Inferno Triathlon – Four Disciplines, One Goal: The Schilthorn

Because three disciplines simply aren’t enough. And because flat would just be too easy.

That is probably the best way to describe one of the most beautiful, but at the same time toughest triathlons in the world: the Inferno Triathlon. Four disciplines, three transition zones, and a finish at 2,970 metres above sea level – on the Schilthorn.

The Inferno Triathlon starts with 3.1 km of swimming in Lake Thun, followed by 97 km of road cycling with 2,145 metres of elevation gain. Then comes 30 km of mountain biking with another 1,180 metres of climbing, before finishing with a 25 km mountain run and 2,175 metres of elevation gain up to the Schilthorn. In total, that adds up to around 155 kilometres and more than 5,500 metres of elevation gain.

The race starts in Thun, with the finish high up on the Schilthorn. In between, the course takes you over, among other climbs, the Grosse Scheidegg and Kleine Scheidegg. The logistics alone – with four disciplines and three different transition zones – make preparing for the race a challenge in itself: drop off the road bike in Oberhofen, then head to Grindelwald to leave the mountain bike, and finally prepare the running shoes in Stechelberg.

A preparation full of question marks

The training weeks after Roth did not go quite as I had imagined. I often felt tired and struggled to complete the planned sessions as I normally would. In all three disciplines, I was missing my usual level of performance. Unsurprisingly, my confidence before the start was also fairly low.

Nevertheless, I got up at 3:30 a.m. on race morning. Three slices of bread, an espresso – and off to Thun.

After a short warm-up swim, the starting gun went off as the sun was rising. A strong wind was blowing towards us on Lake Thun, turning parts of the lake into a veritable sea of waves. As a strong swimmer, I actually welcomed these challenging conditions.

I quickly found my rhythm and managed to move into the lead. After 3.1 kilometres, I was the first athlete out of the water, with around a three-minute lead over the next competitor.

Suddenly, the road bike feels great

From the very beginning on the road bike, I felt surprisingly strong. My legs were working, my mind was clear, and I was able to maintain my lead. The course took us along some of the most beautiful, but also most demanding roads in the Bernese Oberland, until the Grosse Scheidegg finally came into view.

I managed to hold on to the lead and headed onto the mountain bike full of motivation.

But that was where things got really tough for the first time.

The long climb to the Kleine Scheidegg was almost entirely exposed to the sun. I could feel the heat gradually taking its toll, and my performance steadily declined. What had been a controlled race turned into a battle against my own legs.

Somehow, I dragged myself up the roughly 1,200 metres of elevation gain. Once at the top, I was able to recover somewhat during the long descent. At the same time, however, I realised that the riders behind me were making up time. Shortly before the third transition zone, I eventually had to surrender the lead to a former MTB professional and European Duathlon Champion from Belgium.

But the race was far from over.

25 kilometres to the Schilthorn

Now 25 kilometres of mountain running and more than 2,100 metres of elevation gain were waiting for me.

After just a few metres, I realised that the tank was pretty much empty, both physically and mentally. The climb became a long and gruelling battle. By this point, winning was no longer something I was thinking about.

I felt dizzy, everything hurt, and breathing was becoming increasingly difficult. The Ironman in Roth had probably taken more out of me than I had realised.

Progress was slow. Step by step.

And suddenly, the podium came back into focus. The athlete in third place was getting closer and closer, and I actually had to start fighting to hold on to my position.

So I kept going.

Step by step.

Metre by metre.

Finished – but with mixed feelings

After 9 hours and 08 minutes, it was finally done. I crossed the finish line on the Schilthorn – exhausted, empty, and with very mixed feelings.

On the one hand, I am obviously incredibly happy about finishing on the podium. A race like the Inferno Triathlon is brutally tough, and standing on that podium is certainly not something to be taken for granted.

On the other hand, I was not able to deliver the performance I had hoped for before the race. Especially because the first few hours had gone so well, it was frustrating to have to struggle more and more during the second half.

And then there was the other side of it: during the final three to four hours, there was not much of the original enjoyment of racing left. It simply became brutal. At some point, it is no longer about being fast or hitting a certain performance level. It is simply about keeping going.

And that is probably exactly what makes the Inferno what it is.

Four disciplines. Three transition zones. More than 5,500 metres of elevation gain. And, at the end, a finish on the Schilthorn.

A race that once again showed me that things do not always have to go according to plan to be proud of what you have achieved.

Thank you to everyone who supports me along the way – my sponsors, supporters, my team and everyone around me, and of course everyone who cheered me on from the sidelines and carried me to the finish. Without you, a day like this would simply not be the same.