Some two-person team partnerships at PERSKINDOL SWISS EPIC are obvious choices: long-standing training partners looking for a mountain biking adventure, good friends with a shared passion for riding, or even couples or siblings seeking to conquer new challenges together. But sometimes fate and tragedy bring two people together – which is how Reto Kellerhals, who had a serious cycling accident in the summer of 2016, ended up teaming up with his therapist Michael Pleus to ride PERSKINDOL SWISS EPIC 2017 together. It is a truly touching story about a very special therapy goal!

Passionate cyclist Reto Kellerhals’ life changed dramatically on 10 July 2016: during an evening practice ride in a descent at 50 km/h, he collided with a car that had incorrectly taken the right of way. The result was 14 fractures all over his body – and for a long time, a life that for Reto had been simply unimaginable before. “Because of my severe injuries, I wasn’t able to stand up for very long and just lay in bed,” Reto recalls. “It was extremely difficult for an active person like myself, who had previously lived 100% for sport and was always living life in the fast lane. I was sad a lot of the time and didn’t know how I would overcome it all …” But it could have been a lot worse for Reto: luckily, he had no head injuries and was not paralysed or facing other permanent injuries. Doctors told him he would fully recover to enjoy his active lifestyle again, even though it would take a long time. Reto Kellerhals decided to accept this fight with patience and persistence.

An impressively tenacious spirit
After the initial acute phase in hospital, Reto Kellerhals was transferred to a rehab clinic in Bellikon. There he met his therapist Michael Pleus, who was very impressed with Reto’s tenacity, perseverance and sometimes even his stubbornness. Michael was convinced that it would help Reto on his long road to recovery if he had a sport-related goal in front of him to spur him on even more. And Michael wanted to help him meet that goal! After countless therapy sessions and animated discussions, the two passionate mountain bikers made their choice: they were going to ride PERSKINDOL SWISS EPIC 2017 together!

Separate training for a shared goal
Over winter, the two racers trained separately for their shared goal. Next to a number of additional therapy sessions at his home in Jura, Reto was finally able to get back on his bike, while Michael worked as a ski instructor in his adopted home town of Zermatt and ski-toured to get fit for summer in addition to working on his master’s thesis for ETH Zurich. But what both men had in common as they trained was their wide grins when they thought of what next September and the upcoming PERSKINDOL SWISS EPIC would bring. “Regardless of how the race goes, what rank we finish at or how much we’re going to suffer during that week, it will certainly be an unforgettable experience!” exclaims therapist Michael Pleus. “And for Reto, it will hopefully be a worthy and happy finish to his seemingly endless road to recovery, so he can close this chapter and completely go back to normal life!”

For us at PERSKINDOL SWISS EPIC, we wish the team that fate brought together lots of good luck and are excited to be their motivation and part of such a moving story!