From Drizzle to Dusting: Our 2026 Season Opener
They say the way you start your year sets the tone for the months to follow. If that’s true, our squad is in for a season of grit, unpredictable drama, and some seriously hardened skin.
Yesterday marked our first official training ride of 2026, and mother nature decided to throw the entire seasonal catalogue at us in just a few hours.
The Calm Before the Chaos
We rolled out of Zürich under a classic, muted grey sky, a light drizzle and a some gust – just enough to make the tarmac slick and cover the bike lane with broken branches. It was the kind of weather that makes you question your life choices before you’ve even cleared the city limits.
However, as we began the steady grind toward Pfannenstiel, the clouds fractured. We were treated to a breathtaking sunset that painted the ridge in hues of gold and deep orange. For a fleeting moment, it felt like a reward for showing up.
The Turn of the Tide
That peace didn’t last long. As we transitioned into our scheduled intervals, the atmosphere shifted from “scenic” to “survival.”
The sequence of events was almost comical in its intensity:
- The Rain: The drizzle matured into a heavy, soaking downpour.
- The Snow: As the temperature plummeted and darkness moved in, the rain turned into thick, wet flakes.
- The Hail: Finally, the sky began firing frozen pellets. The hail was sharp enough to feel like needles against our faces, cutting into the skin as we pushed through our final sets.
Victory Against the Elements
There’s a specific kind of camaraderie that only forms when you’re squinting through a blizzard in March. We didn’t just survive the ride; we finished every rep. By the time we turned back toward the city, we were soaked, shivering, and sporting some “hail-induced” rosy cheeks—but the first ride of the year is officially in the books.