Last Man Standing Berlin 2022
The current fixed-gear bike scene is lacking in major events, and communities are slowly embracing other realities. One sure thing, however, always comes from the guys at Rad Race, a group of friends who take organization and fun seriously. For the past nine years, they've organized, among many incredible experiences, one of the most intense and spectacular fixed-gear bike races ever: the Last Man Standing. This race takes place inside an indoor go-kart track on the outskirts of Berlin, with a unique format. Entrants are randomly divided into heats of eight competitors who battle it out in the go-kart track, and every two laps, the last one to cross the finish line is eliminated from the race. The race then proceeds to the elimination rounds, round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and final, always with eight riders in each. The final is even more exciting because the race continues until only one rider remains: the Last Man Standing.
This year, I was the only participant to start, and I missed my longtime teammates and afterparty mates, but it's not always easy to find time to get away, even for a few days. Fortunately, Riccardo Mercatali and Fabio Conti, whom I thank so much for their patience in accompanying me throughout this year's event, providing me with all the support I needed.
For the first time, I found myself in the very first heat of the first qualifying round, so I immediately prepared myself with the brand new Squame racing kit, complete with a Natrix shirt to suit the Berlin climate. I experimented with different tire pressures during the afternoon free practice, and my Supernova gave me the feel I was looking for, even though the rubberized floor of the go-kart track was always a bit treacherous. As I advanced through the heats, I battled increasingly tough opponents, until I reached the final, where I faced the best, including my friend Alec Briggs, a very fast and experienced Brit from London. I've never been the best at ground starts, and in fact, at the first corner of the final, I found myself fifth or sixth in the pack. Alec, on the other hand, got a good start and within a few meters had already opened up a gap on second place. I concentrated, and after releasing the tension of the start, I rushed after Alec, who was now already about twenty meters behind second.
It may not seem like much, but I assure you that on a go-kart track with a fixed-gear bike, it can be enough. I managed to make my way through several overtaking moves, and after a good acceleration, I managed to get back on top. I also noticed that I had also left some distance behind the third-place rider, and that's when I realized it would be a battle between me and Alec. In that kind of race, I prefer to be in the lead to manage the lines, so I decided to pass Alec and take the lead. I spent the remaining six or seven laps in the lead, trying every lap to pull away from the second-place rider to avoid a melee, but it wasn't enough. When I realized it was just the two of us in the race, I tried to close the lines as much as possible and push as hard as I could to avoid being overtaken from behind, but on the last corner of the last lap, Alec found a glimmer of light on the inside and passed me. Too late to reply before the finish line, I could do nothing but watch the Englishman win and cross the finish line in second place.
The spirit of this competition, however, always remains something special, both for the emotions that reach those who watch it and for those who experience it like me.
After the race, however, another adventure began: the return to Italy! To top it all off, the return flight was a direct Berlin-Bergamo flight, departing at 6:15 a.m. At 3:00 a.m., without even stopping at a hotel, after a few drinks at the post-race party, we took a taxi straight to the airport. To our surprise, we found not one, but two interminable lines waiting for us. Patiently, we waited our turn, and after about two and a half hours, we completed all the procedures, but when we arrived at the gate one minute after closing, we were denied boarding with remarkable ignorance.
After considering every possible option, including a private jet (I was really annoyed at missing the flight), we booked a second (scheduled) return flight, but it would have taken us to Linate instead of Bergamo. We patiently waited the six hours until the next departure and finally boarded. Upon arrival, all that remained was a shuttle to take us first to Milan Central Station and then back to Bergamo Airport. After the bus ride, we met Riccardo's car in the parking lot, ready for the three-hour drive that would finally take us home. After just over 36 hours awake and 15 hours traveling, I finally managed to go to bed, happy for two reasons:
1- having achieved a good result in one of my favorite races
2- having respected the tradition of Supernova adventure travel and having collected a story to publish in the Squame Adventure Club !!
Author: Augusto Reati
