Vintage cycling against the stopwatch. And the best of it: anyone can win! Not the fastest is the winner, but the one who is best at pacing and fulfills the time target most precisely. Each second that deviates from the chosen time target represents a penalty, whether too fast or too slow.
The course is certainly worthy of the name BERGKÖNIG. We start in Gstaad ("Grund" district, 1070 m above sea level) and ride up to the Gumm Alp (1780 m above sea level). The continuously asphalted road is 7.5 km long with an average uphill incline of a little over 9%, although there are also double-digit gradients along the way.
There will be single starts with timing by means of a transponder.
The course is certainly worthy of the name BERGKÖNIG. We start in Gstaad ("Grund" district, 1070 m above sea level) and ride up to the Gumm Alp (1780 m above sea level). The continuously asphalted road is 7.5 km long with an average uphill incline of a little over 9%, although there are also double-digit gradients along the way.
There will be single starts with timing by means of a transponder.
In order for everyone to really have a chance, participants can decide between three different speed categories.
A real race without being deadly serious.
A real race without being deadly serious.
Aficionado
Time target 1:30 Climbing without the pain. Get off the bike and push it up very steep passages, sit down in between, enjoy the unique view and chat with the others … in this category you can do all that even if you want to win. Whether you compete on a roadbike or a randonneur or even on a vintage mountain bike is completely up to you. |
Athlete
Time target: 55 minutes A mountain is a challenge for you and your pulse may sometimes get up to 180. But you don’t really want to push yourself past the limit … there should still be enough left in the tank for Sunday’s tour. One hour up to the Gumm Alp is a sporting pace but manageable for experienced grimpeurs. (See the Strave segment above.) |
Bergkönig
Time target: 35 minutes* Nothing matters to you as much as getting the polka dot jersey. Your body is hardened, your legs are strong, your heart is a nuclear power plant and your bike is slimmed down to the bare essentials. Let’s be honest: Not one of our test riders has achieved this time target yet … but you will show us how it’s done! |
* Only for the fastest category will there be a brief technical check of the bike before the start. In this category ONLY racing bikes are allowed and the parts must correspond to a pre-1990 technical standard. In case of a potential deviation, the category “Athlete” will be assigned.
As always, the highlight comes at the end. The BERGKÖNIG is, after all, an event to enjoy: at the finish on the Gumm Alp there is an abundant sampling of the alp's cheeses from different vintages along with the excellent Saane Gutsch beer, which has achieved legendary status at the BERGKÖNIG. There is no better way to comfortably take in the stunning valley view from the Gummberg.
On Friday evening in Saanen, we will toast the winners at the official awards ceremony with World Champion Franco Marvulli serving as the presenter. Each of the three categories comes with its own tasty prizes:
1. A large cut of Gummberg alpine cheese
2. A good-sized cut of Gummberg alpine cheese
3. One pound of Gummberg alpine cheese
And of course there is also a main prize (provisional for 2020):
the rider with the smallest deviation from all 3 categories receives an elegant watch from our official timekeeper ORIS Hölstein: ORIS Big Crown Pointer Date (value 1550 CHF).
On Friday evening in Saanen, we will toast the winners at the official awards ceremony with World Champion Franco Marvulli serving as the presenter. Each of the three categories comes with its own tasty prizes:
1. A large cut of Gummberg alpine cheese
2. A good-sized cut of Gummberg alpine cheese
3. One pound of Gummberg alpine cheese
And of course there is also a main prize (provisional for 2020):
the rider with the smallest deviation from all 3 categories receives an elegant watch from our official timekeeper ORIS Hölstein: ORIS Big Crown Pointer Date (value 1550 CHF).
