Imagine this:

Four days in the Dolomites, 400km of cycling, nearly 10.000m of elevation and unlimited espressi. That was the Tour de Friends pitch to us by RadRace and we were sold.

We arrived in Padavena to collect our bibs, enjoy a pasta dinner with the other participants, catch up with our Kumpel Manuel Neuer, and grab our film camera before heading to our Airbnb to rest for the early start at 9.

Day one began in the rain, and three out of four teammates rode from Padavena to San Martino di Castrozza. (As the team runner, I skipped the only rainy day for a proper session.) The mountain village was stunning, and cheering for the finishers, while being served coffee by Maurice, set the perfect tone.

Cold mornings became warm quickly once the climbing began. The route to Canazei delivered breathtaking views and well-stocked aid stations, if you were fast. On day three, Jakob and I chased our first KOMs. Guess who nailed the QOM? Ich. A huge confidence boost, even if my descending skills (and brake pads) proved less impressive.

Day three was also the longest, and the official food did not match our dicke Beine. Arriving just before our hotel restaurant closed, we marched into a four-star dining room in cleats and sweaty bibs, ordering a simple off-menu pasta that tasted like heaven. The salad buffet felt life-changing after three days of tomato-as-sauce.

By day four we were exhausted but motivated for the “flat” stage (only 2.500m of climbing). Gravel sections nearly broke me, but quitting was not an option. Finishing in pouring rain to RadRace cheering was unforgettable. The afterparty was peak RadRace, complete with comfort pizza and both dAdB girls receiving QOM prizes.

Tour de Friends was impeccably organized, full of personal PBs, and worth it.