With Italy Divide Finisher on Whether This Event Is a Hardcore Race or a Nonstop Joyride

 

I wouldn't call it a race setup. Italy Divide is not primarily a race but more of a bikepacking adventure. The main focus is to enjoy Italy, but anyone who wants to push themselves harder and ride overnight can certainly do so. Even the organizer, Giacomo, emphasizes that it's not a race and leaves it up to each participant to decide whether to push through the night or not. Last year, I approached it more as a leisurely trip and slept for 8 hours a day. However, this year I treated it more like a race.

This year, I wanted to go faster, but I still planned to stop at midnight at the latest. I aimed to wake up between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m., which was a bit challenging for me since I'm not an early bird. However, things took an unexpected turn, and we ended up not sleeping at all. It gave us a completely different way to enjoy the adventure.

How did that happen?

It was actually a coincidental turn of events. As we were leaving Pompeii, I wanted to be among the first to reach the top of Vesuvius to avoid getting caught in the descent with a group of 150 riders. On the first day, I wanted to push myself a bit more, zigzagging through the traffic of Naples like the old days on a fixie bike and then finding a place to rest. However, at around the 180th km, two Czech riders – Honza Moravec and Honza Jirka  – quickly overtook me. While I was going at around 35 km/h, they effortlessly passed me at 45 km/h. They were flying. Coincidentally, I caught up with them after about 15 km when they were taking a break. We exchanged a few words and continued riding together.

Our first challenge on the route came around the 300th km mark when Honza's front axle broke. We hastily fixed it with cable tie to prevent it from accidentally going out.

But that wasn't the biggest problem.

At around km 360, just before reaching Rome at 5:45 a.m., the other Honza overlooked a rock, made contact with his pedal, and hit his head on a tree. He split his forehead, broke his nose, knocked out a tooth, and dislocated his collarbone. It was later discovered that he had also torn ligaments in his shoulder. We tried to call an ambulance, but he insisted on riding to the hospital, which was about 25 kilometers away. When we arrived, they informed us that Honza's condition was severe, but since it was a private clinic, they couldn't provide the necessary assistance. We were directed to another hospital, but they didn't have the required supplies for stitches, so we had to go to yet another hospital. Honza had already been taken by ambulance, but we stayed there with his bicycle. Eventually, we transported his bike to him by taxi and waited to see what would happen. Honza received medical treatment, and then we all moved to a hotel to ensure he wasn't left alone overnight. We agreed to bid him farewell in the morning. Prior to that, we had fixed his axle using a threaded rod from a hobby market.

But you all managed to finish the race.

The next morning, we went our separate ways, but after around 50 km, we encountered Honza waiting for us at a roundabout. He told us that his shoulder had clicked back into place, and he decided to join us again. With about 850 km remaining until the finish line, he felt better each day. We were covering approximately 300 km per day, and he successfully completed the race. Before the incident with Honza, we were in fourth place. In the end, I finished 15th with a time of 122 hours and 25 minutes.

You mentioned that it's not just a race, but you still keep track of the standings. How would you describe the atmosphere among your competitors?

Well, it's partly a race, but at the start, everyone greets each other, and if someone needs help along the way, everyone stops and lends a hand. I cycled to the start, covering 600 km last year and 1200 km this year. In Bologna, I even stayed with one of last year's participants and we went for a beer with him in the evening. Rivals become friends during the race, and that's what Italy Divide means to me.



It's interesting that you don't prefer riding at night during Italy Divide, considering you're known in Prague for organizing night rides.

At night, you don't get to appreciate the scenery as much. While I'm familiar with the routes around Prague, my goal during Italy Divide is to experience and enjoy Italy to the fullest. However, since the route was nearly identical to last year's, and I had already seen the countryside on my way to the start, I didn't mind riding at night this year.

How do you pack for a trip like this?

I pack two pairs of bib shorts, one pair of long bibs (useful for climbs up to 1800m), three short-sleeved jerseys, one long-sleeved jersey, a waterproof jacket, two base layers, along with a sleeping bag, a mattress, and a glow stick. I made sure I had everything I needed, and my packing was perfect.

What equipment changes did you make compared to last year?

This year, I made a few equipment changes. I upgraded to a better sleeping bag, the Sea to Summit Spark II, which provided improved warmth and comfort during the ride. Additionally, I invested in a fork bag from Apidura to enhance my storage options. Last year, I only had a basic bikepacking setup consisting of a 17-litre saddlebag and a roll-on handlebar bag. However, the handlebar bag didn't work well for me as it was too large and hindered my grip on the handlebars, making shifting gears difficult. To pack my sleeping bag and down jacket, I used a thicker plastic bag, reminiscent of the older days of cycling before the term "bikepacking" even existed.

You also switched to Joyseat compared to last year. What was it like riding 2,500 km on a customized 3D printed saddle?

Riding the Joyseat has been a positive experience for me. Surprisingly, I didn't encounter any blisters either on my way to the start or during the Italy Divide. In the mornings, I applied a generous amount of Smiling Butt Cream, and I reapplied it once more at night, especially during the first night when we decided not to sleep at all. The Joyseat saddle is truly fantastic, as it eliminates the need for extended breaks due to blisters. After the Italy Divide, I only needed to focus on proper nutrition, restful sleep, and within two days, I was back on the bike, ready to ride again.

Are you planning to participate in the Italy Divide again next year for the third time, or do you have other adventures in mind?

Yes, I would love to participate in the Italy Divide for the third time next year. However, I'm also tempted by the Trans Pyrenees route, and I have a plan to challenge myself with a Transcontinental race for my 45th birthday.