The Ötztaler is running on Sunday Radmarathon That Celebrate his 44th edition. Over 4,000 cyclists from 40 nations and five continents will face one of the hardest granfondo on the cycling panorama along a route of 227 km, 5,500 meters in altitude and 4 Alpine steps. Those who will run it are four thousand lucky ones, extracted between over 25 thousand requests for participation. And it is strange to see that, in a country where many jump in many, there are those who instead queue for their own, huge, ration of fatigue. And who knows why then. In an era where everything is just a click away, where the slight movement of the wrist is enough to bring the mouse to the world you want to discover, there are still those who (many for luck) love to conquer life with sweat, with suffering, tormenting muscles. “Cut the goal of Otztaler is a great time for everyone- explains the director Dominic Kuen- Behind a company Of the genre there is passion, which is impressive and also contagious. The evident and omnipresent enthusiasm for cycling is always the best reward for our months of preparation with the help of hundreds of volunteers “. Whoever did it no longer forgets it the Otztaler Radmarathon . It is truly an effort even for those used to fatigue. A classic, much more. It is one of those races where the line is contrary to every logic to enter. Where you can queue hoping to be among the “nominated”. A Lotto terno. A lottery where the prize is a dose of suffering to be able to say “I was there” in the end. Valleys to understand cyclists. Yet on Sunday they will all be there with the same idea in the lead, with the same beaten eyes, with the same greased and depilated legs, with the same face as those who know that the pleasure of waiting has passed and the account is about to arrive. Which will be sweet but only at the end. We will have to earn it. Everyone in a row ready to leave. All lined up starting with the Germans as always the most numerous and then the Austrians, many also and we, the Italians of 77 provinces therefore more represented than ever. From Solden to Solden 238 km with 5,500 meters in altitude on roads largely closed to traffic. The dream of every cyclist. An infinite up and down in the Tyrolean Valle of the Ötztal through the Kühtai (2,020 m), continuing towards the Brenner (1,377 m), defeating in Italy in Vipiteno to enjoy the passages of Giovo (2,090) and the rhombus (2,509 m) and then return to Sölden. Over 5.50 meters in altitude with 95.7 km of climb and 101.9 km of descent and only 40 kilometers of plain, the minimum union. Time expected over 7 hours “of hard and incredible effort” say the organizers. Which is not a spot. Seven hours where there will be all the time to suffer, sweat, impact, reflect and think. Or think again.