VIA Race Report – Interview with Adam Bialek

Adam Bialek once again took on the ultimate challenge at the VIA Race. After his victory at the last edition in 2024, he returned in 2025 as the defending champion – aiming to complete the nearly 4,000-kilometer south-to-north crossing of Europe in under nine days. From the start in Giovinazzo in southern Italy to the finish in Amerongen in the Netherlands, he faced rain, crashes, and fierce competition. In the end, the race became one of setbacks but also of great strength.
We caught up with him shortly after the finish.

Hi Adam! Tell us a bit about the VIA Race you recently took part in.

The VIA Race is a roughly 4,000-kilometer self-supported ultra-distance race across Europe, now in its second edition. It’s designed as a trilogy, and we’ve just completed the second chapter of three.
After my participation last year, I returned as the defending champion. The start was set in Giovinazzo, southern Italy – the finish of the previous edition – and the goal was Amerongen in the Netherlands. So basically a south-to-north crossing of Europe with some twists and turns along the way.
As with most of my races, VIA follows a free-routing format without a fixed course. What was mandatory were the so-called gates as well as two refuges that had to be passed along the way.

Did you have a fixed plan for sleep or daily mileage?

Not really. I only had a rough idea of where I’d like to be at certain times. My first planned sleep stop was in the Po Valley, after crossing the Apennines.
I had to abandon that plan quickly because A: the weather was bad, B: I crashed on the first day, and C: progress was much slower than expected. From that point on, I planned my days more individually.
In the first edition I had a very concrete plan for the first 2,000 kilometers because there was a key section I needed to reach at a specific time – and that worked really well. This year, such a key section didn’t exist, but I still like to make rough schedules. The overall goal was to reach the finish in under nine days.

Was the race tougher for you physically or mentally?

It was both – physically and mentally one of the toughest, if not the toughest race I’ve ever done. On the one hand, because of the weather: almost daily rain, wet shoes, constant bad conditions. That really drained my motivation since I dislike riding in nonstop rain.
On the other hand, the crash on day one. I immediately knew I had to patch myself up, clean the wounds, keep everything sterile to avoid infection – all while it kept raining. I had no idea how my body would react to riding more than a week across Europe with an injured hip. That challenged me enormously.

What was the hardest part for you during those eight days?

My ambition was to stay at the front. The combination of bad weather, the crash, and strong competition made it incredibly tough.
After the crash, I managed to work my way back step by step. In Slovenia I took the lead and held it for quite a while. But the competition was never far behind – that pushed me, but at the same time demanded a lot from my battered body.

What was your best moment during the race?

It’s always a joy to explore new places – that’s probably the main reason I do these races.
This year there were sections I already knew: the Alps, northern Italy, southern Germany, and the Vosges. But Slovenia was new for me. Luckily the weather there was decent, and I passed through during the day so I could really see the landscape – which isn’t always the case. It was also where I took the lead, realizing that despite my injuries I could still keep up.

Did you have any memorable encounters with other riders or people along the road?

Not really – those encounters are usually very brief since I’m always in race mode. Mostly it’s short conversations with gas station attendants or when I stop at a bike shop to grab some oil. That’s about it.

Did you listen to music or podcasts along the way?

No, never. When I ride, I want to be fully aware of my surroundings.

How was it for you to finally reach the finish?

The way to the finish was tough. On day six I had a second crash, again on my right side. The wounds that had started to heal were torn open again. I thought: this can’t be real. Normally I never crash – and then twice in one race, on the same side. That hit me mentally.
But I pulled myself together, kept going, and held the lead for a long time – until Bruno, who was riding extremely strong, caught and overtook me just before the finish.
We reached the finish with only a small gap. It was a relief, because the whole race had been so demanding. In the end, reaching the finish at all – after two crashes – was deeply satisfying.

What was the very first thing you did after crossing the finish line?

Taking off my shoes and wet socks. That was the biggest annoyance throughout the entire race.

A few quick questions to wrap up

Three words to describe the race?
Hard, unique, beautiful.

What would you have liked to leave behind?
A base-layer pant I never used.

What did you miss?
A thicker jacket for cold, rainy descents.

Best piece of gear?
Sleeping bag and lighting setup – both essential.

Worst decision?
Sleeping only 1.5 hours on the second-to-last night – I really felt it at the end.

Best decision?
Stocking up at the last gas station before the finale. That allowed me to ride the last 300 kilometers through the Netherlands without any further stops.

Favorite snack?
Gas station sandwiches. Not always tasty, but easy to carry.

Looking back, how do you feel about the whole experience?
In the first few days I was disappointed to lose the lead so close to the finish. But now I’m quite satisfied, especially when I see the big time gap Bruno and I had over the rest of the field – despite my two crashes.

Do you already know what’s next for you?
For 2025 I have no further race plans. In my private life there are things coming up that will require my focus.

Thanks for your time, Adam! Wishing you a speedy recovery and all the best for your upcoming adventures – both on and off the bike.