Svensk version: Race Around Denmark 2023
| Race | Race Around Denmark 2023, Kaløvig, Denmark |
| Date | 16–20 May 2023 |
| Distance | 1,607 km / 10,192 m |
| Format | Unsupported |
| Bike | OPEN U.P. |
| Result | 4 of 19 (37 % DNF) |
| Total time | 86:10 (moving 64:34) |
| Overall avg | 18.6 km/h |
| Moving avg | 24.9 km/h |
| Rest % | 25 % |
| NP | 140 W |
TL;DR
My performance didn’t quite live up to my own expectations or time target, but given the circumstances and my standing in the biggest and most competitive field in the competition’s history, I’m still satisfied with my effort. Furthermore, it served as an excellent dress rehearsal for RAP.
Race Report
Despite a heavy workload and a bike-building project that had dragged on and become a fairly significant source of stress, training had surprisingly gone well, topped off with a couple of fast brevet races in good company. The final week was supposed to be a sober week, dedicated to lots of sleep and abstaining from caffeine. I managed the caffeine part, nearly succeeded with the wine, but unfortunately, my sleep quality and quantity fell by the wayside, with an unusually high RHR and low HRV throughout the week. In other words, I stood at the starting line worried about how the night cycling would go. As it turned out, not particularly well.
Primarily to minimize stress and maximize sleep, I had chosen to take the start day off this year and sleep in my own bed the night before the start. I arrived at Kaløvig and Gl. Løgten 2.5 hours before my start time at 4:32 PM. For me, the gathering before and after the race is half the experience, and this Tuesday was no exception. It was incredibly pleasant with Per, Marek, and Carsten appearing as soon as I got out of the car. Many fond reunions and good-natured chatter. They even tried to help me bring a new Nitecore NB20000 to life, but it ended up being another round with the old Anker-brick. For the first time, I also had the opportunity to chat a bit more with RAD-veterans like Holmer, Ejvind, and not least Rado; the latter and I even leapfrogged during the race. There were also some new acquaintances made.
Cycled through the first night without sleep, but had occasional massive struggles to stay awake and ended up consuming more caffeine than planned. However, the cold was the big surprise. The first time this race was taken on five years ago, the Garmin logged a night with a temperature of 1.4 ℃ (34.5 ℉), but this time, all four nights were icy, damp, and near freezing. Usually a synthetic down jacket with a hood is brought along to keep warm in case of an accident. It had never been worn while cycling before, but this time it was donned every night, and for the last two nights the hood was worn under the helmet and rain pants over the bib and leg warmers. That one of the pre-race favorites had to quit due to hypothermia really says it all.
Adopted the same strategy as last year and arrived at the hotel in Middelfart feeling sleepy, with the devil’s number 666 km on the odometer. The stop was about 6.5 hours long with a planned 4 hours of sleep. The rest of the time was spent eating twice, getting in and out of clothes, showering, using the toilet, sorting out electronics, performing the race’s only chain cleaning and lubrication, and of course checking in. Headed out into the cold night and halfway to Nyborg realized that roughly half an hour could be saved if a certain train departure could be made. It turned into a race against the clock and the legs, but succeeded and was met by the very cool surprise that participant Søren was also catching the same train. A fun journey filled with plenty of chatter to Korsør where our paths diverged again and didn’t see him until he crossed the finish line.
While this leg isn’t devilishly long, it still covers a good 543 km to the bed in Højby. Last year was overly optimistic and major sleepiness problems occurred. This year, the plan is followed again. Fatigue starts to kick in already in daylight and a power nap in a bus stop is needed. Around ten in the evening, found myself in Frederikssund and the allure of finding a hotel was strong, not least in light of the freezing nights, but chose to pedal into the night. As expected, the hammer fell around two or three o’clock and it was almost impossible to catch a wink in a bus stop due to the cold, even though wrapped in my emergency blanket. The cycling also started to feel very odd. Not many cognitive abilities left, but kept thinking that the ovality of the chainrings had changed, the smaller one significantly. Couldn’t figure out what could be causing it, but avoided the small chainring despite a few longer hills. Finally reached the destination, but by then it was five in the morning.
The usual hotel routine was supplemented by unsuccessful troubleshooting and topped off with a (rather subpar) hotel breakfast. It was nice to have coffee and something to chew on anyway, and took the opportunity to call my (significantly) better half. Then off for the final 396 km, which, without exception, is always underestimated. On the way to the train and Korsør, caught up with Sherry, who I follow on YouTube. You should do it too! She’s a young Columbian girl who fell head over heels in love with the sport last year and has already ridden more ultras than most. Soon she’ll be tackling the TCR and PBP. We chatted for quite a while, but no longer than the permitted ten minutes one is allowed to ride side by side (100 % no drafting rule applies and 100 % unsupported). Realized that if an average speed of 32 km/h could be maintained in the favorable wind, 42 minutes could be saved, and skidded into the station with a minute to spare.
The chainrings are feeling worse and worse, so decide to stop at a bus stop and troubleshoot. To my horror, discover that two chainring bolts are missing, and right next to each other at that. No wonder it was hardly possible to pedal! The fancy bolts fit the spindle, so my attempt to move one of the bolts to have them opposite each other is fruitless. Scratched my head for a good while and decided to take the risk instead of seeking out a bike shop. This decision was made fully aware of the last 93 miles of tough hills and potential ruined knees, as the small chainring is now off-limits. Stop to retighten the bolts every 20 miles or so. Imagine both my surprise and joy when at 5:15 PM on this Friday in Odense, spot a bike shop out of the corner of my left eye. Half an hour later and amid a great commotion among staff and customers, am back in the race, two bolts and a perfectly round pedal stroke richer :-)
Unfortunately, last year’s sleep deprivation challenge is set to repeat itself and need to pop into a tiny church restroom for an hour’s sleep; both the travel neck pillow and emergency foil blanket come in handy. Freezing cold, continue pedaling through the night. With about an hour left to the finish, decide to skip the Michelin-man look and aim for a classy finish line photo, believing that Holmer is far ahead. Thus, stop to take off the down jacket, lined vest, rain pants, extra shoe covers, gloves, etc. in order to roll down to Kaløvig and the finish line. The final time was 86:10, securing a fourth place. Didn’t check the tracker for the last 56 miles and therefore thought that the third-place rider, Holmer, was far ahead, but his time was only nine minutes faster. Disappointing, but I made my bed, now I have to lie in it when it comes to keeping track of the competition.
Sleep, food and listening
The most common questions I usually get from both outsiders and practitioners of the sport are how much I sleep (as answered above, about a total of eight hours), what I eat, and whether I listen to anything and if so, what. These will be answered below, but first, the funniest question I’ve gotten (and you get many, weird ones to the initiated, trust me). We’re going back two RADs in time and a 72-hour Covid pass in Denmark that only afforded one hotel night during the race, so I pushed myself too hard, aiming to get the 500 miles to Nyborg without sleep. It went rather badly and can be read about in that year’s RR, but when I finally arrive at the hotel in Nyborg and am checking in, the night porter realizes I’ve biked 500 miles and have as many to go, exclaiming: “But don’t you get really sweaty?” I don’t remember what I replied, but for those interested; in Denmark in May: no, during equally long races in Italy under the scorching sun and +40 ℃ (104 ℉): yes.
The Achilles’ heel in this sport for me is a sensitive stomach, so this year again, I’d packed nearly six kilograms of energy supplies with Fortimel, Sponser Ultra MCT, and SiS Beta Fuel Gel as the main ingredients. At least, I make it quite far into the race before major issues arise, which is significantly better for me than grabbing what’s available at gas stations and such. However, in usual fashion, liters of Cocio do get consumed, and perhaps a midnight sandwich, plus of course the staple favorite, tebirkes, and a few other Danish “basser”.
Books and podcasts are too mentally demanding in the state one finds oneself in during races like these. Even though there’s a Spotify mixtape composed for the purpose, the preferred mix of talk and music is dominated by the absolute favorite, P6 Beat Elsker (six-hour-long rockumentaries). This year, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs episode had been saved up for the occasion. There were also a few shorter rockumentaries on SR P3, but mostly it was Formiddag med Simpson on DR P6 on the radio front. There’s something comforting about the host speaking Danish (my working language for 15 years) when cycling in the country. There’s also a mixtape with music in my mother tongue and another primarily in Danish but with Norwegian elements. English can easily be cast aside, almost like an extra instrument, while the Scandinavian languages go straight to the heart, which helps with concentration and staying awake when the nights are at their toughest.
Denmark
Denmark is a fantastic cycling country and the race is very well managed with always wonderful fellow riders, so do yourself a favor and participate next year if you’re even slightly tempted. As the only person to have completed all six editions for a reason, this year earned the nicknames Mr. RAD and Mr. Consistency from Race Director Uggi, but it cannot be stressed enough that the weather in May is always a significant challenge. For this reason, I would also like to mention the Round Denmark Bike Race which takes place in July (which, on the other hand, I’ve never ridden, but also attracts because one can choose whether one prefers asphalt or gravel and the latter would be fun as a change on my newfound U.P.-love).
Next year
Originally, the plan was to skip this year’s edition in favor of something new, Race Around the Netherlands, but found out it only takes place every other year. Therefore, that’s the plan for spring 2024 and if it happens, there won’t be enough recovery time for a decent RAD time, so I would return as Mr Consistency focusing on “hygge” and completing with three hotel nights and not chasing a podium spot.
Finally: Strava, or it didn’t happen ;-)
More photos
