Sneak Peaks 2024: Stories from the Two Fastest Riders

Photos by Jakub Kopecky and Saskia Martin.

136 riders lined up in Bolzano for the inaugural Sneak Peaks bikepacking, ready to take on an immersive adventure through the Italian Dolomites and Slovenian Triglav Mountains. There were three distances to choose from: 450km, 750km, or 1,087km, all following rough terrain, steep climbs, and plenty of elevation gain. The inaugural event was spiced up with extreme weather, from never-ending apocalyptic rains to blizzard-like storms at higher elevations and below-freezing temperatures, followed by 50cm of snow in the Fanes region; only half of the riders managed to ride until the finish line.

Find reflections from the first rider of the ADVENTURE route, Max Riese, and the first female rider from the ENTRÉE route, Laura Trost, below, accompanied by a stunning selection of photos from the event photographers documenting the race.

It’s in the Name

Words by Laura Trost

“We don’t mention the H-word.” The H-word stands for hoehenmeter , which translates as meters of altitude. So, gathered with loaded bikes and lots of food at the mini-golf course that was the base station of the inaugural Sneak Peaks ultra-distance bikepacking challenge, the riders more or less nervously compared their gear and plans, not to mention the rather extreme elevation gain of the challenge ahead. For many people riding the classic or entree distance, the two “shorter” versions, Sneak Peaks, was their first self-supported ultra, including me. Despite my experience of bikepacking, I was still pretty nervous as the event approached, also due to the low number of female riders on the start list. I didn’t doubt my legs, but the social and mental aspects of doing my first ultra event were intimidating. But from the moment I arrived, Rapha, the organizer, hugged me, and others offered to help if anything on my bike needed fixing, and the first doubt disappeared. Another thing that helped was that Sneak Peaks encouraged camaraderie and having fun together. Besides riding together, the refuges offered the perfect spot for this.

As for the mental side, there would be times when all riders would be tested to the limit. With lots of red coloring, the altitude profile looked like a sharp saw. As I heard at the finish, some riders even learned that their navigation device featured colors to indicate steepness that they’d never seen before. Later, Sneak Peaks would be described as the steepest event in Europe. The three routes are designed with 4, 8, and 11 checkpoints at mountain huts. And, as the name suggests, they are in the mountains. Sometimes, in places where, according to the locals, bikes have no business being. So, you have to push your bike. A lot. Not just uphill, but downhill too, and not just on the paths to the huts. It seemed as if Rapha had included every ascent steeper than 20% in the Dolomites.

But as I enjoy climbing, the ascent up to checkpoint one at Rifugio Vajolet was already a spectacular highlight. It took a while, but it was well worth it for the fantastic view of the towering Dolomite peaks and the refuge perched on one of them. It also promised a delicious descent on my full-squish, dropper-post-equipped mountain bike. Arriving at the checkpoint and sitting down with other riders to eat pasta and appelstrudel was one of my favorite moments. This was followed by the ride to the second checkpoint, which I rode with five others on the first night.

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Against Rapha’s advice not to tackle the infamous scree field in the dark, we continued, watched by slightly confused-looking cows. After an hour and a half of pushing and carrying bikes over huge boulders, we made it without breaking ankles or bikes. Our screefield crew looked like a Mars mission, with the beams of headlights cutting through the dark and nothing but rocks around us. It was great fun. However, we didn’t expect to continue to struggle so hard after we’d passed the endless boulders. But the way down from this special place was a steep hiking track, impossible to ride with loaded bikes, especially at night. So, this highlight was followed by a low point as we pushed on until almost 3 a.m. when we reached the next checkpoint, Rifugio Malga Consèria, where we were allowed to sleep in the dining room. After a short and rather poor night’s sleep, we were woken up again by the other riders starting their day.

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Even though I hadn’t planned to go into sleep deprivation so quickly on my first event of this kind, I unintentionally continued it on the second night. After riding most of the day in good company, which made the long climbs and challenging descents in the dark much more enjoyable and the encounters with curious grazing cattle at blue hour truly special, I found myself back at night on the way up to the third checkpoint, once again a section where I had to push my bike for over two hours. Combined with the amount of climbing in my legs, arms, and back and the overall moving time since the start, this proved to be a real test of mental strength. Finally, seeing the illuminated refuge at the top of the climb and being greeted by a super friendly hut keeper who served the most delicious past-midnight pasta was a warm and special experience that will stay with me for a long time.

The next day, the weather forecast got scary. While riders on the Adventure Route had been facing harsh conditions from the start, there were now warnings of torrential rain and snow in the high mountains for all the routes. To ensure the safety of the riders, Rapha decided to take out a very remote section of the classic route and offered every rider the option to switch to a shorter distance without being disqualified. There had already been many scratch notices in the messenger group, and riders were starting to change routes. After much debate, I sadly did the same.

The remote, high-altitude section I’d been looking forward to had been replaced by a long stretch of road. Also, I had developed some bad saddle sores, and the level of fatigue was already proving dangerous. So, I switched to the entree route and booked a hotel for what was to be a wet night. What I had hoped would be a relatively short day, where I could recover a little, turned out to be another day with a tough hike-a-bike. With the storm approaching, my frustration level went into the red as we had to push and carry our bikes over rocky trails, which would have been challenging even in hiking boots. Balancing the bike while looking for places to put the slippery soles on my cycling shoes and watching the clouds darken was no fun.

However, the next day followed a stretch through the most beautiful scenery, and the weather gods were kind to us one last time. The route around the previous checkpoint at Rifugio Fanes winds through a high plateau, past mighty peaks, over clear rivers and idyllic mountain pastures. I’d longed for it but had not found it as often as expected along the route. But just when I started to believe I’d finally arrived in Narnia, the elevation display showed a straight drop, and a so-called “pushing section” appeared in front of me. So, pushing the bike down huge steps covered in loose scree, it was.

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The last hundred kilometres were a bit more forgiving, as there were fewer hike-a-bike sections. Nevertheless, there were still about 5,000 metres of climbing, which gave me the feeling as if the route did not want to let go of me so easily. This was interrupted by the beauty of the last plateau, where you could think you were riding through the Scottish Highlands. Big, wide hills crossed by little stone walls, and there was even some real bog, forcing riders to jump between tufts of grass to avoid sinking into the wet. Many gates later, I finally reached the final descent. Not only was it the quickest way down to Bolzano, but it also made my tired head spin. The road had hairpin bends and several tunnels in which it curved downwards at 360 degrees, giving the impression of riding a slide in a water park. For a few moments, I almost forgot that I was on a bike going downhill at 70 kilometres per hour. The words “don’t crash, don’t crash” didn’t leave my head until I saw the familiar mini-golf area and reached the finish line. I was so tired and hungry but already longing for more time in the mountains.

In summary, what is in store at Sneak Peaks? The title of the game is to be taken quite literally. Riders sneak up on a lot of peaks. It feels as saw-toothed as the elevation profile looks. Other than that, expect an event that fosters camaraderie, is run by a warm-hearted organising team, takes you to beautiful checkpoints, has plenty of accommodation options in the valleys, and is set in a region that is both breathtaking for its steep climbs as for its overwhelming beauty. So if you are into lots of altitude, gruelling climbs, and a very welcoming community, this is the ride for you. Just bring the granny gear, shoes you can walk in, and wide tyres.

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Inaugural Editions are Always Special

Words by Max Riese

Attending the inaugural Sneak Peaks Adventure ultra-distance bikepacking event through Italy and Slovenia was a must this season for me, and not only because organizer Raphael is a good friend. I have always been drawn to inaugural events, which offer the thrill of the unknown. You’re faced with a blank slate—no previous reports or guidance to rely on. My first inaugural edition ultra-distance bike race was the Atlas Mountain Race in Morocco in 2020, and since then, my approach to these inaugural events has evolved. But my excitement for them has only grown.

At first, I was overly cautious, packing extra gear out of fear of the unknown. Over time, I shifted to a more progressive, streamlined approach, focusing on keeping my bike as light as possible. I strive for an unloaded feeling on my bike, with all the weight in the frame, no extra bulk on the handlebars, and minimal luggage at the rear. However, I always pack for contingencies, carrying a basic sleep setup and just enough to get me through emergencies. Knowing I have a backup, like a warm jacket or dry socks, gives me peace of mind when things get tough.

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For this route, I opted for a Cervélo Àspero-5 with Reserve 40/44mm GR wheels and a SRAM Red XPLR setup 40T x 10-44T. It might sound foolish for such steep climbs and technical sections, but I focused on being fast where it mattered—on the less extreme stretches. My gamble on this setup paid off since I was confident in my ability to walk the steeper, more technical parts quickly and ride efficiently between them.

The course was stunning. From cycling through Italy’s legendary Dolomite passes to riding along the Soča River in Slovenia, but especially being in one of my favorite areas, Friuli, was firing me up. But don’t be deceived by the scenic beauty—this route had its brutal moments. It spanned 1,086 kilometers with nearly 37,000 meters of elevation, much of it on rough, off-road terrain. The weather in the Alps is unpredictable, and I packed for the worst with an emergency bivvy, light sleeping gear, and a full rain kit plus insulated layers. Yet, the weather threw more at me than I expected, particularly during massive storms that hit mid-race, forcing difficult decisions.

On the first day, a storm rolled in as I ascended one of the higher passes, nearly losing my way in the fog and rain. I decided to rest, opting for a hotel and losing time to the racers who pushed through the night. Yet by the next day, I had caught up with them, confident in my ability to recover quickly.

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The journey was filled with technical setbacks, including a broken spoke that required riding 120 kilometers with a wobbly wheel and going off-course to fix. I battled more storms after Slovenia, dealing with torrential rain storms and an intense hail storm on Monte Pauro. Despite the challenges, I managed to maintain my lead.

Ultimately, finishing the route despite the challenges came down to three things: keeping my body within my limits, maintaining my equipment, and dealing with the mental struggles to keep me motivated. Mental resilience is perhaps the hardest part of ultra-distance racing. Each moment of struggle teaches you to evaluate your options and figure out how to keep going, knowing that others are facing similar challenges and, ultimately, that you’ve been through worse.

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In the end, the struggles fade, and what remains are the memories of breathtaking landscapes and moments you wouldn’t have pushed yourself into without the environment within an event. These bikepacking events aren’t about fame or heroics—you won’t get more than a pat on the back at the finish (and sometimes a beer). That’s the beauty of it. You don’t do it for prize money or because there isn’t anything to gain. You do it because you love those kinds of events and riding your bike, and you will find like-minded people at the start and finish line.

Sneak Peaks 2025 is already set for July 19th. Learn more about it here.

Further Reading

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