The most difficult one-day bike race of the world has a well deserved winner. On July 11-12, 2003 Nauders, a village in Tirol/Austria, was the center of the ultra marathon cycling world. In principal it seems impossible to finish a race like RATA. 540 kilometers (336 miles), 13.000 meters (42.600 ft) of elevation gain, crossing over 12 mountain passes. These figures speak for themselves. Nevertheless, the participants of the third RATA proved once again the opposite. Maurizio Vandelli from Italy reached the finish line in Nauders after 21h 27m 34s. This is not just a new course record, it is also an amazing average speed of 26 km/h (15.6 mph). The next places on the podium went to Daniel Wyss from Switzerland in 21h 51m 27s and to Race Across America 2001 champion Andrea Clavadetscher from Liechtenstein in 22h 49m 11s.

22 participants from six nations started the third edition of the Race Across the Alps exactly at noon on Friday, 11th of July. The race favorites Maurizio Vandelli and last year's winner Paul Lindner from Austria pulled away from the rest of the field at the first climb to Stilfser Joch (2.757 m). When they reached the summit (64 km) they were not only six minutes ahead of the field, they were also 30 minutes ahead of last year's pace. They attacked the next climb to Gavia Pass (2.621 m) with the same incredible pace. At the summit of Gavia (110,5 km) Vandelli pulled away from Lindner. He didn't even stop on the summit, he just flew by like riders do in the Tour de France or in the Giro d'Italia, reported race director Bernhard Karner, who followed the 39 year old Italian the whole time.

Lindner had to pay tribute to the fast pace. He struggled with stomach problems. At the bottom of Bernina Pass he was forced to ask for medical assistance from the race doctor. After a 30 minute break he was close to abandoning the race. Lindner said after the race: "I would have thrown in the towel, but my crew motivated me in such a great manner. I continued by using my brain and trying to avoid bonking again." Lindner's wife added: "We already agreed at home that there is no abandoning. If he abandoneds anyway, he must travel back home as a hitch-hiker." Nevertheless, a place on the podium seemed unrealistic from that moment on. At the finish line, Lindner was satisfied with eighth position in 24h50m48s.

In the meantime, Andrea Clavadetscher, Alessandro Forni (I), Daniel Wyss and Franz Venier (A) were approaching to the podium positions. Wyss, the 24 hour world record holder (1,011 km in the Schoetz 2002 drafting race), rode an inconspicuous but steady race. In the last two thirds he was nearly as fast as Vandelli. Second place was the logical consequence.

The objective of local rider Franz Venier was to improve on his fifth position from last year. He succeeded by finishing in fourth. Moreover, he was nearly one hour faster than the year before. Venier said after the race: "If anybody would have predicted that, I would not have believed him. I'm very happy and thankful."

Maurizio Vandelli had problems of a special kind. The Italian professional rider, winner of the Tour of Austria in 1999, underestimated the steepness of RATA. His smallest gear was a 39/25 which made him suffer badly at Mortirolo pass with gradients up to 20%. But his crew didn't allow him to relax. Abandoning was never an option for him.

Despite the extreme hot weather conditions, there were onlysix riders, who had to quit the race early. Sixteen riders managed to finish one of the most difficult races known. The RATA organiser Max Wassermann was glad that they were able to organise an interesting, challenging and safe competition for all racers. The location Nauders is an ideal place with it's great panoramic views and a lot of medial interest. Once again, it will be a new adventure to organise the RATA 2004.

Complete results: RATA website

Course profile