Time travel on gravel
For us, gravel riding is closely linked to bikepacking. Just get out there, pack the essentials, and ride on trails away from busy roads. That's why we wanted a different kind of photo shoot for our emotional theme of the year, LA VIA. After all, the collection should reflect our roots, our history, and our values in some way. The idea: a shared adventure on equal terms. The destination: Maloja. No, not Maloja in Bach near Rimsting, but Maloja in Switzerland. The place where it all began 20 years ago.
CYCLING BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER
In Philipp Reiter, we found the perfect photographer for our crazy idea. Himself an enthusiastic athlete and passionate bike packer, he has fully embraced the Maloja spirit. The photos are closer to a travel documentary than classic product photos. The four athletes took two days to cover the nearly 340 kilometers. Constantin, who has been modeling regularly for Maloja for a few years now. Benedikt, road captain of the Maloja Pushbikers. Nina, who had recently achieved an impressive second place in the Tour Transalp, but didn't have much experience in bike packing at that point. For us, the idea carried a certain risk—after all, no one in the group knew each other. And a photo shoot in which the team doesn't get along and there's perhaps even bad blood between them usually ends in disaster. But even as we were packing together, it was clear that cycling brings people together. It's a good fit. People who spend so much time in the saddle understand each other.
THE JOURNEY BEGINS
At 4:00 a.m., we set off in thick fog and complete darkness. Sometimes in silence and calm, sometimes deep in conversation. After all, there are plenty of topics to discuss. We pass Bad Tölz and Lenggries in the Karwendel Mountains, then cross the border into Austria behind Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The destination for this stage: Landeck. A long day on the bike that feels entertaining—and brings us closer together. It seems hard to imagine today that we saw each other for the first time the night before.
DAY TWO
On the second day, it quickly becomes clear where the destination for the day lies. Just across the border at Nauders, a picture-perfect landscape opens up: turquoise blue water, picturesque alpine pastures, and rugged mountains on one side; Engadine nut cake, Rivella, and chocolate on the other. However, this does not detract from the kilometers and altitude already covered – after all, it is constantly uphill and over two days, almost 5,000 meters of altitude are accumulated.
BACK WHERE IT STARTED
At St. Moritz, the first signs of fatigue set in. A cramped thigh and a lost (and later found) cell phone mean extra kilometers for the group. So close to the finish line. Twilight is almost over when the team passes Lake Silverplan and Lake Sils. And so, after two long days, the circle is complete. They started yesterday in the Chiemgau fog – less than 48 hours later, they are embracing each other under the Maloja town sign.
The trip felt a bit like traveling through time. Twenty years back to the place that became the starting point for Peter Räuber to found his company. But somehow also 20 years into the future, because cycling and its unifying nature will always be with us. “Strangers have become friends,” Benedikt wrote to us after the tour. That's how we imagined it would be.
By the way: if you want to follow the tour, you can find the exact route HERE – and be sure to drop by our office before you start. Maybe the coffee machine will be on.
Photos: Philip Reiter
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