RAN 2026 - Falko Kunze

On May 15/16, 2026, I started my 2026 competition season with the Race Around Niederösterreich (RAN). 600 km through Lower Austria – from Weitra through the lowlands, via Wiener Neustadt and the Semmering, through the Höllental and back over the mountains north of the Danube. A race that I love because the organization and route are simply perfect.

However, the 2026 edition will be remembered primarily for one thing in the race's history: the weather. What started around midnight was not a normal rain shower. It was continuous heavy rain at temperatures just above freezing, strong headwind in the Höllental, and even sleet just before St. Aegyd. The result: the highest dropout rate in RAN history to date – about a quarter of the starters did not reach the finish line.

In such moments, what really works separates itself from what only impresses under laboratory conditions. My Dowe Sportswear kit was with me from the start – and held up until the last bend in Weitra. Hours in continuous rain, long descents with icy hands, the constant change between uphill exertion and downhill cooling. The material played along, without ifs or buts.

With 12th place in the overall standings, I am proud and happy at the same time. In such conditions, finishing is a victory in itself. It was a race that demanded mental strength, a well-coordinated team, and reliable equipment – we delivered on all three levels.

I sincerely thank Dowe Sportswear for their support. It's a good feeling to know that you can rely on your equipment even in the darkest hours of the night in the rain. I look forward to wearing the kit in the upcoming races – and I'm excited to see what the 2026 season still brings.