World record shattered! Speed biking on snow at 210 km/h.

Sep 19, 2007
by Tyler Maine  
Austria's Markus Stoeckl, 33, set a new world record at the weekend for series mountain bikes on a renovated high-speed La Parva run in the Chile's Alps when he hit a speed of 210.4 km/h (130.7 mph). He shattered an eight-year-old record by an incredible 23 km/h (14 mph).For years there was little news to report about speedbikes on snow, the world's fastest vehicles without propulsion. In the 1990s, there had been a number of classic, unforgettable duels between two Frenchmen, Eric Baron und Christian Taillefer, who set a series world speed records as they sped down the French Alps clad in rubber suits and aerodynamic helmets with spoilers attached to their bodies while riding on futuristic speeding projectiles that had only a faint resemblance to bicycles. The only other racer who came even close to keeping up with the French duo was a young man from Kitzb-hel, Markus Stoeckl. Because he could not afford an expensive prototype at the time, he rode in the series bike class and managed to set a world record in that category at 187.013 km/h at Les Arches in 1999. Eric Baron's record in the prototype class of 222 km/h had stood since it was set at the same time.

After that, interest in France dropped off, as Markus Stoeckl explains: no races, no championships, no runs. Since then, the giant nicknamed "Hercules" (he weighs 100 kg, or 220 pounds, and stands 1.90 metres, or 6 foot 4 inches tall) has taken part in "normal" downhill races, founded his own company, and set up his own World Cup team MS Intense Racing. He was on an assignment in Portugal when he found out that the old speed track in La Parva, Chile was being renovated. He did not hesitate and quickly jumped on a plane to South America after hurriedly packing his old helmet, speedsuit and his new Intense M6 bike.

Just seven days later, on Friday, 14 September at 11:18 a.m., Stoeckl was standing at the highest-possible starting point directly beneath the cliffs in front of a 2000 meter long and 45-degree steep slope. The conditions for the record run were far from ideal. Because South America's springtime weather had melted away much of the snow alongside the piste, shrinking it to a narrow strip set up between bare mountain cliffs, it was not possible to gradually raise the starting point for test runs. The final test run took place from a spot that was hundreds of metres below the starting point where a top speed of 178 km/h was recorded.

photo

Because the protective visor on his helmet kept fogging over, Stoeckl was also forced to hold his breath for the 40-second run. "I knew that this would be my only chance," he said. The record run went off without a hitch. There were no problems whatsoever and despite hitting a speed of 210.4 km/h it all seemed somehow unspectacular.

Markus Stoeckl has now tasted success and he wants to try to break the other age-old records set by Eric Baron, but with better preparation and first-rate material. Fernando Habash, who is in charge of the La Parva ski resort, has promised he would have a course suitable for records set up.


Quotes:

"At the end of the run, I had the feeling that I was somehow watching the run myself."

"The planning for the trip to Chile was so hurried that I ended up having to use my street shoes for the world record run."

photo


Pics by Alfredo Escobar for Sports&News.

Posted In:
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Author Info:
brule avatar

Member since Mar 27, 2001
3,581 articles

37 Comments
  • 5 1
 shit thats crazy
  • 2 0
 its amazing how he held his breathe the whole run, its really cool 23 km is quite alot faster than the old recordd
  • 0 2
 you really should read it, you'll notice that he only had to hold his breath for 40 seconds, the length of the run, easy...
  • 1 1
 so sweet to see this happening on home soil, better luck next year, it's a shame he came in so late in the season, oh well, they should try further south where we have even steeper mountains and volcanoes
  • 3 0
 anyone know if theres a video?
  • 2 0
 I saw one on decline.com.........YouTube has it.
  • 1 0
 That is clowning!! yeah what tires and brakes are those? Talk about pushing the limits- imagine if the conditions were better...
  • 1 0
 Brakes look like shimano, i would have gone for 6ti or the Formula One imo. tires look like michelin seeing as the logos are blurred white and not blurred yellow.
  • 1 1
 I've rode 96km on an old swinn 5 years ago, I've drove 236km in a 88 Ford Grand Marq, But 210km on a bike in snow in crazy! That's fast, the winds start doing things at that speed!
  • 2 0
 that is sick, you got balls man
  • 1 0
 Really crazy guy! His balls must be as big as the hell and half of Georgia. RESPECT!!!
  • 1 0
 pl.youtube.com/watch?v=4do2PfFmD6g here is the movie!and its not photoshoped heheheWink
  • 3 1
 but i dont understand how he brake?
  • 4 2
 Big Balls!
  • 1 0
 howd he stop??? but TOTALLY sweet speed man
  • 1 0
 Wow man that is INSANE speed. Mad Props!
  • 1 0
 he cant of had enough red bull because he didnt take off with wings hehe
  • 1 1
 was he the same guy, on ripleys belive it or not. where he crashed on a voloanco and the bike frame cracked.
  • 1 0
 photoshopped to the days....NOT
  • 1 0
 that is asome and i like the hellmet
  • 1 0
 sick man...ow did he brake?
  • 2 1
 no thats how much he beat the old record by! i hate people who don't read
  • 1 0
 it's okey, i guess...
  • 1 0
 XTREME. CONGRATULATIONS
  • 1 0
 210 km/h wow
  • 0 0
 qq rallada!!!!!!!!jajaja diioosss!!!!!!!!!
  • 2 1
 real real cool
  • 5 16
flag will54869 (Sep 20, 2007 at 7:41) (Below Threshold)
 I could beet that on flat ground with my cruiser bike
  • 3 8
flag dirtjumper45 (Sep 24, 2007 at 20:23) (Below Threshold)
 u r retarted Fagget
  • 1 0
 i believe he was being sarcastic......
  • 1 0
 a good example of spirit
  • 1 1
 Bike Brand?
  • 0 0
 HHollly Shiiiiittt
  • 1 4
 only one thing i dont understand.... last record were 23 km/hr?? i can walk faster.
  • 3 1
 your an idiot it says he beat it by 23km/ hour
  • 0 1
 sit on a dick
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