Then came the ultimate test: L’Étape du Tour.
Looking back, Markko has few regrets. “There are always small details to adjust,” he reflects, “but there were no bigger mistakes or miscalculations.” More importantly, he achieved what he aimed for from the very beginning: “My goal was to ride the whole race without taking any breaks, and I did.” Could he have been faster? “Yes,” he says honestly, “but at the same time, I could have done much worse.”
That perspective captures the reality of an event like L’Étape. It is not simply a race against the clock, but a constant balancing act between ambition and endurance. “During the race, you pass a lot of people, and a lot of people pass you,” he says. “Each one of them is fighting their own little battle.” Riders are constantly balancing hydration, nutrition, pacing, fatigue, mechanical issues and awareness of everyone around them. “It’s a complex situation.”
Months of preparation meant there were few real surprises on the road. Instead, the race confirmed just how much small details matter. “Managing my power output was probably the biggest lesson,” Markko says. He had prepared for extreme weather, only to be greeted by relatively mild conditions, and even discovered that the infamous final section he had worried about ended not with another brutal climb but “a fast descent”. Not every moment went according to plan, however. One time, an exhausted rider drifted into his rear wheel during a climb. “We were both surprised,” Markko recalls. Fortunately, no harm was done beyond a brief scare.
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While many followed his journey through The Unseen Stage, Markko admits he rarely paid much attention to the online community voting. “I was much more focused on my training.” What meant more was seeing people encourage him along the way. “Seeing people engage on social media, wishing me luck and following my progress.”
Race morning itself brought a mixture of anticipation and practicality. “I felt calm excitement,” he says. By then, there was nothing left to prepare. The hardest part had almost been getting there after a 3:30 a.m. start, navigating road closures and detours before even reaching the start line; the emotions at the finish were very different. “Crossing the finish line was pure joy,” he says. Rolling back into the city with crowds cheering from both sides of the road was everything he had hoped for. That joy, however, was earned the hard way.
“About 15 kilometres before that… I absolutely hated that bloody mountain that just seemed to go on and on,” he laughs. After hours of climbing, surviving on sugary gels and dripping with sweat, there was little glamour left – only determination. Now, with the race behind him, Markko is already reflecting on what will stay with him. Structured training, he says, never made him feel drained. “If anything, it made me feel more energetic and healthier.” Strength training, better nutrition and plenty of cycling will remain part of his routine, even if not at the same intensity.
As for another challenge like this? “I like challenges,” he says. “But climbing 5,000 metres in a single day wouldn’t be one I’d rush to repeat. That was just brutal.” Perhaps not next week. But after watching his journey unfold through The Unseen Stage, you get the feeling it may not be his last great cycling adventure either.
You can see Markko’s stats and the progress of the other Challengers on The Unseen Stage website. Also, don’t forget to vote on the success of Melanie and George – voting will enter you in a draw for a high-end Superior bike or a one-year TrainingPeaks subscription!