NORTH 3: Gietl & Messini on Ortles, Cima Grande and Grossglockner link up

Simon Gietl and Vitto Messini wanted to see how far they could go. By climbing three big north faces, riding from one to the next. They covered 9,628 m of elevation and rode 391 km in under 48 hours. Hans Kammerlander and Hans-Peter Eisendle first linked the Ortles and Cima Grande in 1991 by fair means. North3 goes one step further – by adding the Großglockner and a further 117 km by bike. It took eight months of training, including thousands of kilometres in the saddle. Mental preparation played a big role too –to be able focus on the climbs, despite the lack of sleep. Poor weather made things harder, eventually forcing them to opt for an alternative route on the Tre Cime. North3 is more than just a project – it’s an anthem to human willpower and smiling in the face of adversity. Get the full story and watch the video here.