A lone rider gets ready outside of their car in the parking lot of the Kronplatz cable car. The sun lulls just below the surrounding mountains, yet to rise high enough to warm the chill of this early autumnal day. With scrupulous precision, the rider, Florian Nowak or Flo, gets ready. Every detail is checked in preparation for the ride ahead, because unbeknownst to the workers who speed through the parking lot on their e-bikes, Flo is about to embark on a race to set the fastest known time on all surfaces around the Kronplatz.
A Fastest Known Time, or FKT, is something that has sprung to prominence in cycling after the world was interrupted by Covid-19. With races cancelled, riders looked to scratch that competitive itch in a different way, and for those who could ride outside, FKTs offered something unique and the ultimate socially distanced type of racing, already known by a small, close-knit community, exploded.
Coincidentally, it was catching Covid-19 in 2022 that inspired Florian Nowak, a German ex-professional road racer and Shimano Gravel Alliance rider, to dive into the world of FKTs. ‘This summer I had to cancel all of my racing plans when I caught Covid. After spending close to 6 weeks off of training due to the illness, I was keen to set myself a new goal, and the idea of the FKT came to me.’ Originally as a focus to get fit away from the pressure of racing, Flo soon found out that there was more to FKTs than just ripping around a course of your choice.
07:30 sharp and the beep of Flo’s bike computer signifies that the ride is on. There are no crowds or official starters, just a lone rider heading off to push themselves to their limit. Testing themselves against the clock. Laying down an arbitrary benchmark for others to chase. As Flo’s shoe clips into his pedal all the preparation falls away. The hours of training, the weeks of Covid, numerous late nights searching maps as the obsession becomes reality because the FKT is on, and all there is to focus on is riding this beautiful loop.
Memorisedstats become waypoints, locations to race towards, steep climbs to suffer up and technical descents to nail. The pre-game now allows Flo to break down his ride, each turn of the pedals getting him closer to the summit of the Kronplatz and that long-awaited descent to the finish. Worries about the what ifs dissolve into a focus on what is, a zen-like moment where the only focus is on the ride.
At the centre of every FKT is the route. It has to be something stand-out that inspires people to see if they cando the fastest known time around it. Whether it is an iconic parcours, or something focused around an amazing location, it is this uniqueness that gives the rider the satisfaction of doing, and the focus for preparing ahead of their FKT. Flo continues: ‘Idecided to go for a new FKT route, rather than doing one that someone else had set. It just felt more inspirational. Tucked away from the world with Covid, the planning gave me a taste of being outside. That’s why I chose the loop around the Kronplatz in South Tyrol, as it is not too far from where I live in southern Germany, but far enough away to give me motivation. It is also a place that I know well from skiing and one that I was keen to explore too.’ What Flo doesn’t mention is the link with pro cycling –the Giro d’Italia has twice finished at the top of this signature Italian mountain.
The Kronplatz is something unique within the world of Alpine summits. A low (in comparison to other peaks) summit, which has deftly been turned into a two-season playground for lovers of the outdoors. This summit is also noted for the distinct architectural styles of the Lumen Museum of Mountain Photography and the Messner Mountain Museum, part of Flo’s route. The lines are noticeably different to the traditional houses that have lined earlier parts of his ride. There is something fitting with how they complement the form that follows the function of the numerous gondola stations that surround the summit. Though unarguably developed, there is a harmony and aesthetic synergy with the endless rocky mountain summits that can be seen from here. But Flo is not here to explore architectural styles or enjoy the views as he passes through the Kronplatz looking marginally more comfortable than he had on the climb. His steely poker facing hinting to his elite roots, as he swiftly pulls up his arm warmers ready to bomb down the descent and finish his ride.
For those who are experienced at FKTs, there is common consensus that the planning stage of the ride is the most fun, becauseas Reese Ruland, the person behind cyclingfkt.com, puts ‘every detail can be looked into, allowing the rider to be the puppeteer behind their FKT, so that they can make sure everything is in their advantage for their attempt.’ For first timer Flo, this was something of a rabbit hole that he embarked down in the build-up to –and after –his Kronplatz FKT
‘Once the route was planned, which took some time, I rode it twice to make sure it was perfect. Knowing not only every turn, but also the key points onthe steep uphills and technical descents allowed me to not only fine-tune my bike setup, but also nutritional plan, clothing and time scale for training,’ Flo explains.
2X Shimano GRX, with a single bottle and one gel were the key parts of Flo’s ride, with him knowing that even though he had to push a couple of the uphill sections during the two reconnaissance rides, the gearing and minimal setup would be perfect come FKT day. Flo continues: ‘In hindsight I should have focused a bit more on tyres and tyre pressure. I mean, when I was racing as a pro I remember the work that goes into dialling in the tyre pressure for the biggest races. With the technical descent and also long sections of steep gravel I feel that I could have gone slightly wider, with lower pressure, because there is nowhere on my route where I needed the out-and-out speed on a road.’ And the minimal approach of deciding not to carry a tube or multi-tool? Easy: if it goes wrong today, he’ll just try again another day.
As the morning rush of retired Austrian and German tourists catch the gondola up to the Kronplatz, Flo races in to finish his FKT. Shaking his arms, slightly crusted in sweat and dust, Flo’s time is set: 2:49:06. A benchmark for others to beat, Flo smiles to himself in reflection for a moment. There are no cheering crowds, prize ceremonies or even bottle hunters. Just a few people on the terrace of a bar overlooking Flo’s finishing location, who briefly look up from their morning coffee to glance at a lone gravel rider in black
Catching up with Flo after the ride it was clear that FKTs have gotten under this rider’s skin. ‘You know, despite stepping away from racing I’m still someone who enjoys pushing myself, and that was what I liked about the FKT ride. Knowing that it wasgoing to hurt, the focus needed not only on the climbs but the descents has stuck with me. I didn’t expect this when I started out but there is something unique that has been interesting to experience with FKTs. Racing gives you a moment of reflection about the final result, which you have to learn from and take to the next race. But with an FKT you can reflect, and then go again. I really like that idea –it’s never over. If a rider comes to the Kronplatz and rides my route 10 minutes quicker, that will inspire me to work hard to go even faster than them. Even though all of this is done alone, I feel that there is a huge community around FKTs, which I would love to cultivate more. It fits well with my ethos of make your own story, where you get to choose how, where and when you ride,’ Flo explains.
And as with the time spent reflecting on how training, setup and details on the day can shave time off of Flo’s performance on the Kronplatz route, it has also opened a world of FKT possibilities to him. ‘I’ve already found myself looking at other FKTs that riders have done and also ones that I could set as new routes myself. Being based near Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the Bavarian Alps, there are so many potential routes, I’m already thinking about my next FKT.I still love racing, but think that FKTs will be a big part of my riding plans for next year, so watch this space,’ he concludes
It’s the perfect end to the FKT story, or more precisely this part of Flo’s FKT story. Because as Reese said when we picked her brains on the finer details of FKTing, they act like a hit that you need to get more of. ‘That’s the interesting thing about FKTs, it’s like kids in the playground challenging each other to do something faster than someone else, just more long form. And after the fact, no-one really cares if you take the fastest time or not. Yes, you’ll get the gratification of having finished your FKT, but this will be followed by a period of wallowing, because your focus has shifted. The only way to get out of that wallowing is to set yourself a new target and find a new FKT to get stuck into.
Thanks to South Tyrol Tourist board for help with this FKT, find out about this amazing location here: https://www.suedtirol.info/en/newsletter
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