Timo Rokitta spends a lot of his time onboard a gravel bike, either training, bikepacking, competing in gravel races or organising his own gravel events. So, when he decided to take part in the local off-road event to finish off his season on a high, it was no surprise that he decided to ride it on a gravel bike. The fact that the event was aimed squarely at mountain bikers seemed to have only increased his desire to take part. Read on to find out how he got on.
Image courtesy of @sportograf
The Wasgau MTB Marathon in Lemberg is the oldest off-road long-distance event in Germany. Run since 1993, the organisers offer participants a new route each year. Many stars from the mountain biking scene, such as Sabine Spitz, Olympic champion, double world champion, four-time European champion and 20-time German champion, as well as Mike Kluge, multiple German champion and cyclocross world champion and the overall winner of the 1990 Mountain Bike World Cup, have enjoyed the trails in the Palatinate Forest.
Image courtesy of @sportograf
With over 1,000 participants making a pilgrimage to the Wasgau MTB Marathon every October, the event speaks volumes. Affectionately known as "Wasi," this event, now in its 30th year, is more than just a hidden gem for off-road bikers looking to cap off their season. "Wasi" enjoys an excellent reputation in the mountain biking community and is mentioned alongside other major events like the "Ultrabike" in the Black Forest or the "Dolomiti Superbike" in South Tyrol. The focus of this event is not on timing - instead, it emphasises the enjoyment of the course and the landscape.
As a season finale, I deliberately chose the "Wasi." However, I didn't want to participate with a mountain bike, as is customary here, but with a gravel bike. To do this, I equipped my bike with chunky 650b x 48 tires, of course, set up tubeless. So, I stood at the starting line, motivated and ready, precisely at 9 am, curious about how my experiment would turn out.
On the initial flat kilometers after the start, I made good time with the gravel bike. It was only when the terrain became rougher and the paths got steeper that some seasoned mountain bikers on their mountain bikes began catching up to me. In one turn, I missed the junction and ended up descending a kilometer into the valley. After realising my mistake, I had to climb back up the steep track. I was now near the back of the pack and from this point on, I repeatedly overtook other participants. I struggled on a section with over a 20% gradient due to my less-than-ideal gearing of 40 teeth in the front and 42 in the rear.
After about 20 kilometers, I reached the first feed station. Having burnt some energy by this point, I replenished myself with a variety of offerings like muesli bars, cake and various fruits. Soon after, it was back off-road, traversing a fantastic flowy singletrack climb - simply amazing!
The entire course was a constant mix of fast forest tracks, challenging ascents and narrow single trails. Only three times did I need to briefly dismount, either because I was hesitant to ride down a steep, rocky staircase or to jump over a high obstacle.
Image courtesy of @sportograf
The relaxed atmosphere during the ride often encouraged chatting with fellow riders and enjoying the stunning natural surroundings. Just before the finish, there was one last "refueling" stop for the mostly weary participants. Here, they served non-alcoholic isotonic hop flower tea (better known as wheat beer).
Image courtesy of @sportograf
After a hundred kilometers and nearly 2,500 meters of elevation gain, I could feel the exertion in my legs as I crossed the finish line. Overall, I must say I had a lot of fun on the gravel bike in the rough terrain that day. In addition to the terrific course and challenging sections, I got to enjoy the "Wasgau" region. As the event organiser aptly states on their website, "The landscape is the star" - I'll be back!
Tips for gravel bikers looking to participate in an MTB marathon:
- Install chunky tires, preferably 650b and at least 48 mm wide.
- Adjust the gearing accordingly: front 38T / rear 42T or more.
- Lower the tyre pressure as much as possible. For example, a 70 kg rider might use 1.6 bar in the front and 1.8 bar in the rear.
- Be cautious on the singletracks - it's better to briefly dismount than to risk a crash or flipping over the bars.
- Ride with your hands on the hoods on the trails [so that you can keep the brakes covered at all times]
If you’d like to find out more about the event, head over to their website
All photos @timorokitta except where credited