It may seem like the summer of epic challengers, with many XC Skiing athletes embarking on transcontinental training sessions, but here we have Schaad, a predominantly sprinter athlete also challenging himself to an extreme challenge. Avelino Näpflin joined Schaad, and with only 18 days to complete the challenge, the Swiss Ski pair challenged themselves to a 2200km ride.

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What inspired this grand idea?

Sometimes, the best adventures start with a simple desire to break the routine. And break it they did, “There wasn’t any big inspiration,” says Schaad to ProXCskiing.com.

“I came up with the idea, and Avelino was straight on board. We just wanted to step out of our familiar environment and do something different.”

Follow the epic journey on Roman Schaad’s social media channels: CLICK HERE and enjoy!

Minimal cycling preparation

Schaad mentioned that “Preparation time was short. We tried to get a few kilometres on the bike, but it wasn’t more than any other spring. Organisationally, there were a lot of details to handle, especially since we planned on doing storytelling around this project.”

How are you fuelling yourself?

Schaad shares the importance in fuelling for the long training day in day out, “Spending around 7 hours on the bike daily, food and drink are essential. We couldn’t carry much from home, so we aimed for two breaks: a shorter coffee/snack break and a longer lunch break.”

No campervans or pit crew support!

The duo embraced the challenge of self-sufficiency, “We’re traveling on our own, carrying everything: clothing, tent, sleeping bag, camping stove. The bike is heavy but manageable with the bike bags,” reveals Schaad.

“We set a few pinpoints, not knowing how we’d react to so much cycling. The first big goal was Biarritz (1300 km), then Porto (2200 km). We reached Biarritz in seven days, but Avelino had to stop due to Achilles tendon issues. I continued alone and will reach Porto this evening. In total, it’s 2200 km, with almost exactly 80 hours on the bike.”

The journey was full of surprises, both pleasant and challenging. Physically, the ride was smoother than expected, with only minor issues like a tense neck and knee trouble. Mentally, traveling alone proved to be the toughest part, with long, straight roads in Spain offering little excitement. But the sense of achievement? Unmatched.

“I’m glad I’ll reach Porto soon; then, I won’t touch the bike for a while.”

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