Ultra-Biker Strasser – man of extremes hunted extremely fast around Graz


At this time of the year, extreme cyclist Christoph Strasser normally prepares for extreme bike tours such as the “Race Across America”. For the “Steirerkrone”, however, the six-time winner and record holder of the America transit jumped into the saddle on another extreme tour – namely in his home town on the “Tour Around Graz”. What the ultra-cyclist and record holder still has plans for this year and why he will soon become a film star.

“A really cool ride – and also quite exhausting,” said the Kraubather born in the “Tour Around Graz” sweat. The circumnavigation of the Styrian capital with a length of about 80 kilometers is only one of several sporting fixed points of “Let’s Go Graz” – and the pedal knights in the country will certainly get their money’s worth in the sporting year 2021. Sporty inclines, eventful descents, meadows, forests, magnificent villas, wide streets and narrow alleys – everything for the cyclist’s heart.

“And really a few meters in altitude,” Strasser puffed. “But the tour is something nice – also for the people of Graz who want to get to know their hometown. I saw a few spots for the first time, ”grins the 38-year-old. “You can get on anywhere and on the tour there are hardly any traffic lights where you have to stop.” Strasser only stopped for one or two photo motifs – “and in Gratkorn you have to push on the Mur bridge.” At the end there was a time of 2: 38 hours on the stopwatch. The value of a full professional. “It’s possible below 2:30, but it doesn’t get much faster.” The bar for any challengers is high.

Christoph Strasser successfully mastered challenges in the bike saddle. The extreme biker, who drove the first 24-hour race in 2006, crossed the USA nine times – however, Corona is changing the timetable of the world and 24-hour record holder this year. Instead of the “RAAM”, the Styrian tackled the world record attempt of 1000 kilometers in 24 hours on a Nascar racetrack in Colorado in September. The big goal is to achieve this sound barrier – a 24-hour race will be held in Austria in July as a test run. On May 7th, Strasser, who has completed a good 530 hours of training for the season so far, will defend his title in the 600-kilometer “Race Around Lower Austria”.

Look behind the scenes
Quitting is not an issue for the man of extremes. “Maybe at 45”, laughs “Straps”. “I have no long-term damage. I only insulted the nerves in my fingers. ”For Strasser, the“ Zehner ”, the tenth start on the America Tour, shines brightly on the horizon. Before that, however, scenes flicker about his impressive journeys, physical torments and experiences on the screen: The sports documentary “377” from the Graz sports film company “groox” accompanied Strasser on the way to his lifelong dream. Tickets for the broadcast on May 12 are available on Oeticket.