IV. The Falling Action.

The final kilometers to the finish are the most emotional and beautiful of the route, even though your body will be screaming at you to stop right there. Your legs are burning. Your hands are numb. You’re ready to get off the saddle. But you love yourself too much. You feel shit, but the greatness overrides this. You want to start crying. You’ve made it this far! You imagine all the things you will eat in a few minutes. You hear the spectators pushing you to the finish line, making you squeeze the last power out of your calfs. Finish line where are you?! You look out for your friends, time for beer and pasta.

About the Author

Robin Schmitt
CEO & Founder

Robin is one of the two founders of 41 Publishing, a visionary and go-getter. While he now enjoys every second on the bike – whenever his busy schedule allows – he used to race against the clock at enduro events and a few Downhill World Cups. Besides that, Robin practises kung fu and Zen meditation, plays the cello, loves classic cars, travels abroad and still reviews numerous bikes himself. Progressive ideas, new projects and major challenges – Robin loves exploring undiscovered potential and getting to the bottom of new trends.

GRAN FONDO Cycling Magazine

GRAN FONDO is the first independent premium magazine for road and gravel bikes with a holistic lifestyle approach. We write for visionaries and adventurers, for creative minds and tech enthusiasts who see cycling as part of their way of life. Instead of obsessing over watts and marginal gains, our editorial team looks at the bigger picture: high-end bikes, global trends and technological milestones, all evaluated with a firm grounding in real-world use.

Since 2016, GRAN FONDO has stood for journalistic depth and full transparency in the drop-bar segment. Our awards are recognized worldwide as a benchmark for riders, retailers, and the industry alike. In our in-depth reviews and comparison tests, years of testing expertise flow into practical, independent product analysis.

GRAN FONDO is published in both German and English, reaching an international audience.