"Don't drink, don't smoke, and you’ll make it big!"

Walter Eichelberger is still riding the Trophy at the age of 85 - and is now recording his times digitally.

Walter Eichelberger heard this sentence from his ninth-grade teacher. Because he wanted to achieve something, he took this advice to heart - and went a long way.

On the last nasty day of March, Walter cycles to the start of the Zugerberg Finanz Trophy in Niederwil. Naturally, his blue city bike has no motor. His own still works perfectly, despite his 85 years! So the retired Pöschtler masters the six-kilometre route without any problems. Even the hundred or so meters of elevation gain don't get him out of breath. The only thing he puts off talking about is the tea break after the run.

Over 1000 starts and 200 victories
Walter Eichelberger has a lot to talk about - a lot! In the "Träumli", the restaurant in the Schützenhaus, he shares a handful of anecdotes. He has been on the starting line around 1,100 times and has made it onto the podium at almost every other event, even reaching the top step of the podium around 200 times (!). So it's no wonder that he disposed of a good 20 kilos of medals and 20 kilos of trophies at the last parade.
His sports included artistic gymnastics, cycling and the disciplines of an earlier form of all-around competition. In summer, this consisted of running, shooting and throwing. The carpenter, who grew up in Huttwil BE, was crowned Swiss champion ten times. In winter, it was alpine skiing, cross-country skiing and shooting - and he also won the title here twice. He was particularly fond of alpine skiing: "In my younger years, I described myself as a skier. Cross-country skiing only came along in the military." Later, he particularly enjoyed the masters competitions because you were always competing against people of the same age.
As the tenacious athlete finished every marathon under three hours until the age of 60, he was always one of the best in his age category. He also talks about his participation in the New York Marathon: he only found out about it three weeks before the start and still finished in 6th place. He also took part in the World Championships in Buffalo and numerous events throughout Europe.

Keep moving
No alcohol, no nicotine and lots of training were probably the key to his success. He always followed a "saltin diet" before competitions. This involves first completely emptying his carbohydrate stores and then filling them back up to the maximum a few days before the race. And what is his recipe for old age? "Always keep moving. I've been yodeling in Baar for twelve years. I cycle to every single rehearsal. Others live in Baar and take the car - even though they're all retired and would have time to leave a little earlier."

He says, slips into his neon yellow rain jacket and pedals off in the direction of Cham, dressed visibly.

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