Part II. More than luxury: Come up, slow down
Kicking back like true ballers for a weekend spent ricocheting between grand hotel glamour and authentic mountain huts, road bikes and waterfalls, where the idea of jetset coordinates with pure nature.
Off the plane and into the Bentley: Jean-Christophe (better known as JC) lands at Zurich airport with his girlfriend Asal, from where we swiftly escort them to the Bentley. The W12 motor makes an opulent purr as they embark with 608 horsepower into the weekend. The GRAN FONDO team follow inconspicuously… albeit in a second Bentayga.
The first destination is the newly opened Breitling boutique in Zurich, where JC collects his Superocean Héritage II 42. Since becoming CEO of Breitling in July 2017, Georges Kern has revitalized the company with fresh ideas to attract a new crowd, bringing in ambassadors and creating what they’ve called ‘squads’. That term sums up our group for the weekend, and we happily accept the #squadonamission hashtag. For Breitling, the Squads are a super engaging tool to convey the brand’s message; in our case this includes conquering the passes around Gstaad with bikes and living out our vision of modern luxury. If there’s one thing we’re sure about it’s that this weekend will be an event of superlatives, balancing sports, fun, and relaxation.
Bonjour, Grüezi, Hello, Hallo, Buongiorno Gstaad!
After a quick lunch at Hiltl Zürich, the world’s oldest vegetarian restaurant dating back to 1898, the journey continues. It’s around 2 hours from Zurich to Gstaad, which is in southwest Switzerland. Legends like Roger Moore, Tony Curtis and Elizabeth Taylor descended on this resort for the ultimate R&R, where jetset meets mountain huts. A small, postcard-perfect village, Gstaad is still home to a host of world stars, although some only on a temporary basis. Luxury, sport and nature unite here in a manner that’s rare to find anywhere else. The town’s social and sporting agenda reflects the culture-savvy lifestyle, hosting everything from Switzerland’s first vintage bike festival Bergkönig, stage starts and finishes of the Tour de Suisse, old-timer rally events, to international beach volleyball and polo tournaments. The blend of worldwide guests, spectacular scenery and local down-to-earthness lend Gstaad even more elements that make it such an idyll.
The symbol of Gstaad: the Gstaad Palace
The grandeur of the Gstaad Palace overlooks the village, sprinkling grand hotel charm on everything that lies at its feet. These days, it’s one of the few remaining family-run grand hotels left in Europe, with an esteemed history that goes back over 100 years. When it first opened in the winter of 1913, the central heating and in-house telegraph sender were the height of luxury, distinguishing this Swiss hotel from the rest. By the 1960s its gala dinners were the pinnacle of high-society, with guests like Louis Armstrong and Marlene Dietrich blending into the crowds. At one stage, there was even talk of Michael Jackson putting in an offer for the grand hotel.
With such old-timer grandeur on tap perhaps it’s not surprising to hear that our favourite director Quentin Tarantino was a recent guest, soaking up its undiluted lavishness. The hotel’s in-house nightclub Greengo, which dates back to 1971, still retains the same spectacular interior, a timeless classic.
The Gstaad palace promises Alpine elegance, first-rate food and drink, a concierge to meet your every whim, and luxurious surroundings in which you can properly switch off. The views from the bedrooms reveal Swiss summits to take your breath away, while the restaurants, bars and 1,800 sq spa give space for your mind to wander and body to relax. In fact, isn’t that the concierge waiting to show us our rooms?
The victory bike: Custom Cervélo R5 Classics Edition
Heart rates race once more after checking in to the rooms. It’s time to hand over the custom Cervélo R5 Classics Edition with its limited edition colorway, a celebration of Team Dimension Data’s camouflaged prototypes at the 100th edition of the Giro d’Italia. SRAM and Zipp put in a collaborative effort with us to build up the bike with the finest components around: cableless shifting thanks to the SRAM Red eTap and the latest deep rimmed Zipp 404 NSW Carbon clinchers. For any self-respecting cyclist, getting your hands on such a lust-worthy, peloton-proven bike is a momentous prize.
Now could be time to ‘slam that stem’ in the manner of certain pros, but if we’re being honest with ourselves, isn’t it a bit of a farcical move for amateurs? It just doesn’t reflect reality, so why would we insist of a staged shot? Instead of riding bikes for places on podiums, we ride so that we can have a good time – and that only happens when you feel comfortable.
Alpine romance: Dinner at the Walig Hut
Alpine romance: Dinner at the Walig Hut
A lot can happen in a day, which is why we’ve chosen such a laid back dinner spot up high in the mountains. The Walig hut – which is also part of the Gstaad Palace – lies at the most tranquil spot at 1,700 metres above sea level high above Gsteig. It begins with a drink, nibbles and the obligatory admiration of the views, before moving inside to the open fire, blissfully low-key atmosphere, and regional delicacies. What an end to the first day!
Room service – ready to ride?
6 am. There’s a knock at the doors, and a brisk call of ‘breakfast.’ We’d decided to make an early start to the day for several reasons: firstly, to get the best light for photos; secondly, to avoid riding the mountain passes when they’re at their busiest; and thirdly, or most importantly because JC’s mounting anticipation to get out on his new bike was just too intense to resist. So it was decreed that we’d go for room service, then ride.
Clip in, and go. Patrick Bauer, product manager responsible for all things cycling at Gstaad, stepped effortlessly into the role of local guide, taking us on a sweet 70 km loop along narrow, virtually traffic-free mountain lanes as well as the somewhat busier Jaun pass. While riding, Patrick fills us in on Gstaad’s history, beginning with the Montreux Oberland Bernois Railway, a train better known as the MOB, which opened the doors for Gstaad’s tourism. He reiterates how the international jetset and the more traditional rural lifestyle are both in contrast – and in harmony. The small airport in Saanen, he points out, is where a lot of the rich and famous first descend on Gstaad, and moments later signals at yet another breathtaking road that makes up one of the region’s 10 official road cycling routes. By the end of the ride we’re all in agreement that road riding is the ultimate way to explore. JC and Asal’s expressions and constant utterings of ‘wow’ and ‘amazing’ confirm that they, too, agree. A somewhat hidden waterfall near Jaun is a major highlight of the day as we dive in to the clear waters. At the end of the ride we’re offered a Saane Gutsch, a locally brewed beer, in the well-stocked and achingly hip 16 Boucherie bar.
Back at the hotel there’s still time for an indulgent stint in the Palace Spa before dinner. Wanting to make the most of those spectacular views over the mountains, we head into the garden for our first drink, putting faith in the charismatic barkeeper and his secret concoctions. The tone for the evening is set, with a buffet dinner out on the terrace followed by lengthy chats in the bar. Tomorrow, we promise, will be more leisurely. After all, luxury really means being free, and we didn’t come to Gstaad to roll through a tick-list of experiences. The real purpose was to find a break from the daily grind.
Riding, swimming, laughing, feasting, appreciating, drinking – neither your bike, nor your watch, nor your opulent car are the definition of luxury. The real deal is having the freedom to act and experience. It’s through using those products – see them as pivotal parts of the on-stage scenery – that you’ll have fun and create those unforgettable memories. JC’s words at the end of the weekend sum it up perfectly: “The prize is unbelievable and I’m super happy to have won, but what’s really most exciting is being a part of this experience. I can’t wait to see what goes in the magazine – that’s the sort of thing you really can’t put a price on.” So JC, as you sit there reading now, we hope you’re reliving the weekend in Gstaad. It was just the beginning, and now it’s time for you, the new bike and the watch to go and act. Whether you’re pedalling along the nicest roads in the world or sitting in a meeting, you’re now well equipped – well done!
As this has shown, it’s worth taking a risk and putting yourself on the line. If the stars are aligned, you could be onto something good. And that’s what the GRAN FONDO PRESTIGE is all about – for us and for you. The courage to create a once-in-a-lifetime experience, give inspiration to thousands of readers, and change a person’s life. Gstaad’s tagline of ‘Come up – slow down’ is the best advice we’ve ever followed. Gstaad, we couldn’t have asked for more.
For more information out the partners of the first GRAN FONDON PRESTIGE check the links below:
Bentley | Breitling | Cervelo | Gstaad Region | Isadore | Gstaad Palace | Sram | Zipp
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