Severin Zotter Wins the TORTOUR in the Solo Men Category

Press release

SEVERIN ZOTTER (A) WINS THE TORTOUR IN THE TOUGHEST CONDITIONS IN THE SOLO MEN CATEGORY

17 August 2014

The exceedingly cold weather, snow and rain probably made the 6th TORTOUR presented by IWC one of the toughest challenges ever for the 554 participants starting in both race formats. The winner in the TORTOUR Solo Men category is Austria's Severin Zotter, clocking in a time of 36 hours, 32 minutes and 43 seconds. The solo racer Nicole Reist from Switzerland managed the 1000 km and 14,500 metres in altitude difference around Switzerland in 43 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds. The mountain prize on the top of the Furkapass was won by Marko Baloh (SLO), Nicole Reist and the team of two Stolz (CH).

The poor summer also affected the TORTOUR non-stop ultra-cycling race. Temperatures of about 2 degrees °C at the top of the Furkpass, snow, rain and dense fog demanded everything from the cyclists and helpers in the race over the three days. Despite the challenging weather, the participants this year again called the TORTOUR a great event, a piece of priceless team experience and a very personal adventure. "The weather conditions in this race were certainly a borderline experience. This makes my victory in these conditions all the greater a reward. The TORTOUR with its varied stages, from flat sections to breathtaking mountain landscapes, is an impressive event," said solo cyclist Severin Zotter about his TORTOUR experience.

CHALLENGE – half the Tortour

The CHALLENGE race format offers a shorter, but no less exciting distance of 550 kilometres with 8,500 metres in altitude difference as an alternative. As the very first group effort, Team Schwitz4Kids (TeamMen category with three participants) arrived at the IWC Arena, clocking in a time of 18 hours, 21 minutes and 3 seconds. The Solo Men category was won by Thomas Schiegg (intereXis Power); solo cyclist Heidi Verena Bader (Tempo Sport Bikespeed) raced to the top of the podium in the Solo Women category.

TORTOUR corporate teams raise CHF 66,000.00 in donations

The Laureus Switzerland Foundation has now been the official charity partner of the TORTOUR for the fifth time already. More than CHF 66,000 was raised by the individual donation campaigns of the corporate teams participating, their groups of friends and contacts from business as well as from the commitment of IWC Schaffhausen. The considerable amount in donations will be given to the Laureus Metro Sport project, which aims to open up new perspectives to children and young adults with disabilities through sport.

You can find the starting list and ranking of the TORTOUR race format online at

https://docs.google.com/a/scoopmedia.co.nz/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AgJsd8brnXBIdFpBbXhSVWdMbUFIVU1wZThzd2N6YWc&gid=0

You can find the CHALLENGE ranking here:

https://docs.google.com/a/scoopmedia.co.nz/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AgJsd8brnXBIdE1iVkZaV0ZpanVQeFRvZU1mU1hkcUE&output=html

You can also find the cyclists' details online:

TORTOUR: http://switzerland.tortour.com/de/startlist

CHALLENGE: http://www.challenge.tortour.com/de/startlist

ENDS

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