A crash is in Fabian Recher's medal dreams

In the leading group with the reigning handbike world champion Jonas Van de Steene, the Ironman world record holder Thomas Frühwirth and the Dutchman Jetze Plat, who already won the gold medal in the paratriathon and the handbike time trial this week, the top riders took turns in the lead and rode at speeds of up to 70 km/h to gain a lead of several minutes over their pursuers.

The Belgian Van de Steene was the first to be torn away from the leading group of four. Recher was able to keep up for around ten minutes longer. Halfway through the race, however, the pace became too fast for him too and he fell back to the Belgian. Everything looked as though Recher and Van de Steene would fight it out for the bronze medal, as the pursuers behind them were almost five minutes behind.

But then the mishap happened. The fork of Fabian Recher's handbike got caught on the Belgian's bumper in a curve. He was therefore no longer able to control his handbike and crashed into the barrier. Recher managed to turn his bike around at the last moment so that he didn't crash into the Belgian and the barrier. The crash destroyed both of their medal hopes and the Belgian's bike.

“It often happens in races that handbikes get jammed. The fact that it had such consequences here is brutal. “We spoke to each other at the finish and apologized to each other,” said Recher after the race. Van de Steene was also very disappointed: “Physically, I only have minor injuries, but my new handbike, in which I invested 25,000 euros, is broken.” Unfortunately, equipment that is used in competitions is not insured. That's why I don't currently know whether I can start at the World Championships in Zurich.”

The parking brake was also displaced as a result of the crash. “I lost about three and a half minutes before I crossed the finish line, where my brakes could be adjusted.” After the repair, the lead was lost in just a few seconds, and the Pole Raffal Wilk and the American Travis Gaertner were able to catch up with him.

The 25-year-old from Spiez made a leap in performance this season and quickly established himself among the world's elite in the spring. With victory at the World Cup in Ostend, Belgium, and podium finishes at the World Cup races in Adelaide (AUS) and Maniago (IT), he finished second in the overall World Cup – level on points with the first and third placed riders.

The difficulty this season, with the World Cup race in the spring and the Paralympics and the home World Championships in Zurich in September, is to coordinate the training so that the form is right for all of the season's highlights. To achieve this, Fabian Recher is working closely with former cycling pro Marcel Wyss and has been working with his bike mechanic on a new carbon handbike.

Part of the preparation was a three-week high-altitude training camp in the Engadin in July, where he was able to use the same optimal conditions as the national road and MTB teams. Training took place on the Bernina Pass and around St. Moritz. It was impressive how relaxed he still looked on the final climb to the Albula Pass, where he left many ambitious cyclists behind on the 30 km climb and still seemed relaxed after more than 100 km and 2400 meters of altitude over the Julier and Albula passes.

Fabian Recher is often at the forefront, and not just in the handbike. Three years ago, he was the first wheelchair user to complete the elite sports RS, paving the way for other paraathletes. “I actually wanted to do the RS earlier, but for a long time I was considered double UT (unfit). In doing so, he also showed the Swiss Army that paraathletes can definitely keep up in the RS.

One of the trainers said at the time that the motivation of all recruits was higher when Fabian was there. Especially during the long marches, where he went over hill and dale. The support of the army now enables him to train professionally even after the RS, because competition and training camp days are counted and he can use the training centers in Magglingen and Tenero.

Pioneer energy was in Fabian Recher's genes. 25 years ago, he was the first European baby and the seventh in the world with spina bifida – an open spine – to be operated on in the womb. As these operations were not yet possible in Europe at the time, his parents travelled to Philadelphia in the USA. They were accompanied by Professor Dr. Martin Meuli, who later introduced fetal surgery in Switzerland. The operation in the womb can reduce the limitations that spina bifida brings with it.

Fabian spent most of his childhood as a pedestrian. “I have always been very active and have tried many sports. Among others, football, basketball and badminton. I chose the handbike because I love the speed, I can do it very independently and it allows me to explore Switzerland and the world on my own.”