The myth of one of the most prestigous amateur road bicycle races

Ötzaler Cycle Marathon

40 years anniversary, 2020, Sölden (AUT)

In celebration of the 40th anniversary the documentary looks back upon the origin and the past of one of the most prestigous amateur bicycle races. What exactly is it that fascinates so many amateurs for a torture-like ride over 238km in distance and 5,500 metres in altitude and what is key to cope with it. Since nearly 4 decades the significance of this race did not diminish. Year after year it remains an event of great importance for thousands of bikers: a dream come true.

In 2017 the infamous Ötztaler Cycle Marathon took place as a pro race in addition to the amateur race – for the first and only time. It was considered to be the hardest one-day-race of the UCI calendar, the so-called Pro Ötztaler 5500.

Besides many ambitious amateurs also many sports celebrities are interviewed, e.g. Jan Ulrich, last German champion at the Tour de France, Austrian ski jump legend Andreas „Goldi“ Goldberger and Ski Slalom World Champion and Olympic Silver Medalist Frank Wörndl from Germany. All of them have one thing in common: they are finisher of the Ötztaler Cycle Marathon.
Road bicycle racer and triple World Champion, multiple Tour de France stage champion and one of the most successful one day classics racer Peter Sagan (SVK) also expresses his opinion about the myth of Ötztaler Cycle Maratho in this documentary, especially with regards to the demanding track and the changing weather situations between peaks and valleys during the race.