Thousands at the start of the road bike race in Murnau - images flicker across the screen in 190 countries - the head of the tourist information thinks it's "terrific"
Created: 08/14/2022, 3:00 p.m
It's about to start: (from left) David Lappartient (UCI Association), District Administrator Anton Speer, Enrico Della Casa (UEC Association), Mayor Rolf Beuting and mascot Gfreidi shortly before the start.
© Lory
The Murnau town center does not experience such a rush all that often.
At the start of the men's bike race as part of the European Championships, 11,000 onlookers were there on Sunday, according to police reports.
They loudly cheered on the pros who had 209 kilometers ahead of them.
Murnau
– Alexandra Thoni watches the television pictures live from the start.
"Great," says the head of the tourist information.
"Murnau in all its glory." Also from above, because a helicopter is on its way to capture the start of the men's road race at the European Championships from the air.
When the weather is glorious, Murnau and the Blue Land show themselves from their best side.
The images are broadcast live via satellite to 190 countries.
"A great advertisement for the place and the region," says Wolfgang Küpper (ÖDP/Bürgerforum), tourism officer of the market town council.
And "an event that is not commonplace".
Countless people - the police estimate the number at 11,000 - crowded the barriers in the pedestrian zone on Sunday at 10 a.m. to take a look at the professionals and cheer them on.
The youth and brass bands play, the mascots Murni and Gfreidi create a good atmosphere, as does moderator Stefan Schwenke, who introduces the cycling pros on a pedestal at the Mariensäule.
First, do two laps through the market town: the participants in the men's road bike race.
© Lory
The paddock at the Tengelmann Center and the Feneberg car park opens at 8 a.m.
Kilian Mittnacht from Schlehdorf is someone who wants to see the pros up close.
"The bikes are a highlight for me because I'm enthusiastic about the professional equipment," says the 19-year-old medical technology student as he stands in front of the German team bus.
Christoph Heidenreich, a big racing bike fan, is also there.
"It's great to see all the pros up close," says the 61-year-old from Murnauer.
He still has a challenging tour ahead of him this year: Heidenreich wants to cycle up Mont Ventoux in Provence (France).
That's almost 2000 meters in altitude.
After the professional cyclists have started, the market empties relatively quickly, but things continue in the Kulturpark.
During the public viewing in the music shell, fans can follow the race, which in the first part leads via Schwaiganger, Großweil, Schlehdorf and Kochel to the Kesselberg and on towards Jachenau.
The destination is Munich after around 209 kilometers.
It's cheered on: spectators create a good atmosphere with gossip.
© Lory
The large supporting program starts on Saturday in the culture park and in front of the culture and conference center (KTM) with the charity race "Radln mit Hand und Fuß", an ADFC quiz, the opening of the leisure fair and lots of music from the shell.
Luminous green jumps across the square in front of the KTM: mascot Murni whirls around.
Mayor Rolf Beuting (ÖDP/Bürgerforum) dressed in almost the same green.
He is part of the starting field of the benefit bike race.
The "rim turners" Natalie Simanowski and Andreas Nagelmüller in vests from the Murnau wheelchair sports club, the "running gags" Christian Jungwirth (speaker) and Conny Glogger (actress), "self-runner" Peter Wiesendanger, chairman, dare to take on the cone-studded course around the KTM of the Economic Development Association, and Beuting,
The team members took turns completing the course, at the end of which a paddling pool with ducks awaits - the rubber animals that private individuals and companies have been able to purchase in the past few weeks at the tourist information for a donation to the Kunterbunt association.
With opaque diving goggles on your head, you now have to net the yellow rubber ducks out of the water - you only have 15 seconds per round to do so.
The sparsely sown audience is given clapboards and little flags to cheer on.
At Beuting, moderator Josef Brückner recognizes a "tormenting facial expression" as early as round two.
With the professional athletes of the SC, this is “much more relaxed”.
There's a steady smile
even if Mayr's chain breaks after just a few meters and you're cycling with the loose jerseys and helmets of ice hockey equipment.
The pros catch the most ducks: 29 the “ice cyclists”, 25 the “gang scratchers”.
First and second place.
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ADFC shows presence
Then you can stroll through the leisure fair on the other side of the KTM, with stands all about bikes, e-mobility, car sharing and tourism.
At the tent of the ADFC district association Garmisch-Partenkirchen there is a quiz about cycling.
You can also find out about the goals of the district association.
"We need reasonable cycle paths and express cycle paths," emphasizes Thomas Wagner.
However, the deputy chairman leaves the stand on Saturday afternoon to join a handful of people who are going on a 360-degree cycle tour through Murnau with Beuting - "to the most beautiful spots," says the head of town hall at the start and reminds us that the check tire pressure.
Others get on their bikes the next day.
30 interested people take part in a tour with professionals Ludwig Stadler and Fabian Schormair from Team Santic Wibatech, a new German continental team based in Passau.
The routes – there is a 75-kilometer and a 42-kilometer route – mainly run through the Weilheim-Schongau district.
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