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12 Apr

Baw Baw Cycling Classic – Taking on the hardest climb in Australia

Posted 12. April 2016 By Monika Sattler

When I first heard about Baw Baw Cycling Classic, I was intrigued.

It sounded tough – yep that would be something I would enjoy.
For those who haven’t heard about the Baw Baw Cycling Classic, here are some numbers:
The race is 103 km long, 3200m of elevation with the last 6km averaging 11% and a few pinches of 20%. (64mi, 10,500 feet elevation, last 3.7mi averaging 11% with 20% pinches). More info on the Baw Baw climb here.
Considering that the last 6 km only cover an elevation gain of an odd 700m, you can imagine where the other 2500m of climbing coming from. You dont exactly start the last climb fresh as a daisy.
Here is the elevation chart.
Very deceiving!
 
Just as a side note, you see that little rise just before km 30? That is an elevation gain of 100m. Not as insignificant as it looks on this chart. 
The final decision if I should race was when my fellow Hurt Box rider, Meredith, told me it would be even tougher than I imagined it to be. It was not just a climb. It was a brutal 4+hr ride.
 
Music to my ears.
Speaking of signing up – the number of participants shows the respect for this race. Only 15 women in total signed up. It is not without a reason that Baw Baw is said to be the toughest climb in Australia.
So here I was at the start line with 14 other girls. Perfect weather conditions.
The race was split into two parts for me. Part 1 – The first 40km were tame with A grades setting the pace. At 40km, the eventual winner put in an effort and there was a natural split between the grades. I spent the next 10km or so riding with another girl and then I was by myself.
No soul around besides the occasional appearance of carnage from the categories ahead of us. 
50km on my own. 
I was hoping that I would create a gap so I wouldn’t get caught at the Baw Baw climb.
And then, I got a feeling, I usually get after riding 300+ km – I couldn’t push beyond a certain power anymore.
I just had nothing in my legs.
Anything above a certain perceived effort would lock my legs up.
I got worried.
Would this “lock-up-cramp-threshold” be high enough that I could ride up Baw Baw? 
It is not uncommon that riders push their bikes up Baw Baw. 
And then the massive wall appeared ahead of me. Six very focused, zigzagging  kilometers. (It could have been 7km from the amount of zigzagging) Any inattention would have made me swerve which would have caused me to fall over. 
It is hard to describe what you experience when riding this climb in a massively exhausted stage of fatigue. You calculate every move and hope that those 11% might ease up to 9% for a few meters. 
But instead you are greeted with two back-to-back corners of 20%!
I am not a climber and snailed my way up. Would it be fast enough to hold my competition off?
One moment to the next, another female racer (but not in my category), Steph from my Hurtbox training group, passed me. I couldn’t believe how quickly she climbed. 
Now I got seriously worried. 
So back to crawling my way up to the finish. 
2km to go. What? I didn’t even see the 3km-sign!
Monika! Of course, you did. It was just sooooo long ago that you have already forgotten about it!
Another eternity passed.
1km to go.
The games you are playing with your mind are just amazing at that point. And if you are playing that game long enough you will see the 500m sign before you know it!
Believe it or not, the mountain has a top and I finally reached it!
And I more or less pedaled the last few exhausted pedal strokes over the finish line.
So happy. 
Super exhausted. But worth the effort.
I learned later I had a spare time of 12 minutes.
 
Hill Climb Champ. VRS leader. (For my category)
And man, I will be there next year!What an awesome race!
Huge thanks to my coach and the The Hurt Box crew for their continuous support. Thanks to Alistair for the feed zone support and for Justine’s great company over the weekend!

Tags: Australia, Baw Baw Cycling Classic, Hill climb Championship, toughest climb in Australia, VRS

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What a beautiful ride across the Euschelspass toda What a beautiful ride across the Euschelspass today. It is a very quiet road with amazing views on both sides. 
On the Jaun side, this pass is steep and paved. On the Schwarzsee side, it is steep and gravel. Your pick what you prefer for ascending and descending. I definitely prefer the gravel on the descend.

📸@matthieupellaton

#euschelspass #cyclingswitzerland
#cycling
#iloveswitzerland #whataview #gravelcycling
The other day I was asked if I am not scared of fa The other day I was asked if I am not scared of failing the upcoming challenge. The answer is: of course! But instead of focusing on all the things that can go wrong (and they are plenty!), I am thinking of all the great moments that already happened and will happen, especially all the great people who have and will join this journey! Thank you! 🙏🤩

📸@rutschste 

@cervelo @polartecfabric #cyclingchallenge #cyclingadventures #velo #124spc
How many passes per day for the 124 Swiss Passes C How many passes per day for the 124 Swiss Passes Challenge:

The 124 Swiss passes are distributed across 26 stages (4 'spare' days) from 2 passes per day (mostly in the Alps) up to 13 passes per day (Jura). 

If you have any questions about this challenge, feel free to share them in the comments. ☺️

📸@rutschste (an old pic from last week as it was raining today)

#124spc
#cycling
#veloadventure #cervelo #polartec @cervelo
Today was a beautiful ride across the Glaubenbiele Today was a beautiful ride across the Glaubenbielenpass and Glaubenbergpass.
Both passes I will ride being well into the challenge.
Glaubenberg, I will ride on stage 20 with Rengg, Schüpferegg, Schallenberg and Fritzflue

Glaubenbiehlerpass, I will ride on Stage 21 with Brünig and Ächerlipass

Two tough days before heading to Valais for more tough days. 😅

This is going to be epic! 

#124spc
Meine Story, meine Mission und der Grund, warum ic Meine Story, meine Mission und der Grund, warum ich alle 124 Schweizer Pässe mit dem Velo fahre, jetzt in @tagesanzeiger @bernerzeitung.ch @derbund @baslerzeitung_baz 

Vielen Dank, Philipp für das super Gespräch! 

#124spc
“We have two lives, and the second begins when w “We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one.”

- Confucius
Good morning Monday! ☀️ What a weekend! Film Good morning Monday! ☀️

What a weekend! Film shooting until 1am with scenes in the swimming pool, fitness studio, performance test and an interview. An intense but fun time. Now heading back to 🇨🇭 to continue the training. ⛰️🚴⛰️🚴⛰️

#weekend #124spc
My mission with the 124 Swiss Passes Challenge goe My mission with the 124 Swiss Passes Challenge goes beyond setting a cycling record. I aim to inspire others, especially women, to go outside their comfort zone and pursue big goals.

A documentary will be made about this challenge that will tell the full story. The first film shoot is this weekend. 

#inspire #beyourself #getoutsideyourcomfortzone #goforyourgoals #makethingshappen
So excited about having received today the road bi So excited about having received today the road bike I will tackle the 124 Swiss Passes Challenge with:
The @cervelo Caledonia. 🥳And with that, I finally can announce my new partnership with @sramroad which I am very excited about! 🎉🎉🎉

A huge thanks 🙏 to @cervelo and @sramroad for making this happen! I cant wait to ride this beauty up every @swisstopo pass in Switzerland! ⛰️🇨🇭⛰️🇨🇭⛰️

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