Celebrity line-up in the Tortour starting field

Video:  TORTOUR 2014 – Nonstop Cycling around Switzerland – Check-In & Prologue

The starting field for the sixth TORTOUR race from 14 to 17 August features an exciting line-up of CEOs, professional cyclists and extreme athletes, all looking to overcome a race course that crosses several Alpine passes around Switzerland in three days of nonstop cycling.

TORTOUR is the biggest nonstop ultra-cycling event in the world in terms of participant numbers, attracting an exciting mix of ambitious amateurs, professional cyclists and former professionals. For this year’s race, TORTOUR is particularly pleased about the participation of ex-professional Alex Zülle in the Sugoi – Gandola & Battaini team and track professional Franko Marvulli in the Samsung 1 team.

The international long-distance race attracts ultra-cyclists and extreme athletes from all over the world such as the Slovenian Marko Baloh, a seasoned Race Across America (RAAM) participant, multiple ultra-cycling world record holder and TORTOUR Solo champion – to mention just a few of his ultra-accomplishments. The German Achim Heukemes, former ultra-runner and record-setting continent crosser, only switched to cycle racing three years ago. He was the first ever Race Across Germany solo cyclist, and is also competing as a solo cyclist in the TORTOUR race. Swiss national Nicole Reist, ultra-cycling marathon world champion and two-time winner of Race Around Austria, is the only solo female competitor in the TORTOUR race.

A characteristic feature of the race is the number of participating CEOs. A total of 22 managing directors of high-profile companies and corporations have entered TORTOUR in search of a new challenge or as a counterbalance to their professional responsibilities. CEOs participating in the sixth edition of the event this August include Soren Mose, CEO of Saxo Bank Schweiz AG, Andreas Gisler, CEO of IVF Hartmann AG, and Jürg Hügin, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of Audio Rent Clair AG.

Roy Bruderer, OC president of TORTOUR, is thrilled about the high-calibre starting field: “Every year, the 660 participants include some very big names, which goes to show how popular this ultra-sporting event is. Most of the competing athletes are professional cyclists or ambitious amateurs. TORTOUR has successfully established itself as the number-one ultra-cycling race in Switzerland for cyclists from various sporting backgrounds who share a passion for extremes.”