The countdown is on: Janine Meyer’s top tips for the Ötztal Cycle Marathon

Janine Meyer describes the legendary open-to-all event – which celebrates its 45th edition this year on 30 August – as the “World Championship of Cycle Marathons”. In a recent in-depth interview with TOUR, she said: “When I won there for the first time in 2023, I received far more attention than I did for my other victories. The Ötztaler is and always will be the unofficial World Championship of cycle marathons. And: you ride on roads that are completely closed to traffic – that’s not something to be taken for granted!”

In fact, the Alpine Marathon – covering around 227 kilometres and more than 5,000 metres of elevation gain – is one of the absolute highlights of the amateur cycling scene; a start in Sölden is right at the top of many cyclists’ ‘bucket lists’. Consequently, it is extremely difficult to secure one of the 4,000 starting places at all.

Getting the classification right is important

The Ötztal Cycle Marathon is long, tough and gruelling – it’s not just newcomers who are sometimes completely overwhelmed by the gruelling sequence of the Kühtai Saddle, the Brenner Pass, the Jaufen Pass and the Timmelsjoch. Many amateur cyclists throw themselves at the Kühtai with too much enthusiasm and squander their energy in the euphoria of the opening stages. The Brenner Pass, which isn’t particularly steep but is long, tempts riders into (too) fast a frenzy when riding in groups – and suddenly, with the Jaufen Pass and the final climb at the Timmelsjoch, there are two challenges ahead that would each, on their own, make for a gruelling day’s cycling. Anyone who arrives there with empty carbohydrate stores and has over-exerted themselves on the first hills will curse the day they decided to take part in the Ötztal Cycle Marathon. At least until they reach the finish line in Sölden.

Every detail has to be just right

48-year-old Janine Meyer is considered the go-to expert on the right Ötzi strategy. She has already won the “Marathon World Championships” three times, setting a new personal best on each occasion. Speaking about herself, she says: “I’m someone who plays it down; I’m more of a quiet and very focused person. Structure is very important to me, both at work and in sport. So I take each day as it comes and work through my tasks one by one.” And with the Ötztaler in mind, she adds: “Everything has to fall into place, and it’s the sum of all these things that makes the whole thing work.”

Tips from Janine Meyer for the Ötztal Cycle Marathon

• ​Ride the race from pass to pass and don’t think about the Timmelsjoch right from the start.
  
• Start the climbs at a slightly lower power output than you’d planned, and then just take it one hairpin bend at a time.
  
• Don’t let yourself get carried away by how fast others are going – otherwise you’ll quickly go over the limit.
  
• The Brenner, supposedly the easiest climb, carries the risk of riding too fast. Be sure to ride in a group there, try to save your energy for the Jaufen Pass and the Timmelsjoch, and don’t put yourself in the wind unnecessarily.
  
• Test your nutrition strategy for the Ötztaler in advance during long training rides and/or races. This is the only way to get a feel for what your body can still cope with, especially after long hours in the racing saddle. You should train so that you’re still able to consume 80–100 grams of carbohydrates per hour right up until the end of the race. If you don’t want to consume your carbohydrates exclusively in liquid form via gels and bottled drinks, you can always have a bar now and then.
  
• Towards the end, your energy levels will start to wane. Choose a gear ratio on your bike that allows you to still use a larger sprocket on the Timmelsjoch. For example: a 50x34 compact crankset with a 34- or 36-tooth rear sprocket.

>> Competition Nutrition: Tips from the World Tour Kitchen
>> Tapering and pacing at the Ötztaler Cycle Marathon
>> Nutrition strategy for marathon cyclists