Max Riese

Markus Barden

Jörg Furnivall

Helge Meyer

Mauro Saltalamacchia

Markus Kauf

Anno Sebbel

Christian Voit

Steven Le Fevre

Enrico Halix

Julien Knuchel

Florian Heilmann

Roland Heilmann

Benjamin Höhn

Richard Schroeder

Dirk Banowski

Benedict Gärtner

Miguel Lex

Julius Trasselli

Tim McInnes

Angus Buchanan

Lorenz Eimansberger

Lars Köhler

Ralf Schmidt

Frank Schaefer

Markus Winter

Luca Hahn

Sebastian Golisch

Mascha Wahlig

Jost Litzen

Matthias Pawliczek

David Whittingham

Valentin Ziegenrücker

Jannes Kirschner

Jona Riechmann

Frank Becker

Artur Usselmann

Markus Valentin

Jan-Philipp Sacher

Theresia Waller

Thomas Fandrich

Ralf Sigmund

Werner Gasser

Claus Enneper

Michael Scale

Michael Gastaldo

Marc Schnitzius

Lukas Eger

Lisa Weichert

Maya Christofori

Jannis Ackermann

Benedikt Meibert

Conrad Zimmermann

Robert Krügel

Hanna Claesdotter

Hristos Fleturis

Muhip Ege CAGLIDIL

Mario Kraussler

Michael Kimmich

Valeska Kröll

Christian Brinkmann

Marcel Urbanowicz

Sebastian Ströhla

Oliver Zevenhek

Victor Eklund

Sebastian Sarx

Anatole Naimi

Simon Gwiggner

Harry Boyle

Lorenzo Berti

Marcus Nicolson

Jan-Jaap Gerritsma

Youri Zwart

Julian Koschik

Marvin Schwarz

Bastian Völkl

Justus Wiegand

Max Power

Adam Walentynowicz

Felix Schlereth

Christoph Renzing

Felix Neumann

Sven Wagner

Max Göller

Laura Trost

Matthias Eurich

Lukas Hörnchen

Laura Niediek

Felipe Duque

Mario Ra

Elvinas Valenas

Jonas Vogt

Mathias Wildgrube

David von der Tann

Arne Köhler

Sebastian Duerer

Maximilian Ebrecht

Mathias Ibendorf

vladislav alukhanov

Frank Morjan

Giacomo Mugnai

Alexander Becker

Eric Bauer

Haydn Ward-Streeter

Erik Dreifke

Denny Günther

Christian Ott

Simon Ruhland

Jan Altinbas

Adrian Hempel

Peti Tretwerk

Philipp Böckmann

Paul Boehnke

Michael Welker

Leen van Hees

Dries Hiroux

Maxime WALCZYNSKI

Sebastian Bilian

Ole Von Stuckrad

Philip Visser

Jonas Bader

Josef Hämmerl

Matthias Stepper

Moritz Fuchs

Franz Rudolph

Jastus Kohoff

Jonas Mahlert

Jan Küpper

Iva Juzova

Christopher Zapp

Mike Ioannidis

Martin Behrnd

Uwe Kunzelmann

Bastian Boss

Sascha Kaufmes

Steve Lehmann

Dennis Stegemann

Lisa Winkler

Martin Knapp

Matthias Hausmann

Rico Roschlau

Christian Horn

Cristina Nardin

Maximilian Dannat

Xavier Petitjean

Cédric BOULOIS

Sandor Decsy

Jonathan Neu

Andreas Kostner

Bernd Ahlers

Thomsen Merkel

Franziska Franke

Mikolaj Lewandowski

Mathias Janos Gebauer

Jörn Petersen

Tobias Gonther

Marvin Neu

Tobias Bothmann

Sören Prestel

Matthias Winkler

Svante Lietzke

Marvin Tischler

Tim Lixfeld

Simon Schuller

Space Shuttle 1

Space Shuttle 2

As the sun sets on the final day of SNEAK PEAKS, the riders are basking in the warmth of their victory, surrounded by snow-capped mountains that have served as a formidable backdrop to this incredible ultra-distance bikepacking event. Despite the unpredictable weather and the toll it has taken on their bodies, the overall mood is one of camaraderie and accomplishment.

The finisher party was a celebration of shared experiences, with 15 riders coming together to reflect on their journey and toast to their collective triumph. __The rankings will be updated based on total riding time rather than time of arrival, ensuring a fair and accurate assessment of performance.__

With a scratching rate of 39%, or 68 riders, SNEAK PEAKS has proven to be a challenging yet rewarding event. The riders who persevered have demonstrated incredible resilience and a deep-rooted passion for bikepacking and adventure.

__Adventure Highlights:__
Anno Sebbel made the difficult decision to scratch due to the extreme cold and harsh conditions. However, he was so impressed by the event that he expressed uncertainty about whether any other bikepacking experience could match it.
Helge Meyer and Jörg Furnivall continued their journey despite being offered assistance, ultimately deciding to share the third spot on the leaderboard. Their bond formed during the event will undoubtedly endure beyond SNEAK PEAKS.
Mauro Saltalamacchia finished in fourth place, becoming the fifth person to complete the Adventure route.
Markus Kauf is still on his way back to Bolzano, currently at CP8 and expected to cross the finish line in three to four days.

__Classic and Entree Results:__
Artur Usselmann opted to rest in a hotel for a night before completing the Classic route by road.
A total of 9 riders finished the Classic route.
In the Entree category, 45 riders successfully crossed the finish line.

SNEAK PEAKS has once again proven to be a remarkable event, showcasing the endurance, determination, and camaraderie of its participants. As the riders reflect on their journey and the challenges they overcame, they can take pride in their accomplishment and the lasting memories they have created together.


A thrilling conclusion

__The route will undergo another adjustment because of the snowfall and dropping temperatures to ensure the safety of all riders. With these adjustments, riders are advised to take the road back to Bozen.__

As the final riders from the Entree and Classic routes roll into the finish, the excitement for SNEAK PEAKS remains high. The finisher party on Friday promises to be a celebration of incredible feats and unwavering determination. The event has showcased the human spirit in the face of adversity, and the camaraderie among participants has been a highlight.

__Adventure Route: A Dangerous Descent__
The Adventure route has proven to be a formidable challenge, with extreme temperatures, snow, and side winds creating dangerous conditions. Seasoned rider Markus Barden made the difficult decision to abandon the final climb, recognizing the risk to his safety. In recognition of his incredible effort, organizers have offered him the option to finish the route on road without receiving a DNF.
After stating that this event is not a challenge meant to be faced alone, Markus expressed his admiration for the first finisher, Max Riese, who completed much of the route pushing on by himself. Five riders remain on the Adventure route, with most of them likely to wait out the snow and take advantage of the same opportunity as Markus. Anno Sebbel is expected to be the next finisher, followed by Helge Meyer, Jörg Furnivall, Mauro Saltalamacchia, and Markus Kauf.

__Classic Route: A friendly competition__
In the Classic route, Valentin Ziegenrücker edged out Jannes Kirschner in a hard-fought battle between the two riders. Artur Usselmann is the last rider on the route and plans to wait out the weather.

__Entree Route: Final Push__
The Entree route is nearing its conclusion, with the next finishers Ole Von Stuckrad and Sebastian Bilian having the option to finish on road without receiving a DNF due to the challenging conditions. Very few riders remain on the route and are expected to finish soon.


Day 7 - Slowly coming to a close

The sixth day of SNEAK PEAKS is in the books, and the atmosphere at the finish line in Bozen is exhilarating! Over 30 riders have crossed the finish line, including the top 5 from the Classic route, as well as Max Riese, the only one to complete the Adventure route so far. Every single finisher, regardless of the chosen route, is a testament to incredible resilience and determination. 

From the steep climbs to the ever-changing weather, these riders have faced challenges that would test even the most experienced cyclists. Despite the elements, including heavy rainfall and storms that forced route changes to ensure safety, the riders have persevered.

The upcoming weather is expected to take another turn for the worse. Heavy snowfall is predicted in some Rifugios, and rain will likely drench the valleys. As the challenges of the event increase, more riders may be forced to scratch, adding to the already existing tally of 55.

__Adventure Route:__ Max Riese has claimed the top spot in the Adventure category, finishing in an astonishing 133 hours and 39 minutes. His achievement is proof of his incredible endurance and outstanding persistence. 
Unfortunately, Steven Le Fevre had to make the tough decision to scratch due to fatigue and the increasing risk of crashes in the challenging weather conditions. Additionally Steven had been navigating with his phone in a plastic bag because his bike computer broke on day three, adding another layer of difficulty to his journey.
Six riders who started are left on the route, with many out of the 47 who started changing their route to Entree or Classic. The current second place rider, Markus Barden, is expected to finish soon with roughly 150 km to go.

__Classic Route:__ With 24 hours left, Sebastian Golisch went all in, in his ride against the clock and emerged as the fastest finisher in the Classic category. Mascha Walisch, now second in the overall finish times, remains the fastest female finisher. The last five riders left on the route are making steady progress and are hoping to be not too affected by the upcoming weather changes.

__Entree Route:__ The battle for the first female finisher in the Entree category was a nail-biter, with Laura Trost ultimately securing the top spot. Laura Niediek finished a close second. 44 riders have completed the route so far, including a mix of Classic and Adventure riders, who decided to shorten their route, leaving a little under 20 riders on their way to the finish line. Even though the finish line might seem close after passing the last checkpoint, Rifugio Fanes, riders still have to complete an additional 5.500 meters of climbing, before rolling back down into Bolzano.

As SNEAK PEAKS continues, the remaining riders will have to push themselves to their limits. The weather will be a constant factor, and the physical demands of the route will continue to test their resilience. But one thing is certain: the riders who make it to the finish line will have earned their place in SNEAK PEAKS history.


Day 6 - The first Adventure finish and a mid-event review

Day five brought a sigh of relief to riders and spectators alike, even if only short lived. The weather has taken a turn for the better, with cool but sunny conditions providing the perfect backdrop for these challenging routes. The Rifugios are still buzzing with excitement and camaraderie as riders celebrate their triumphs and support each other through the tough times.

__Adventure Route: The field is thinning__
Max Riese continues to dominate the Adventure route, maintaining a comfortable lead over Markus Baden and Steven Le Fevre. With over 200 kilometers to go for 2nd and 3rd, the event is far from over, but these three riders have solidified their position at the top of the leaderboard. A total of 9 riders remain, with all of them making it into Slovenia and hoping to get ahead of the expected snowfall on Wednesday.

__Classic Route: A strong finish__
Mascha Wahlig, who started the Adventure route 24 hours earlier but downgraded to the Classic route, has delivered a stunning performance. She finished with a total time of 107 hours and 30 minutes, a remarkable achievement. Sebastian Golisch, another Classic rider, is expected to finish even faster and take her spot as the fastest finisher, nonetheless Mascha remains the fastest woman to finish the route.
Unfortunately, Markus Valentin had to scratch due to a broken handlebar, while Jost Litzen was forced to take a longer break in the Rifugio Marinelli due to heavy storms. He resumed his journey later in the day with Jona Riechmann from the Party Pace Patrol, who decided to later switch to the Entree route to provide additional support to the riders.

__Entree Route: Women's battle heats up__
The competition between the women on the Entree route is shaping up to be very thrilling. Laura Trost and Laura Niediek are the frontrunners, both vying for the top spot. Leen van Hees is also making a strong showing and is expected to be the third woman to finish.

As the event continues, the riders will continue to face the challenges and obstacles, but their determination and resilience will undoubtedly carry them forward. With the weather cooperating and the support of their fellow riders, the finish line is within reach for many.


Day 5 - The first Classic Route finish

As the riders of SNEAK PEAKS enter their fourth day, the true challenge of the routes begins to unfold. The initial excitement has given way to a grueling battle against the elements and their own bodies. Despite the fatigue and the relentless weather, the riders continue to push forward, driven by the camaraderie and support they find in each other.

The weather, which has been a constant companion throughout the event, shows no signs of relenting. Low temperatures, storms, and persistent rainfall have created challenging conditions for the riders. The forecast offers a glimmer of hope until Wednesday, but beyond that, more storms and even snowfall are expected.

The decision to allow riders to downgrade their routes without incurring a DNF has created some complexities in the overall leaderboards. Discussions with Follow My Challenge are underway to find a technical solution. If unsuccessful, a manual update will be done once the event concludes.

The Rifugios, while prepared with backup generators, have also been affected by the storms. Power outages and disruptions in their operations have made life challenging for both riders and staff. The media and organization team, currently stranded at Rifugios Marinelli CP8/CP5, have to find solutions to continue their work without power or wifi with the backup generators turned off.

By today 37 riders have decided to scratch from the event.

In the __Adventure__ category, Max Riese continues to hold a strong lead. Twelve riders remain, many of whom have already crossed into Slovenia and are marveling at the breathtaking views. The route has been impacted by landslides, necessitating adjustments to ensure continued rider safety

In the __Classic__ category, Sebastian Golisch, the current leader, plans to ride through the light rain for as long as possible, with Markus Valentin, in second place facing technical difficulties with a broken handlebar.

In the __Entree__ category, Lorenzo Berti, a local Italian rider, has delivered an impressive performance, becoming the first to finish.


Day 4 - The first finisher

The past three days of SNEAK PEAKS have been nothing short of thrilling. Adventure riders, who had a 24-hour head start, switched to the shorter distances, creating a little bit of chaos in the rankings. 

Faced with the grueling terrain, combined with the upcoming storms and rainfalls, many decided to change their routes to either Classic or Entree. This left only 21 riders out of the initial 47 still on the Adventure route. Despite the changes, the atmosphere at the Rifugios remains full of excitement, with riders from all routes coming together for camaraderie and support.

Due to impending rainstorms and the risk of impassable sections, organizers made the difficult decision of significant route adjustment for the Adventure and Classic routes to prioritize the safety of all riders. This change meant skipping a highly anticipated section of the original route, as well as two beautiful Rifugios and adding a tarmac-only segment.

By the morning of today, a total of 24 riders had scratched from the event.

__Adventure:__
Mascha Wahlig and Jan-Philipp Sacher, both Adventure riders, decided to switch to the Classic route. However, Jan-Philipp later made the difficult decision to scratch from the event entirely, a first for him. Fatigue from the long days on the bike and relentless climbs is starting to take its toll on many riders. Still, many continue to express their awe and admiration for the challenging route, unlike anything they've experienced before.

__Classic:__
Sebastian Golisch maintained his lead at the end of the day, followed by Jost Litzen and Markus Valentin in second and third place respectively. For the women, Laura Trost continues to hold the top spot.

__Entree:__
The self-proclaimed "chaos crew" of Simon Gwiggner, Sebastian Sarx, Victor Eklund, and Anatole Naimi remained a formidable force but were overtaken by Lorenzo Berti. Berti's impressive performance even saw him surpass some Adventure riders who had switched to the Entree route.


Day 3 - An adventure more challenging than anticipated

__Important Update: After reviewing the weather forecast and listening to riders' concerns, the organizers have decided to shorten the Adventure Party Pace Patrol to the Classic Route and the Classic Party Pace Patrol to the Entree Route.__

After a relatively mild start, the forecast for the coming days is looking increasingly ominous. Big storms are rolling in, bringing with them the forecast of 20 liters of rain on Wednesday. This means route adjustments are likely, especially around river crossings that may become impassable.

Despite the looming weather, the general mood among riders remains upbeat. Many are loving the event and the route, though some are finding the steep climbs more challenging than anticipated. Riders who feel more comfortable shortening their route to the Entree or Classic are encouraged to do so and will not be penalized with a DNF.

As of today, seven riders have decided to scratch and head back to Bozen. This includes one Adventure rider, three Classic riders, and three Entree riders.

__Adventure Updates:__
The steep climbs proved to be a formidable obstacle, even for the media crew's e-bikes, which need more frequent battery charging than expected. Max Riese, despite two flats and a detour to find a bike shop, is maintaining his lead after a well-rested night at a hotel. Jan-Philipp Sacher and Mascha Wahlig are close behind in second and third, respectively, and are pushing hard to catch up to Max. The Party Pace Patrol made a pit stop at CP3 this morning, bringing together a large group of Adventure riders.

__Entree & Classic Updates:__
A strong leading group emerged on the first day, including Viktor, Simon, Sebastian, and Anatole. Many riders chose to hike-a-bike the challenging section at km106 at night and slept at CP3. Others, including the Party Pace Patrol, opted to sleep at CP2 and plan to tackle the hike-a-bike during the day.

As the weather continues to deteriorate, the riders of SNEAK PEAKS will need to adapt and remain focused on their goals. With the event still in its early stages, there's plenty of time for the leaderboard to change and for new stories to emerge.


Day 2 - A mix of excitement and caution

Yesterday the event kicked off with the longest route, Adventure. The atmosphere at the registration and briefing the night before was electric and everyone was in high spirits. 47 riders, including the 2024 Hellenic Mountain Race winner Mascha Wahlig and experienced ultra cyclist Leen van Hees, set off on the longest of the three routes.

The riders faced harsh weather conditions, including a challenging 4km hike-a-bike section through rough terrain. This section, normally a highlight of the route, proved to be quite the obstacle in the cold and foggy conditions. While it typically takes 1.5-2 hours, riders reported spending 3-4 hours navigating this treacherous terrain.

Spot tracker problems due to sim card issues caused significant disruptions, marking the longest downtime of 5 hours in Follow My Challenge's history. Not just the spot trackers were having a rough start though, Jacob from the media team caught a flat only 2km into the event and spent half a day in bike shops, trying to get back on the road as fast as possible.

Despite these challenges, the riders persevered and Max Riese initially took the lead but was later overtaken by Jan-Philipp Sacher, who managed to snatch the top spot after only taking a brief rest during the night. 

The day dawned with a glimmer of hope. The weather improved, with cloudy but dry conditions improving the general footing of the route. After a tough decision the first athlete has scratched their entry due to illness leading up to the event and is on his way back to Bozen.

Today, the shorter Entree and Classic routes got underway. A total of 128 riders joined the fray, with Sebastian Sarx, a seasoned ultra distance racer, leading the pack. Despite the challenging conditions faced by the Adventure riders, the enthusiasm and determination of all participants remain high as the SNEAK PEAKS continues.

Day 1 - A challenging start

Welcome to the inaugural SNEAK PEAKS bikepacking expedition through the Italian Dolomites and Triglav Mountains in Slovenia. This event is one for the books and will be the steepest bikepacking challenge that the bikepacking community has seen so far.

The sheer size of the mountains, the staggering amount of climbing involved and the untouched nature set the stage for a great adventure. Riders will be able to resupply at 11 checkpoints, that are Rifugios, located in spectacular places, some of which are only accessible by foot (and bike). 

All distances follow the same route, with __ENTREE__ being the shortest loop. __CLASSIC__ and __ADVENTURE__ routes extend further east, with the ADVENTURE route passing through the beautiful and magnificent Triglav Mountains in Slovenia. On the way back to Bolzano, all routes converge at a common point, so riders are likely to encounter fellow participants from other distances.

![Tour Profiles](//images.ctfassets.net/6hyijb95boju/2jHzOyszoGvGT1qsgMNHIs/1e1db0fa12ba063021b765dc3911c6b8/Tour_Profiles.png)

## A no-flight ride

As bikepackers, leave-no-trace ethics are part of our DNA. With that in mind, we want to take action and keep the CO2 emissions to an absolute minimum. We’ve made a commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by implementing the following steps:

__AVOID__
A #noflightride rule applied to all riders, they were kindly asked to travel to and from SNEAK PEAKS overland.

__REDUCE__
We have chosen Bolzano as the starting point because it is one of the most accessible cities in Central Europe and can be easily reached by car or train. Carsharing between participants is highly encouraged and we’ve set out to support riders to find those connections. The responsibility isn’t just on the riders - our organisation has made a commitment to ensure that all staff and contractors travel overland for the race as well.

__COMPENSATE__
Finally, we’re committed to offsetting all CO2 emissions generated from transportation, overnight stays, and food to ensure SNEAK PEAKS remains a carbon-neutral event.

The vision of the race director Raphael Albrecht is “to host a demanding, yet lovely and passionate event, where riders ride not against each other, but together against the course.” SNEAK PEAKS follows the classic rules and principles of unsupported cycling events, but in the spirit of traditional Audax, riders are allowed to ride in a group. The event is more focused on the experience rather than the final results. There’s no time limit. But riders will get a surprise at the finish line.

## A bikepacking premiere: Party Pace Patrol

If you’ve ever run a marathon, you’ve most likely seen the pacemakers. 
These lovely people run their race at a specific pace while wearing an unmistakable balloon, so you can stay with them and finish at set time together with others in this group. Sometimes this feeling of making friends along the way, who are digging deep as you, is even more rewarding than the actual finish line.
For this year’s premiere of SNEAK PEAKS we’re proud to present the PARTY PACE PATROL (PPP) - a group of riders that are staying in the bunch, providing mechanical, first aid and most importantly emotional support, just for that little extra security and fun along the way.

The Party Pace Patrol rides a solid average speed and knows the best places to pitch a tent and refill your bags and water bottles. If you are afraid of riding or sleeping alone and/ or need emotional support, just stick to the Party Pace Patrol. They are happy to help.


Event Preview - What makes SNEAK PEAKS so special?

Sebastian Banck

Sneak Peaks 2024 Tracking and Commentary: An unsupported gravel bikepacking race through the Italian Dolomites and the Triglav Mountains in Slovenia. Sneak Peaks has three fixed route options, the Entree, Classic and Adventure.

Sneak Peaks 2024 Tracking

The inaugural Sneak Peaks is an unsupported gravel bikepacking race through the Italian Dolomites and the Triglav Mountains in Slovenia. With three fixed routes of varying distance and elevation, Sneak Peaks promises to be a brutal yet beautiful journey.

Sneak Peaks 2024

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Sneak Peaks 2024

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Distance — Elevation

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