It doesn't take long to become a legend: the 25th Fichkona took place at the weekend. The Fichkona is a long-distance cycle ride from Fichtelberg, the second highest mountain in the German-Czech Ore Mountains/Krušné Hory at 1215 metres, to Cape Arkona on the island of Rügen.
This time, 197 starters rode in four groups at different speeds - the fastest group arrived on Rügen after 20:45 hours - including refreshment breaks. This year's route officially covered 601 kilometres and 2434 metres in altitude. This is the same distance as the first edition - the last 15 years it was 15 kilometres longer. The course record for the short distance is 18:38 hours. The temperatures were no higher than 27 degrees during the day and no lower than 9 degrees at night. The wind was strong, but it was blowing from the south-west, so it actually helped.
The traditional highlight of the group ride was the escort by the Potsdam police motorbike squadron. The organisers promise the greatest feelings of happiness when you smell the Baltic Sea and hear the seagulls screaming for the first time as you drive over the Rügen dam in the morning. The ride from the mountain to the sea was invented in 1998, but there is one fundamental change for the future: from now on, the group ride will only take place every two years. You will therefore have to be patient until 2026 for the next edition.
Data on the journey
The 197 cyclists were again travelling in four pace groups and arrived at the Cape after the following total time (including the eight breaks):
- Group 1 - 20:45
- Group 2 - 22:07
- Group 3 - 23:47
- Group 4 - 25:55
The Fichkona story
During his childhood, Olaf Schau read about cyclists who cycled from the Ore Mountains to the Baltic Sea in one day. He set himself the same goal. In 1986, at the age of 17, he set off on a solo tour to the Baltic Sea to Rügento visit his parents on holiday. He covered the distance in two days. After 260 kilometres on the first day, however, he was so exhausted that he took the train from Neustrelitz to Stralsund and then continued on to Göhren at dusk. Nevertheless, he had acquired a taste for it and in the summer of 1995 Schau planned a solo tour there and back in four days. He reached Cape Arkona, but had to take the train on the last day on the way back after 1020 kilometres in the Spreewald due to exhaustion and pain in his Achilles tendon.
For the third tour, he looked for fellow travellers. For the first Fichkona, they set off from Fichtelberg at 5 a.m. on 8 August 1998. Five participants, including his girlfriend at the time, Susan, reached Cape Arkona on the island of Rügen after 23 hours and 43 minutes. One year later, in June, 30 cycling enthusiasts took part. Despite starting in 5 °C and drizzle, 25 of them finished the ride after 22 hours and 40 minutes in bright sunshine. The idea of the Fichkona was well received right from the start - the group ride is now always fully booked.
Kristian Bauer
Editor
