As the VIA Race crosses the one-week mark, the front of the field is on fire. Bruno Wicht reels in Adam Bialek with a furious chase through the Vosges, only to sleep through his chance to strike. Meanwhile, the battle for third becomes a tactical chess match between Jakub Tomasik and a surging Lucas Becker. Weather turns foul, routes diverge, and in the women’s race, a stomach bug throws a wrench into Gosia Warelich’s rhythm just as Slovenia comes, and goes.

With just over 1,000 kilometers to go, sleep strategies, smart routing, and mechanical discipline are beginning to shape the outcome. And further back, the mid-pack riders continue their own quiet epics: enduring, adapting, and pressing on.

Rider Interviews:
In this episode, I catch up with a mix of voices from the road:

• Francesco Fumanelli on the surreal mindset of ultra fatigue

• Philipp Hanneck and Alex Groehl on route decisions and mental resets

• James Benson-King, Jair, and Sam Muscat on weather, pacing, and surprises

• Plus, a special cameo from VIA founder Ian To joining in some of the riders' interviews

Real riders. Real stories. One brutal, beautiful race.

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