Hope 1000 Race Report

The Hope 1000 is a non-stop mountain bike ride of 1000km across the Switzerland. The route itself is fixed. From Romanshorn to Montreux, it is quite simply a masterpiece, taking in iconic climbs & astonishing views of the Swiss Alps. There is no entry fee, no outside support, no prize money & the quote Willi Felix, the organiser, no excuses! Here is my Hope 1000 race report from 2022.

Pre-Race

My preparation was not ideal. I had to cut short the Dales Divide in April due to niggles resurfacing & All Points North in June simply because racing 1000km 2 weeks before the Hope 1000 wasn’t my best logistical idea. It meant I came into the race after a period of rest, but also with a bit of race prep in my mind in terms of kit & strategy practice.

Travelling from a country where everything is delayed, broken & expensive to Switzerland where everything just works seamlessly, is perfectly clean & on time was just a dream. Rail travel from Basel to Romanshorn was so straightforward. Even had chance to practice German & understand the regional nuances with a local student on the train. He was so intrigued by my bike & was flabbergasted when I told him I was racing 1000km across the Swiss Alps.

The evening before the race, riders gathered on the shores of Lake Constance for a meal & briefing from Willi. A real nice touch. Another nice touch was the offer to drop kit which would be taken halfway, then other kit that would be couriered to the finish.

Hope 1000 Race Report: Day One

The Hope 1000 starts in Romanshorn, on the shore of Lake Constance, or Bodensee, before heading into the foothills of the Swiss Alps. The first day was deceiving; for a ride that has a total of 30’000m climbing, the first 250km are relatively flat & fast. The nature of the staggered start based on age, meant I was able to meet a lot of riders from all corners of Europe, one of my favourite aspects of ultra-distance racing.

With a staggered start, the youngest of us set off last on race morning. That morning was very casual, settling into what lay ahead I found myself focussing more on speaking with riders from all over Europe rather than racing – perhaps another sign that my approach to these events is still that of participation & enjoyment, rather than racing to win.

Day 1 was hot, really hot. Being fair haired & northern, riding in the heat is not my speciality! Thank goodness for endless supply of fresh water fountains in Switzerland. Willi maps the route to be as rideable as possible, choosing paved/gravel climbs over singletracks requiring excessive hike-a-bike. There were one or two unrideable sections in forestry sections, but thankfully that kept us sheltered from the heat.

I covered a lot of distance that day, nearly 250km, camping above Niederurnen that night.

Hope 1000 Race Report: Day Two

Progress on the Hope 1000 continued well into day 2. It was forecast to be another hot day. I had established it was best to plan the ride by climb, rather than distance, i.e. this climb/descent will take approx. 3 hours, not 50km = 3 hours. I knew in my head I wanted to be at elevation by 2pm & take it steady, where it was cooler during the hottest pat of the day; this meant aiming to ascend Wildspitze around midday.

It was the Gatterli pass where things went badly wrong; I lost my wallet & passport. It was only at the bottom of this 1200m pass, in Niedermatt, filling up with water, where I noticed the zipped pocket on my hydration was unzipped – and empty. My heart sank, I knew straight away that the fun bit of singletrack right at the top of the pass must’ve been where they fell out. I had them at the top, I patted that pocket frequently to check.

I had no choice but to retrace my steps & forget about racing. thankfully, I managed to piece some broken German together to persuade a local farmer to shuttle me back up the pass as quickly as possible. From there, I set off on foot along the remaining few km’s. I met a woman who had both in her hand & simply could not believe my luck. I hugged her in delight, much to the bemusement of her partner!

As relieved as I was to have my essentials back, it caused havoc for the remainder of the day. For it was now 3pm, the hottest part of the day, exactly the time I didn’t want to be climbing. It was 35, but the humidity of the valley floor made it feel closer to 40. I set about climbing Wildspitze slowly, jumping from shade patch to shade patch. Half way up, the exhaustion was too much. I sat down outside a house in the first bit of shade I could find & sunk my head in the water fountain. It was a killer afternoon.

Around 30mins later, a group of lads from the Hope 1000 race asked if I was okay. They too were struggling up the pass. We set about completing the horrendous climb together. Suffering together was far easier! We came across a mountain hut serving food, where we sat down for a hot meal of salty onion soup, chicken & potato salad. It was only at that point when I reached into my wallet, to find it empty of cash, several hundred Francs in cash gone.

Not only did these riders help me out with the heat exhaustion, but arranged a loan of some cash. I couldn’t have come across better people that day. I felt restored, physically and mentally from that point. I learnt that it was wort taking time for decent calorie dense & nutrient dense food – simple, processed carbs, fruit & nuts can only take you so far. I camped at Sempach later that night. After two days in unpleasant heat, I needed a shower. Hygiene is so important on ultra-distance races.

Hope 1000 Race Report: Day Three

My goals for the race went out of the window on day 2, after loosing over 6 hours. My mindset switched to focussing on enjoying the route from this point onwards. I took the next morning easy, riding alongside a Lithuanian chap called Gytis. We conversed in broken English for a few hours, I told him of my lost wallet & passport troubles, he too had had mechanical problems with broken spokes. It was another refreshing uplift after a nightmarish second day.

The pass up to Napf was less than pleasant. The local & returning riders knew this, however I was completely in the dark. It was 80% hike-a-bike, but the small sections that were rideable lasted 10-20metres. As soon as you were on, it was time to get off again. So frustrating & demoralising. It went on all the way to the summit. I guess the best part of riding something for the first time is your experiences are heightened; both good & bad!

Finsterwald marked the halfway point, its where a local gentleman comes out to play his alpenhorn as each rider comes by. It was such a beautiful, heart-warming gesture – thank you.

Later that evening, I was the entertainment of a guesthouse bar of nearly 30 people. What I thought was just a couple of lights outside turned out to be a full garden of people familiar with the race – to have some 30 people on their feet cheering me on up a climb was so uplifting.

Those kinds of moments, when you’ve been riding alone, they’re just heart-warming & stay with you. It makes the night time suffer-fest so much more bearable!

I went from feeling elated to suffering one of the toughest hike-a-bike sections. It was just a long gruelling suffer fest that went on deep into the night. I was debating camping up high, as I don’t like descending in the dark when I’m cold and tired. I thought better of it, heading down into the ski town of Habkern. Davide Sanchez had taken what I can only describe as the best audax hotel on the route. A public toilet & wash cubicle, with a sheltered bench outside. I probably woke him up with my lights & kit faffing at 2am – just as he returned the favour when he set off earlier than me!

Hope 1000 Race Report: Day Four

Habkern was around 580km and marked the entry to the Canton of Bern; what I can only describe as the most beautiful, picture-perfect postcard place I have ever been. It was also the start of the serious Hope 1000 climbing, 5x 2000m passes in the heart of the Swiss Alps, its breath-taking views had to be earned!

Sorenberg & Meiringin was a bit of slog. However, once I crossed into Bernese Oberland, the Navad 1000 no longer felt like a race, it was just one ridiculously enjoyable ride. Up one climb for 2 hours, enjoy the view, then hammer the descent – & repeat! Descending to the sound of cowbells & picture-perfect views at every turn is a memory that stays with me nearly a year later.

Several highlights from Day 4; firstly the descent into Grindlewald down a touristy toboggan/go-kart trail – those things were speed restricted, I was not! Weaving in & out, laughing & taking in some of the most spectacular views was such a hoot! The second was then an audax picnic outside coop in Grindlewald – amusing & ironic as people travel all over the world to get a glimpse of the Eiger from Grindlewald, yet all I cared about was food!

It was yet another massive climb in the direction of Wengen & then Interlaken. I was in no rush; this is a part of the alps that captives me. The views of the Lauterbrunnen valleys are the best I’ve ever beheld, its such a magical place. In typical long-distance fashion, I had 2 teas that night, a kebab didn’t fill me up so I got a pizza as well – justified by climbing over 4000m in 100km. The heat had well and truly cracked me by this point. It had been relatively cooler, but 35degrees is still more than I’m made for.

I camped earlier at Krattigen knowing it would be cooler & damp the next day – much more like the British conditions I’m used to.

Hope 1000 Race Report: Day Five

Day 5 started with another 2000m climb. My legs were numb to it by now. Granny gear & spin for 2 hours – the reward this time was breakfast! It was damp on the way to the summit, but the next valley revealed the wet weather had definitely rolled in. The Volg in Oey was one of the best equipped for cycle tourers; coffee pastries, yoghurt, fresh fruit & a toilet. As if that wasn’t enough, they even rolled out the retractable shelter for my picnic in the rain!

The next pass was my absolute favourite of the Hope 1000 ride. It was another slog in the rain up from Wimmis. But upon summitting, the clouds were parting in the next valley. The peaks pierced through the clouds, allowing sunlight to shine across the valley. From there, the descent down to Blankenburg & Sankt Stephan was the best thing I’ve ridden. It was an alpine meadow singletrack with stupendous views, then some steeper technical singletrack beneath the treeline. Such epic fun!

From there it was up high again to Stubleni & Lieterli pass. This was one of the passes I’d seen pictures of & was so looking forward to; unfortunately, it became a race against thunderstorms. I reckoned I had enough time to get across to Saanen, a bit optimistically. Refuge was relatively easy to find should the worst happen.

The hike-a-bike across the superb Stubleni section was breath-taking. Although watching a thunderstorm roll up the valley was all fun and games – till I become engulfed in it. The sound of thunder is scary enough when it’s a safe distance away, when you’re inside the clouds making the thunderstorm, not so much! Needless to say, once that ‘oh shit’ moment happened, I fully zipped my jacket up & made for a rapid descent.

Note to self – metal gates are conductors, don’t touch them in thunderstorms!

There was one restaurant open in Saanen that evening; I clocked a bikepacking bike outside it. The rider was soaked, like me. I sat down and asked for two pizzas. 2 pizzas confused the waitress as I asked for one ‘emporter’, 6 more soaking wet riders joining us & ordering the same confused her even more! I set off into the night, leaving those speaking the native tongue to explain it all! Seeing a thunderstorm progress is much easier in the daylight. I only had 160km left at this point, my plan was to ride through the night. It only took 30minutes for the next thunderstorm to hit. I’d been caught in one, I wasn’t up for doing it again. I dived into the nearest barn I could to wait it out.

The forecast suggested it would stop at 2am, I rolled out my bivvy. I saw a light coming by, expecting to be removed by a farmer, it was another rider – he was so grateful for the shelter. He was even more envious of my sleeping bag, for he was a weight weenie who only had a survival blanket & warm jacket – not much use once you’re cold & soaked the bone.

Hope 1000 Race Report: Day Six

2am rolled round, with 3 hours sleep it was to be a 150km ITT to the finish. It wouldn’t be without its hardships. I like riding through the night, for the climbs cannot be seen & therefore the end is never in sight, it helps me focus on just doing it rather than chasing the top. The climb up to Schwarzee was another horrific one, double tracks made for ski-piste machinery, not a bike rider with nearly 900km in their legs.

Davide had caught back up at this point; he heard me vent my frustrations at the relentless hike-a-bike! We rode alongside as the sun came up, both reinvigorated by the passing of bad weather & knowing we were on the final straight. It was an intense push to the finish, I was glad to feel like a race at this point, it meant only stopping for water.

The 2 final 1000m climbs were unnecessary! I pedalled away from Davide at this point, keen to get the hard work done before it got too hot again. Just when Lake Geneva came into view, I let myself think I’d done it; final climb competed. As the Euphoria took over – Wahoo brought me back down with a bang; still 300m more climbing. How? I can see the finish! Nope, the route goes right & up some more, over awkward rooty terrain. The Navad 1000 had one final sting in the tail!

The ending to ultra-distance races is always a bit anti-climatic. This one was no-exception. The Freddy Mercury statue marks the finish in Montreux, there was no fanfare, instead a queue of tourists trying to get their picture. I was unapologetically rude, I did not ride 1000km across Switzerland & climb 30’000m to have any patience for selfie sticks at this point!

I sat on the steps on the lake shore, with my dot bouncing. I finished the Hope 1000 in 11th after 5d 7h 39m. Other riders came over to congratulate & share stories. As finish lines come, they really aren’t any more scenic.

I headed off to my Airbnb. A bike wash & shower later, my host had booked me a seat in a local restaurant – It was late, it was a case of have whatever’s left. I didn’t care, Switzerland had been so good to me this trip. I sat, with a beer & food, reminiscing about just how incredible the last 6 days had been; how much I’d suffered & how much I’d smiled. Each time I visit Switzerland, it becomes harder & harder to leave.