Search
shop

Three-peat champ Fred Funk’s PRO tips for racing ‘iconic’ Challenge Kaiserwinkl-Walchsee

Having won Challenge Kaiserwinkl-Walchsee three times in a row himself, PRO triathlete Frederic Funk shares his top tips for age-groupers on how to make the most of this tough - but 'iconic' - middle distance race.
Content Director
Last updated -

Fred Funk is no stranger to the podium at Challenge Kaiserwinkl-Walchsee – a tough, but stunning, middle distance race in Austria’s Tirol region. Having grown up just 15km away over the border, Kaiserwinkl is pretty much a hometown race for Funk. And for the last 3 years, he’s been on a winning streak – taking the top step on the podium on a course that plays to his strengths.

Fresh off the back of his 2nd place finish at Challenge The Championship, we caught up with Fred to get his top tips for age groupers set to toe the start line at Challenge Kaiserwinkl-Walchsee this June.

Is it better to race on a road bike or a TT bike on such a hilly course?

The bike course at Challenge Kaiserwinkl-Walchsee features 1200m/4000ft of climbing. So for plenty of age-groupers, there’s a bit of a debate to be had about whether the aero savings of a TT bike might be outweighed by the easier handling of a road bike. So what does uber-biker Funk have to say on the matter?

“Make sure you are racing on the bike you feel the most comfortable with for climbing and cornering. A TT bike might be faster, but only if you practice climbing, descending and cornering. Otherwise a road bike might be the smarter and safer choice for this kind of course.”

Challenge Kaiserwinkl-Walchsee 2023 - Photo Credit José Luis Hourcade / Challenge Walchsee 2023
[Photo Credit José Luis Hourcade / Challenge Walchsee 2023]

If you’re a confident descender and you’ve been able to spend plenty of time practicing your bike handling skills on your TT bike in training, then make the most of the aero gains. But if you’re likely to end up spending most of your time sat up, pulling the brakes. The extra confidence a road bike might give you on the downhills could end up being quicker overall.

Don’t grind over every single climb

“Walchsee has mostly shorter climbs, but there are a lot of them,” says Fred. “You will definitely feel it by the end of the bike section.”

“Don’t grind over every single climb, or you are going to pay for it. And use the descents to recover.”

Being able to recover between the efforts on the uphill is key, and thankfully it’s something you can practice and improve on prior to race day. “Practice this kind of undulating terrain in training,” Funk recommends. “Or you can simply do some intervals where you are going over race pace for shorter periods, then return straight back to race pace – or a little easier than race pace.”

By simulating the short, sharp efforts you’ll need to put out to ascend the climbs on race day in training. You can train your body to recover faster between efforts – leaving you with enough in the tank for the run.

Pacing well is key to success at Challenge Kaiserwinkl-Walchsee

Once you head out of T2, with the finish line now firmly in sight it can be easy to think the hardest part of the day is done. But the hills at Challenge Kaiserwinkl-Walchsee aren’t just reserved for the bike course.

“It’s a hilly course, with 4 laps around the lake. So first of all, make sure you have enough energy left after the bike.”

Challenge Kaiserwinkl-Walchsee 2023 - Photo Credit José Luis Hourcade / Challenge Walchsee 2023
[Photo Credit José Luis Hourcade / Challenge Walchsee 2023]

Managing your effort on the swim and the bike will put you in a good place to run strong after T2. But it’s also important to keep the pace under control to avoid blowing up too early into the run. “It’s better to start a little bit too easy, than too fast,” Fred advises.

Look up, and have fun

Fred’s final word of wisdom for age groupers racing at Challenge Kaiserwinkl-Walchsee is simple: “Enjoy the scenery! This is one of the most iconic race courses in the world, and super beautiful. So don’t forget to have fun.”

That last point is essential for us age-groupers. We train hard, and we set ourselves ambitious goals. But ultimately we choose to do this sport for the fun, the adventure and the love of it. So when things get tough on race day – don’t forget to take a look around, appreciate the incredible scenery and soak up the atmosphere. This is what it’s all about!


Read our Challenge Kaiserwinkl-Walchsee race guide to find out more about taking on this tough but rewarding middle distance race in Austria.

Jenny Lucas-Hill
Written by
Jenny Lucas-Hill
Jenny Lucas-Hill is Content Director at TRI247. A five-time Ironman finisher, she's also a qualified personal trainer and sports massage therapist.
Discover more
Dave Ellis / Luke Pollard - World Para Triathlon Championships Pontevedra 2023
Golden opportunity – British Triathlon launches search for LA2028 paratriathlon guides
IRONMAN Lanzarote 2024 - Anne Haug on run course
Best marathon shoes for Ironman – the ‘legal’ super shoes you CAN wear to level up your run split
Challenge Sanremo 2024 - Photo: Jose Luis Hourcade
How to fuel your triathlon training: Expert nutritionist tips to help you nail every session
swim start IRONMAN World Championship Kona 2024 photo credit Tony Svensson IRONMAN
Level up your Ironman swim split – must-read tips from an expert swim coach
Ironman gear guide – everything you need to get to the finish line of a full distance triathlon
latest News
Richard Varga Jonny Brownlee Arzachena
Triathlon legend Jonny Brownlee reveals ‘Last Dance’ motivation behind latest challenge
IRONMAN Kona 2022 Age Group Results
How will “re-imagined” IRONMAN World Championship at Kona actually look for Age Groupers?
Lucy Charles-Barclay IRONMAN World Championship Kona 2023 Finish
IRONMAN World Championship goes ALL IN on Kona again with men and women to race on same day from 2026
Laura Philipp and Kat Matthews on the run at the 2024 IRONMAN World Championship
Nice gets consolation prize of 70.3 Worlds after IRONMAN World Championships return to Kona
Kona scenic 2022 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
The survey results which prompted IRONMAN’s dramatic Kona U-turn
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

Share to...