Move. Ride. Repeat. - Never standing still.

Road, speed, and determination.

From Hockey Skates to Cycling Shoes

Christian Schmitt began his athletic career at the age of ten in ice hockey. He progressed through all youth categories of the Eishockey Union Feldkirch and, at the age of 18, made the step into training with the first team. He later also played for Eishockey Club Supergau Feldkirch at the senior level. One of the highlights of this period was winning the Austrian championship in the 2nd league — a success he still looks back on today with great gratitude.

After this successful phase, Christian Schmitt played one more year for EHC Montafon and two additional years for EHC Bregenzerwald, both in the 2nd Austrian Bundesliga. Due to professional and personal commitments, he eventually decided to end his active ice hockey career.

Since cycling had always been a great passion, Christian Schmitt quickly found a new athletic challenge in the sport. His first participation in the Dreiländergiro in Nauders marked a turning point. His enthusiasm for the race was so strong that he began training more systematically and dedicating himself seriously to cycling. Today he competes with great enthusiasm in a wide variety of cycling events — from individual time trials and cycling marathons to MTB hill climbs and gravel races.

"Cycling is about listening to your body, embracing the joy of the ride, and soaking in the beauty of nature in all its forms."

Successes, Setbacks, and the Joy of Riding

What particularly fascinates Christian Schmitt about cycling is the ability to cover great distances in a short time while experiencing the diversity of nature. At the same time, the sport is extremely complex: fitness, tactics, equipment, and many other factors play a decisive role. This versatility is exactly what makes cycling so exciting for him.

The year 2019 was especially outstanding for Christian Schmitt — his absolute dream season. During that year he achieved several of his biggest sporting goals, including victories at the Glocknerkönig, the Dreiländergiro, the Halltalexpress, and the Pfänder race.

Another, even more significant chapter began in 2022. Since undergoing a spinal fusion involving several vertebrae, every training session and every race has been a bonus for him. Precisely for this reason, he values every moment on the bike even more and enjoys every ride in a special way.

In preparing for competitions, Christian Schmitt relies less on fixed rituals and more on adaptability. Depending on the race and the goal, he structures his training to be as well prepared as possible and always tries to make the best of every situation.

One of the most memorable experiences of his cycling career was his solo finish at the Dreiländergiro in Nauders. The final kilometers from the Reschen Pass to the finish were marked by the certainty of having achieved a major goal — a moment that remains vivid in his memory to this day.

If Christian Schmitt could pursue another sport, it would be Formula 1. The fascination with perfection, strategy, setup, and the constant pursuit of optimization represents a clear parallel to cycling in his eyes.

His advice to newcomers in cycling is simple: For those new to cycling, his advice is simple: listen to your body, ride as much as feels right, and never forget to enjoy the ride. After all, few other sports offer the opportunity to experience nature as intensely and diversely.