For Estonia’s Markko Karu, the challenge isn’t a leap into the unknown. It’s a return to something that he already got a taste of and has an upper hand in: Markko has three L’Étapes du Tour under his belt. This fourth attempt, however, comes with a different mindset. Even before joining The Unseen Stage, Karu had committed to doing it properly. “I had already signed up with a plan to prepare; to ride it through without compromises or setbacks – not to put a foot down once.”
“For me, L’Étape is the most memorable sports event I have attended,” Markko reminisces. Having ridden it before, he knows exactly what draws riders back: “The sheer scale of it, the enthusiasm from both participants and supporters – and the mountains themselves.” Those peaks, in particular, are central to his motivation. “Riding in high mountains is my favourite form of tourism, I just love experiencing the world riding a bicycle,” he explains, listing rides across France, Italy, Spain, Romania, Rwanda, Peru, and China.
That quiet determination has been building for decades. Karu has always been active, though never obsessively competitive. His introduction to cycling came in 2003 with his first mountain bike race – an experience that stuck. “I fell in love with the format and have been riding ever since.” For over 20 years, he has been a regular at local Wednesday MTB races around Tallinn, favouring technical terrain and endurance challenges. Events like Vätternrundan and even the cycling leg of Ironman Tallinn have found their way into his calendar, though he’s clear about one thing: “Sport has never been my main priority – it has always remained a hobby.” Yet L’Étape is different. Familiar, but never easy.
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“As mentioned, this will be my fourth time, so I have a good understanding of what to expect – but it will be brutal this year,” he says. The real challenge, as ever, lies off the bike. Like all the other Challengers, Karu must carve training time out of a busy life, all while staying mindful of his limits. “Definitely time management, but also managing training load to avoid setbacks,” he notes on perceived obstacles. Past knee pain has shaped his approach. “I will not risk my long-term health for the sake of a race. Progress needs to be steady and sustainable.” For that, his strategy is simple, if not always easy: waking up early to train before work. There’s also an element of accountability in sharing the journey, as Markko feels that public commitment also helps make it a priority.
At the core of Karu’s Unseen Stage journey is curiosity – not just about the race, but about himself. “I am very excited to experience the benefits of following a proper training plan and having professional support,” he says. For someone who has always treated sport as a passion rather than a pursuit, this structure offers something new. “My goal is to become the best version of myself,” he explains, “and to see how I compare and rank among others.” With all this, he will enjoy the support and training advice of Karmen Reinpold, a seasoned professional cycling coach who also took care of the Estonian Olympic team twice.
As The Unseen Stage unfolds, so will Karu’s journey of determination and self-discovery. Will he achieve his goals? On our dedicated website, you can take your own guess of “yes” or “no” about Markko hitting the ultimate milestone of finishing another L’Étape. By doing so, you will enter a draw for a high-end Superior bike or a one-year TrainingPeaks subscription!
