If you want to be successful in cycling, you need a team.
Martin Wilhelm from Weilheim founded the “Radteam Impuls” - and has big plans for him in the marathon scene.
There are also drivers from the Schongau area.
Weilheim - When it comes to sport, for Martin Wilhelm the competition is simply part of it.
That was the case before, when he - at that time living in Fischen - played football in Pähl and Raisting.
And it is still the case now when the 30-year-old pursues his new passion, road cycling.
At the same time, Wilhelm always prefers to do sports in a group.
That's why he founded the “Impulse bike team”.
In the meantime, a number of greats and talents from the region have gathered.
The aim is to build up a “regional elite selection” that ensures top results, especially in cycling marathons, and presents the Weilheim-Schongau scene.
Radteam Impuls is open to all age groups
The "elite selection" is "a little exaggerated", says Wilhelm in an interview with the local newspaper.
But without ambitions you don't get very far or generate interest - be it with good athletes or sponsors.
The impulse team was created in 2015, since 2017 Wilhelm, who now lives in Weilheim, has been running the project more seriously.
The chemical laboratory technician likes to sit on the racing bike himself and train purposefully.
However, he also invests a lot of time and commitment in “keeping the team running”.
The organizational effort is not to be underestimated.
Wilhelm's credo is: "The riders should be able to concentrate on cycling."
The team should include both genders and as many age groups as possible.
The homepage currently lists one woman and seven men as team members.
These include experienced racing drivers, Josef Stegherr (born 1960) from Kinsau and Christian Sacher (born 1974) from Penzberg - he is the brother of Paralympics winner Wolfgang Sacher.
The youngest of the team is Tim Öttl (born 1999) from Weilheim.
Christian Riesenbeck (Hohenfurch), who is well-known in the region, may also join us soon.
One of the strongest drivers in the “Impuls” troop is currently Dennis Biederer (born in 1993): The Denklinger currently holds the records for trips to the Auerberg and on the “Strava” portal (a network on which sporting performance can be compared) the Hohen Peißenberg (via St. Georg).
He drove the 3.23 kilometer route up the Auerberg from Bernbeuren (on average 7.9 percent steep) in 9:52 minutes (on average 19.7 km / h).
Biederer managed the 6.47 kilometers up the Bavarian Rigi in 16:57 minutes (22.9 km / h).
The team members usually complete the training during the week alone, usually according to training plans.
On the weekends, joint trips were on the program, at least until the Corona restrictions.
The cycling marathon scene is established in Austria
The main focus of the "Impulse cycling team" is on the cycling marathons.
These are mass sport events with hundreds, even thousands, of participants, but also with very ambitious drivers.
The marathons are partly held as real races, partly as non-competitive rides (routes are not closed / traffic regulations must be observed).
There is an established scene for these events in Austria in particular.
The Ötztal-Radmarathon (Austria) and the Alpenbrevet (Switzerland) are well known.
Participation like this "also has an adventure character," says Wilhelm.
As a team, you spend a weekend together, possibly even inspecting the route beforehand and driving it (in parts).
Corona ensured that most events had to be canceled last year.
A few races took place, including the Reither Kogel Trophy;
a mountain time trial over 6 kilometers (550 meters in altitude).
Tim Öttl (22: 33.6 minutes) achieved the best “impulse” result in the overall standings with 51st place out of 222 finishers.
Andrea Schwarz-Stegherr (30: 18.4) and Josef Stegherr (24: 39.2) each won their class.
Wilhelm hopes that the big bike marathons can take place again this year: “We don't want another year like that.” There are plans to start at the Amadé, Highlander and Five Lakes bike marathons, among others.
Everesting Challenge planned on Auerberg
The “Impuls” team is planning a special event itself, namely an Everesting Challenge.
Dennis Biederer will try to get the 8,848 vertical meters on the Auerberg.
To do that, he has to go up 37 times and cover a distance of around 210 kilometers.
The campaign should take place in April and serve a good cause.
The “Impulse bike team” collects donations as part of the challenge and would like to support the “Germany helps” initiative.
The money should go to the "Corona Emergency Aid Worldwide".
Martin Wilhelm knows that the amount will not alleviate all the hardships, but "it is a gesture".
And one that shows that the "impulse" athletes have more than just watts, kilometers and speeds in view, despite their sporting ambitions.
Impulse cycling team:
More information on the Impulse cycling team is available online at www.radteam-impuls.de. The team accepts donations for the "Corona Emergency Aid Worldwide" at: Radteam Impuls eV, IBAN DE74 7009 3200 0002 1252 50, BIC: GENODEF1STH.