Austria: "Cycling" and Olympic legends

【Reporter Connection】

Guangming Daily reporter Fu Zhigang

Austria is a Central European country known for its mountainous nature. In addition to the well-known winter sports such as skiing, cycling in Austria also has a long history and strong cultural traditions. More than 70 people from the Austria delegation will participate in the Paris Olympics, of which 9 will participate in cycling, which is one of the largest number of participants.

Cyclists and cycle paths near the Vienna State Opera. Photo by Fu Zhigang / Guangming Pictures

Cycling has a long history

Cycling in Austria dates back to the late 19th century. At that time, the bicycle was rapidly gaining popularity on the European continent as a new means of transportation and a form of movement. In 1893, Austria's first cycling club, the Austria Cycling Union, was founded, marking the official start of cycling in Austria. In 1896, at the first Olympic Games, Austria Adolf · Schrader won the 12-hour track cycling event. What's more, this is the last event of the Athens Olympics, after Schredder had already won two bronze medals. Schredder's achievement was not only an early success for Austria in Olympic cycling, but also an important milestone in the development of cycling in Austria.

Encouraged by this, cycling clubs have been established throughout Austria, and various events have been held frequently, further promoting the popularity and development of cycling. In the early 20th century, Austria held many international cycling competitions and trained a group of excellent cyclists.

After World War II, cycling re-emerged in Austria. In 1978, the first "Tour of Austria" was held, which became one of the most famous professional cycling events in Europe, attracting many top international teams and runners.

Austria cyclists have long had a strong track record and influence in all kinds of cycling competitions. Especially in the field of road cycling and mountain biking, Austria athletes showed strong competitiveness and technical skills. In 2005, Austria's famous road cyclist Georg · Tocchi won the 14th stage of the Tour de France; Ava · Maria · Müller has won medals at the World Track Cycling Championships several times, especially in the sprint events; Albert · Grafner has achieved remarkable results in mountain biking, winning medals in several World Cup events, especially in downhill.

An amateur who works miracles

However, after the inaugural Games, Austria cyclists have been tepid in the Olympics. Until the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, Austria cyclist Anna · Kasenhoff made a splash. In the 137-kilometre road race, with tactical ingenuity and extraordinary endurance, Kesenhoff broke through early in the race to maintain the lead, and eventually won the gold medal by a significant 75-second lead over second place.

The victory was significant, not only as Austria won its first Summer Olympic gold medal since 2004, but also its first cycling gold medal since 1896. Even more legendary, Kesenhoff was an amateur with no coach and no team. On her website, a hand-drawn portrait of her is a complete display of her character: dressed in a suit, riding his beloved bicycle with his head held high, with a background of dense mathematical formulas. It turned out that Kasenhoff's job was a college math teacher. She is a postdoctoral researcher and lecturer at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland, and holds a master's degree in mathematics from the University of Cambridge and a doctorate in mathematics from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, specializing in mathematical modeling and optimization problems. This mathematical background not only gives her a unique advantage in the development of tactics in cycling, but also demonstrates her excellent ability to develop a balance between academics and sports. As an amateur, her success has inspired countless cycling enthusiasts, proving that individual effort and intelligence can work wonders at the top level. Her achievements have not only brought glory to Austria, but also left an important mark on the history of cycling around the world.

Why cycling is so popular

As an amateur, it is no accident that Kasenhoff has achieved great success in cycling. Cycling is widely supported and recognized in Austria society. In Austria, cycling is not only a form of exercise, but also an important means of transportation and leisure activity. The Austria government strongly supports the development of cycling at both the national and local levels, with a number of policies and measures to encourage the public to ride. For example, the government invests in the construction of bicycle lanes, the development of bicycle traffic regulations, the provision of financial subsidies, etc.

In terms of education, bicycle-related courses and activities are generally offered in schools in Austria to develop young people's cycling interests and skills. In addition, various cycling clubs and associations are actively organizing training and competitions to promote cycling culture and enhance the public's sense of participation and identity.

In addition, Austria's unique natural conditions provide an excellent environment for the development of cycling. Austria is home to numerous mountains, lakes, forests and river valleys, which offer a wealth of resources for cycling, especially mountain and road cycling. On the official tourism website of Austria, in the "Cycling" section, one can find a wide range of cycling options. The Alps traverse Austria and offer mountain bikers a challenging and ornamental cycling route. Tyrol, Salzburg and other places have a large number of mountain bike trails that pass through mountain peaks, forests and meadows, with beautiful scenery and varying levels of difficulty, suitable for cyclists of all levels; Road cycling routes in places such as the Danube Valley, the Wachau Valley and Lake Walter are known for their gentle terrain and beautiful scenery. During a trip to the Wachau Valley, a World Heritage Site, the reporter repeatedly encountered a team of cyclists riding along the Danube. The vigorous body, flying wheels, and colorful cycling clothes set against each other and the beautiful Danube River form a flowing landscape.

Austria has a well-developed cycling infrastructure with an extensive network of cycle paths totalling more than 20,000 kilometres in both urban and rural areas. Most of these bike lanes are separated from the car lanes and are clearly marked, ensuring safe and convenient riding. In addition, parking facilities are complete, and bicycle racks and parking lots are generally available in public places for cyclists to park conveniently. Rental and maintenance services are convenient, and there are rental and repair points all over the place for the convenience of tourists and local residents. More importantly, on many roads in Austria, bicycles have the same right of way as cars. When he first arrived in Vienna, the reporter was embarrassed by the bicycle bell ringing warning on several occasions and unconsciously violating the right of way of bicycles. Later, the reporter also followed the local customs, understanding and consciously respecting the right of way of local bicycles.

Austria's television, radio, newspapers and online media also regularly report on cycling news and events, increasing public attention and participation. For example, the legend of Kaisenhoff's Olympic victory in Tokyo has inspired more and more young Austrians to take up cycling.

The 33-year-old veteran Kaesenhoff was back in the race at the Paris Olympics, but unfortunately in her first event, the road cycling women's individual time trial, which she competed in on July 27, she suffered an elbow injury due to a slippery road and finally finished 33rd. On 4 August, Kesenhoff competed in the women's road race with an injury, and Austria cycling fans wished her another great result. Regardless of the final result, Kesenhof has become a legend in the history of Austria cycling.

(Guangming Daily, Vienna, August 4)

Guangming Daily (2024-08-05 12th edition)

Source: Guangming Net-Guangming Daily