Radegast Birell Virtual Marathon in Liberec
Historically the first virtual marathon in Czech knows its first winners. Rainy weather being on Saturday morning in the Liberec definitely had little attraction for the cycling. But that wasn't case of the indoor cycling. From morning began to converge in the hotel Petra the competitors, which decided to take part in such unique race. In the three heats were registered forty cyclists, which gradually went through qualification. In the main race started shortly after midday met 3 fastest women and 12 men.
Technical novelty this time attracted the media representatives in such number we aren’t used from real races. Television cameras presence increased stress and nervousness of participants at the start. Shortly before the start could competitors see on the large-screen projection the whole route of Ještěd Tour Kooperativa in the shape of 3D view of Google Earth application. In blue highlighted route spiraled up at the foot of the Jested massif just as in the real race that is part of the serial Kolo pro život (Bicycle for life). The creeps gave the jagged profile, its steepest climbing reached 14%! Every competitor received the numbered ergo meter Kettler Ergorace. Competitor was then symbolized on the projected route through the green point with his number. Software UniVET then during the race „assigned“ to individual competitors the watt load so as to meet the climbing of the route. Competitors could change their „gears“ according their strength in such way, that with the button increased or decreased the load. Load increase had the same impact on the ride as to shift more demanding gear during the real race. Load decrease on the contrary though meant temporary relief to strained muscles, but this of course led to load decrease and therefore speed decrease as well.
Shortly after the start the competitors spread themselves into considerable length. At the sight on the map were seen the individual competitors slowly shifting along the in blue marked route. The rhythm from the first kilometers set Václav Holub (Praha). On the 20. kilometer he got relatively ahead before the group of pursuers and it seemed that he can't be stopped from the victory. But that was mistake. Even in the world of virtual cycling there is lurking the danger in the shape of defect. Václav Holub experienced it personally on the 31. kilometer. He wanted maybe too quickly to shift and through holding the button longer then it was necessary he probably caused restart of his ergo meter. It was sad to see him passing from his rivals in the cyberspace. Defect is simply defect and can be never fully eliminated. In the lead was trio of competitors riding in smallish distance in succession. Jested climbing definitely decided. Following part was rather down the hill. In the area in Vesec then arrived Martin Polesný (ErgoLiberec.cz) 1,5 min before Petr Tomek (Toi Toi Cykloklub Slaný). While the winner being in the saddle of his ergo meter was giving interview to the journalist, other competitors one by one reached the finish of the fifty kilometers long route. Women did splendidly as well. In the stirring duel narrow won Miroslava Kotková (SpinFit Liberec) before Lucie Červenková-Šťastná (Praha). With big applause from all arrived the third brave woman - Lucie Kocourková (Stráž / Nisou).
Interesting was the comparison with reality. Winning time from Jan Houška from the same route being 1:52,46 was broken even from 4 competitors from the virtual route. It is of course because on the ergo meter you don’t have to avoid the unevenness on the route, there isn’t neither mud nor dust and in the downhill run you don’t have to solve the centrifugal forces on a bends. Nevertheless the virtual race performance is comparable with the real. Winner achieved the average pulse rate 168 pulse/min. and his average load was 243 watt. Winner’s average speed was 28,2 km/h. Details HERE.
The winners in the both categories took apart from the ergo meter Kettler worth 10 000 Czech Crowns also one-year stock of the non-alcoholic beer Radegast Birell! Prize for luckless person took over Václav Holub, which was after the defect of his device doomed being bystander and he carried his fate bravely.
The race showed that even the indoor cycling could be attractive alternative of the real cycling particularly in the time, when there isn't possible outdoor competing because of climatic conditions. That was supported with the extraordinary media coverage. Race recording you could see on Monday on the TV Barrandov. End of April will be also broadcasted on the ČT4 within the recording from Kutnohorská padesátka.
For the winter season 2009/2010 we are planning in cooperation with the Sport Soft other races, which will culminate with the CR championship in December.
A thanks for successful premiere deserves apart from the participating female and male racer the Hotel Petra, which provided superbly equipped room for the ErgoBiking. Event was supported from Radegast Birell and Kettler.