, they ask me which ride they should do as a warm-up. They show me a 130 km route to Tegernsee.
“The ride is nice, and the views are worth it,” I say. “But... is that not a bit much the day before the event?”
“We’re here, might as well make the most of it.”
__Saturday. The challenge begins.__
They’ve split the route into eight days. The goal is to earn the finisher’s medal, with as few checkpoints as possible. Just two. Minimalist, even in strategy.
They understand the importance of celebrating small victories. Each time they hit their daily goal, they don’t ask themselves if they have more miles in their legs. They celebrate.
Rehydration—again, via beer.
__Day Six.__
I message Bogdan. Their tracker shows them riding separately. “Are you guys still together?” I ask. “If not, I’ll have to disqualify you.”
Within minutes, they send me a group photo from the road—Vlad pulling a face that says come on, man... we’re here. Also a picture of the tracker, split but in sync.
![Romanian Trio 1](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/4RdOaD1qHgpTyxVRza4uqE/1f94344e7e320ebdf05db8baad79045a/2.png)
Shortly after, trouble hits.
“We had a small accident,” Bogdan reports.
“Vlad knocked me over from behind. His dropbar’s broken, and my front wheel is almost rubbing the frame.”
With two days left, their challenge gets harder. On Thursday, they fall short of their distance target. That means Friday and Saturday will be push days.
__Saturday evening.__
They arrive just two hours before the challenge closes at sunset. As they roll in, the small crowd waiting at the finish line breaks into applause. Medal: earned.
Bogdan shows me the front wheel. I honestly can’t tell if the shape was square or round.
“400 km like this,” he says proudly.
Vlad smiles, pulls out a cigarette. Celebration.
“I know, I’m not a good example,” he shrugs.
Iulian, visibly emotional, gives me a hug. “Thank you for this,” he says.
We only handed you the brush.
__You were the ones who painted the picture.__

__The Romanian Trio: great guys, even better companions.__

Stories of Monaco di Baviera Classic 2025 - Chapter I: The Romanian Trio

One of the most demanding ultradistance cycling challenges in Europe, __Monaco di Baviera Classic__, challenges riders with __1,550 km__ and a brutal __30,000 meters__ of elevation gain, much of it above 1,500 meters, including countless steep and technical climbs.

In the men’s category, __Omar di Felice__ finished first after an intense battle with Adam Bialek, who led for much of the route. Omar made his move in the final third of the challenge, eventually crossing the finish line 39 minutes ahead with a total time of 91 hours and 8 minutes.
![Omar di Felice](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/7lFvDH2yhi5Ngy4PjAQDiD/5ff2c325f3a50392935d5f286eba426b/IMG-20250625-WA0014.jpg)
In the women’s category, __Claudi Decker__ delivered a dominant performance from start to finish. Despite a 30-minute late start due to a missed alarm, she had already taken the lead by the first checkpoint in Eng Alm. Claudi held a strong position between 8 and 10 overall for most of the challenge, ultimately finishing 10th overall with a time of 118 hours and 14 minutes.
![Claudi Decker](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/1BVavtfBkOhjgsGDYPE3gz/44d5f5071b3bd91909a31fbc977134b6/Screenshot_20250623-225429.png)
In teams of 2, __Janina Bertram and Severin Jacobi__ dominated the challenge since the beginning, finishing the challenging route in 160 hours and 9 minutes, being also the only Team who was able to complete all the 10 checkpoints.
![Janina and Severin](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/5ZKTkmJX326IjlQrTzK2uR/97e23bc7ff9784a965d0a5c971303720/IMG-20250628-WA0004.jpg)

Huge congratulations to Omar, Claudi, Janina, Severin and all the finishers of this epic challenge. You’ve conquered one of the toughest routes out there — respect!

Pics: Paul Graf, Fynn Graf, Severin Groever

Meet the First Finishers of the Monaco di Baviera Classic 2025!

As the sun set over the eighth and final day of Monaco di Baviera Classic 2025, a new chapter in ultracycling was written.

While many riders were already resting, sharing stories, and preparing for the MdBC Rider Get-Together, __16 determined souls were still out there__ — pushing through exhaustion, chasing the horizon, and racing against time to reach the finish line before darkness fell.

Their eyes fixed on the medal, their hearts fueled by months of dedication, they rode through pain, doubt, and fatigue. __And one by one, they arrived__ — welcomed by tears, cheers, and the kind of hugs that only those who’ve been through the same battle can give.

__Today was a day of raw emotion__. Of triumph earned, of reunions with those who became family on the road. Bonds forged in suffering and joy, in shared silence, in knowing glances at bike lines and mountain passes — bonds that will last a lifetime.

And for those who couldn’t reach the finish line this time — your courage, your effort, and your presence out there still resonate deeply. You rode the same roads, faced the same storms, and carried the same dream. __This is not the end — it’s a powerful beginning__. In one year, the road will rise to meet you once again. And we’ll be here, waiting.

Today, __Monaco di Baviera Classic 2025__ comes to an end.

But new legends were born. And so were unbreakable connections.

MdBC 25 Day 8 – 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐖𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝, 𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫

Seven days of joy, glory, and the grind of the open road.
Today, we witnessed finishers reaching the MdBC's flag —some with tears, some with roars, all with the weight of a journey few dare to take.

__But the clock ticks on.__
Others are still out there, fighting every kilometer. __The next sunset will bring the final curtain__—when the route closes, and the legend of this year’s Monaco di Baviera Classic is written in full.

__Out there now ride the last dreamers.__
And until the very end, the road still listens.

MdBC 25 Day 7 – The Final Ascent

The mountains tested every ounce of strength today. As the clock ticks down, Monaco di Baviera Classic 2025 enters its __final 48 hours__ — and the battle is far from over.

More finishers crossed the line, triumph shining through exhaustion. Meanwhile, the last riders left the Dolomites behind, and others faced two mythical places: __Monte Zoncolan and the Großglockner Alpenstraße.__

The day began under scorching sun and ended with storms of biblical force. In Bavaria, Nikolai Nantschev reported, “I’ve never seen rain like this in my life.”

And the mountains claimed their toll.

__Cap93 Benno Sellin__, after days of relentless suffering — knee pain, heat, saddle sores, a broken spoke, and stomach issues — laid down his sword at the foot of Zoncolan. A warrior's fight, surrender at the giant.

__Cap73 Philipp Stadler__ was stopped in his tracks by a furious storm on the Großglockner. Nature speaks, and sometimes we must yield.

But the spirit of this challenge burns bright. With half the field still riding, chasing the finish with every breath, every pedal stroke — __the final showdown has begun.__

MdBC 25 Day 6 — Where Heroes Fall and Legends Rise

__Day 5 will be remembered as "The Day of the Fire".__

__The duel between the great Adam Bialek and Omar Di Felice reached its peak 21 minutes after the start of the day,__ at 00:21h , when Omar reached the end point. Both delivered a spectacular performance and were proudly welcomed by the first finisher of the MdBC24 edition. What a moment!

__In the field,__ later in the day, the sun tested everyone. With the mercury hitting __40°C__, the Monaco di Baviera Classic turned into a furnace. Riders fought not only the mountains — but the blazing heat from above and the clock ticking below.

While the heat scorched the roads, __a wave of 4 further new legends crossed the finish line__. Their determination and strategy have earned them glory in the MdBC Hall of Legends.

__Meanwhile, a fierce second group is deep in the Dolomites__ — battling gradients, heatwaves, and the pressure of the final cutoff this Saturday, but enjoying a remarkable panorama after each turn. They climb, descend, and push through the fire, eyes locked on glory.

Day 5 had following __scratches__:

- Thomas Vergote, due to saddle sores.
- Martin Haubold, due to the combination of sitting problems and technical issues
- Richard Kuchar
- Robert Sovina
- Hendrick Düsberg

__Challenge is not over. It is just burning.__

MdBC 25 Day 5 — The Day on The Fire

A day written in granite, sweat, and silence.
__The battle for the lead reached its climax today — two titans, one road.__

__Omar di Felice and Adam Bialek__ clashed twice on sacred ground.
First, on the legendary Großglockner Alpenstraße, a road that tests not only legs, but resolve.
Then came Kitzbüheler Horn—brutal, unrelenting, a wall that does not forgive. Blow for blow, push for push, the final duel was underway.

Behind them, far from the spotlight but no less heroic, __the heart of the peloton beats on__. __Deep in the Dolomites__, riders battled their own limits.
At dawn, we saw __Peter Dietz__ and __Ramunas Valeika__ reach the crest of the Falzarego–Valparola combo—two passes, one soul-breaking effort, and a view earned with everything they had left.

On day 4 we had some __scratches__:
- Joris Bosch, another MdBC Legend who needs to abandon for being sick
- Mahbubur Rahman, who couldn't solve an issue with his bike and rented a new one the first day, succumbed to the gradients today
- Walter Fiessinger is also out for knie pain
- Michael Wiese, due to an infection
- Lammert de Jong, with severe sitting issues

__Day 4 was more than just a chapter. It was the moment where fate was sealed and legends were forged.__

MdBC 25 Day 4 — The Final Duel ⚔️

The third dawn rose ON 23/06/2025 over the mountains with a blazing sun—another __relentless day of heat__, the third in a row. Riders battled the furnace of the early hours, suffering and savoring in equal measure the brutality and beauty of this challenge.

__Overnight__, the front pack carved its way through the legendary Dolomites under a canopy of stars. Adam Bialek, a machine of quiet determination, ticked off pass after pass with unwavering focus. Meanwhile, deeper in the field, __riders faced their own personal epics__ on climbs that have broken many: Passo Manghen, Passo Gavia, or the monstrous Mortirolo.

On Manghen, we witnessed __Claudi Decker__ climbing like a spirit of the mountain—strong, steady, and utterly in tune with the landscape. __“I’m loving every minute of this”__, she said, smiling despite the effort. Not far behind, __Thomas Vergote__ pushed through with admirable tenacity, a masterclass in consistency and willpower.

__But the mountains were not done. By afternoon,__ the sky turned violent—dark clouds roared in, unleashing __powerful storms and a sudden plunge in temperature__. Riders were forced to seek __shelter__, caught between lightning strikes and drenched roads.

At the front, __Adam Bialek__ appeared to have paused for a few hours, allowing the ever-calculating __Omar Di Felice to seize the lead__. It's a tactical duel at the sharp end of the challenge—anything can still happen.

__In the women’s field, Claudi Decker__ continued her phenomenal ride, undeterred and unstoppable.

But the day also brought __farewells__.

We said goodbye to:

- Tobi Schulte, mechanical failure (rear shift broken)
- Vesa Vuori
- Joshua Lequen
- Lennard van Oosten
- Ferruccio Labita, who was feeling bad since yesterday
- Henrik & Åsa Hittig, forced to stop due to Henrik’s ongoing food poisoning
- Olaf Zenker

__Their journeys end here, but their courage echoes on.

__This is #ultracycling. This is Monaco di Baviera Classic.__
__

MdBC 25 Day 3 — Fire, storms and the unbreakable ones

On day 2, the real test began.

Many riders turned their wheels toward legends — Stelvio, Mortirolo or Gavia — names etched in cycling lore and alpine stone.

__Stelvio__ was the first to rise. Towering, solemn, and endless, its serpentine switchbacks carved upward into the cold silence. It didn’t roar. It watched. And one by one, most of the riders who didn't dare yesterday climbed into its gaze.

What came next for many was raw: __Mortirolo__ — steep, brutal, and unapologetic. It stripped riders to their essence. There was no rhythm, only survival.

Then came __Gavia__, remote and ghostly. Second checkpoint, but almost no one who has reached Ponte di Legno has skipped it. The air thinned, the road narrowed, and silence wrapped the climb like snow. It wasn’t just a pass — it was a passage, a place where something had to be left behind to continue.

__Adam Bialek still leads the charge__ with an unrelenting pace, carving through the route like a force of nature. But the chase is far from over—hot __on his heels ride the relentless Omar Di Felice, the fierce Simon Morandell, and the determined Benny Karl__. A battle of wills is unfolding, and the __next chapter__ begins with the legendary ascents of the Dolomites, starting with __Passo Sella.
__
__In the women’s field, Claudi Decker__ continues to inspire. At dawn, she conquered the brutal Mortirolo, and __by midday__, we saw her flying down __Passo Gavia__. The other two brave woman riding solo, __Sonja Hastenrath and Franzi Buss__, already conquered Stelvio and __Mortirolo__.

On the 2nd day we saw __4 scratches__:
__Cap37 Sebastian Lobinger__ scratched after hitting a photole while descending Gavia in the front group. A spoke was damaged and it was not reparable at the bike shop.
__Cap60 Michael Danner__ enjoyed his birthday, but at the end decided to scratch due to knie pain.
__Cap84 Denis Zyulyamov__ also decided to scratch.
__Cap67 Karl Paratscha__ scratched too.

The challenge is far from over. The mountains are watching.

MdBC 25 Day 2 — Where the Giants Awakened

Fynn Graf

A semi-free route road, ultra-distance event, which starts in Munich and crosses through Austria and the Italian Dolomites.

Monaco di Baviera Classic 2025 Tracking and Commentary

The second edition of Monaco di Baviera Classic is a semi-free road route of 1200km and 27,000 meters elevation gain.


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