The town of Hilpoltstein thought of something special for this year's Bike-Check-In at the Main-Donau-Kanal. The hot spot "Solar Hill" turns 20 this year and that's reason for a celebration. The HIP-Lounge offered the best opportunity for just that. While the athletes had their bikes and helmets checked and placed them at their spots in the parc ferme, BAYERN 3 sports editor Bernd-Uwe Gutknecht turned up the music and created a celebratory atmosphere.

The waiting athletes and many spectators got lots of interesting information about the course and could listen to interviews with the stars, for example Timo Bracht. When asked what he associates with Solar Hill he said that it was THE big thing and that he got goosebumps every time he rode up there. He stated that the two to three minutes he needed up the hill would go by quickly, almost like in a dream and the efforts of the spectators there were awesome. When he did not start in Roth he stood among the spectators- just like any other regular fan- and cheered on the athletes. "That's at least as much fun as riding up!"

Gutknecht also had BAYERN 3 relay members Christine Rose and Bernhard "Fleischi" Fleischmann on stage who talked about the preparations for the race. The drumming youth group from Hilpoltstein then provided a funky beat for the arrival of the Beneflizz by Hubert Schwarz. During that time, more and more athletes checked in their bikes. The transition area filled visibly while everyone got ready for the start.