3 days among women on the Stoneman Miriquidi

Katja explains the luggage transfer process between the hotels that the tourism association has booked for us in advance. After we have been given some general information about the next three days, we get straight down to business. At over 12%, we head out of Oberwiesenthal into the forest, following the yellow Stoneman signs. Once everyone has regained their breath, we roll together along the fine forest paths and get to know each other better. We turn off the official route, Katja wants to show us something that we will often encounter over the next three days. She takes us to a dam and gives us a brief and informative outline of its creation and significance for the region. You can tell immediately that she is a true local and loves "her" Ore Mountains. She points to a mountain behind the lake: "That's the Bärenstein! Our first stamping point is up there." We all look at each other and look forward to soon being able to punch our first hole in the stamp card, but also suspect that the way there will still take some effort. Everyone masters the steep climb at their own pace and there are high fives for everyone at the checkpoint. We celebrate the first stamp, take photos and are happy to be here together. While we get some more insider information about the region at the summit, we plunder the packed lunches we got from the hotel.

The next morning at breakfast, Katja reminds us that today is going to be a long day and that we can't dawdle like we did yesterday. We all feel a little queasy in our stomachs, as our legs are already telling us that they were already well challenged yesterday. We pack our lunch boxes and a few extra bars and set off. Below our hotel, however, we turn off towards the famous organ pipes - we have to have enough time! In the morning mist, we marvel at the 30-metre-high basalt rocks and Katja explains to us how they were formed from lava. But now we have to move on. Conversations are a little more subdued today. We cycle uphill and downhill through the dense forest, only taking short breaks to drink and take photos. The stretch to the first day's checkpoint on the Rabenberg is a long one. But your perseverance is rewarded with the finest, shaped trails in the trail park! We whizz through the wonderful curves of the flow trail, shred over roots and rocks and the trail spits us out again in the valley - each of us with a big grin on our faces. The initial tension of the day is gone and we make our way to our lunch stop.

We start the last day with a leisurely breakfast. The rest of the route takes us up to 1215 meters, but we secretly know that we will make it today. In a good mood and chatting wildly, we follow the Stoneman signs in beautiful weather. At a junction, Katja calls out loudly and directs us away from the route again. After just three minutes, we are suddenly standing on a viewing tower in the middle of a huge moorland landscape. We take the time to stop for a moment. But each of us now wants to continue, because we can already hear the Stoneman Trophy calling. For the second time, we pass the lovely rest stop especially for all Stonemen and -women. A private garden with deckchairs under fruit trees, fridges with drinks and chocolate bars and even Wi-Fi invites you to take an extended break. We chat with other cyclists who are on the Stoneman MTB or Road, sharing our experiences and adventures. It's like meeting up with old friends, you immediately feel connected. But at some point we really have to move on. We pedal through a long valley alongside a beautiful stream, when suddenly a massive gravel ramp opens up in front of us. We grit our teeth because no one really wants to descend. And indeed, everyone makes it and as a reward we get a view of our final checkpoint - the Fichtelberghaus. However, the gradient doesn't let up and the sky darkens above us. The closer we get to our destination, the more it roars from above. When we are almost at the summit, the sky opens up, but we don't let that spoil our good mood - especially not now!