The 7th edition of the Swiss-BikeAdventure got underway on Saturday morning at 6:00 a.m., as the riders lined up in front of the historic Devil’s Bridge near Andermatt. Under a crystal-clear sky and perfect weather conditions, the adventure across Switzerland began.
The opening kilometres offered little time to settle in. After a fast 7.7 km descent, dropping 520 vertical metres, the riders immediately faced the first major challenge: the legendary Susten Pass. The 18 km climb with 1,320 metres of elevation gain welcomed the field with breathtaking glacier scenery and spectacular alpine landscapes.
A thrilling 28 km descent, losing 1,700 vertical metres, brought the riders to Innertkirchen before the next climb began. The Grosse Scheidegg demanded another 18 km and 1,360 metres of climbing, followed by a technical 21 km descent with 1,320 metres of vertical loss towards Interlaken.
There was little opportunity to recover. The route continued with the demanding Gestelenpass, a relentless 19 km ascent gaining 1,200 vertical metres, proving once again why the 1,200 km Swiss-BikeAdventure, with its 25,470 metres of elevation gain, is considered one of Europe’s toughest bikepacking adventures.
The riders then crossed the Jaun Pass, adding another 9 km climb and 680 metres of elevation gain before leaving the high Alps behind and heading into the rolling hills of the Jura, where the character of the route changes but the challenges continue.
From the very beginning, Mauro Dall’Igna set an impressive pace. He took the lead shortly after the start and became the first rider to reach the summit of the Susten Pass. Throughout the day, he defended his advantage and eventually stopped for the night in the Jura after an outstanding first day of 355 km and 8,560 metres of climbing.
With ideal weather and the Alps already behind them, the riders now continue their journey across Switzerland, with many more unforgettable kilometres still ahead.
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