Women's power on the mountain

Heidi Müller reached the finish line on the Chnollen over a hundred times.

Behind Daniel Etter, there are currently two women on the podium of the altitude challenge: Marit Seidel from Menzingen and Heidi Müller from Unterägeri.

Marit Seidel is a board member of Veloclub Menzingen. She explains that the altitude challenge developed a special group dynamic among her club members: "Suddenly everyone wanted to reach the limit of 8,000 meters of altitude before the summer vacations. Photos of bidons, socks and T-shirts made the rounds in the club chat as proof that they had completed the 2000, 4000 or even 8000 meters of altitude." This in turn spurred others on to do the same as their colleagues. "What's more, first place in the club ranking was suddenly within reach, which gave us all an extra boost of motivation."

Personally, Marit only really got into the action on the Zugerberg and on her home stage in Menzingen. "The route to Auw or Root is not as often possible in terms of time as when I can start on my doorstep." How do body and mind work when repeating the same route many times? Marit wanted to find out. "I discovered that I can switch off wonderfully. I enjoyed the great view. I was fascinated by the kites and buzzards, which I encountered on the slope almost at eye level. But I also found the many conversations with other participants extremely enriching."

Always up for a chat
Heidi Müller also often rode the mountain route several times a day: "I once resolved to count all the fence posts. I would have had the opportunity 101 times, but I never got around to it because I was always concentrating on the route and the traffic." Ambition yes, doggedness no, because chatting with other athletes is also very important to Heidi Müller: "I've never met so many people as during the four-week stage window in Menzingen!" says the passionate cyclist, adding with a smile: "Sometimes I envied the farmer from Chnollen-Hof. He sits comfortably on the bench in the shade, enjoying the view, while I struggle up the mountain at 32 degrees." After her last climb, she spoke to the farmer about his lovely spot under the lime tree and chatted with him for almost an hour.

More Trophy stories and impressions of the last stage day in Menzingen can be found at www.instagram.com/zugerbergfinanztrophy/

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