The German champion and his crewmates Tim Czemper, Markus Müller, Paul Seydel and Stefan Verhoeven dominated the race from start to finish. They crossed the finish line after 12 hours and 5 minutes of intense effort, just 22 minutes outside the record.
Geneva, 27 September 2026 – A perfectly smooth lake, brilliant sunshine followed by a full moon after dusk: the 54th edition of the BCGE Tour du Léman Rowing Race will be remembered as one of the most beautiful in recent years.
Starting from the Société Nautique de Genève at 8:00 am on Saturday, the eleven crews representing eight nations quickly spread out along the Swiss shore of Lake Geneva, according to their experience and physical condition.
Crew No. 2, comprising Matthias Auer, Tim Czemper, Markus Müller, Paul Seydel and Stefan Verhoeven, took the lead from the very first strokes. Over the 160-kilometre course, they gradually extended their advantage, confirming their status as favourites.
After a race that offered little suspense but remained extremely demanding, Auer and his crewmates claimed victory in 12:05:55, finishing just 22 minutes outside the record.
“I am extremely tired. Despite appearances and the favourable weather, this was not an easy race,” said Auer. “We managed to stick to our race plan from start to finish, rowing at a precise and consistent pace. Unfortunately, when we passed Le Bouveret, we were around 15 minutes behind the record, and we were unable to make up that deficit. But it was a fantastic race, and I really enjoyed rowing with this crew.”
The performance further enhances the exceptional record of Matthias Auer, one of the leading figures in the history of the BCGE Tour du Léman Rowing Race. Aged 55, the German rower was competing in the event for the 21st time and holds almost all of its records. Saturday’s success marked his 14th victory in the race.
This year, Matthias Auer rowed alongside two of his long-standing teammates, Markus Müller and Stefan Verhoeven, as well as two young Berlin rowers, Tim Czemper and Paul Seydel. The combination of experience and youth proved particularly effective. The five men named their team “Route 66”, a reference to the combined 66 participations in the Tour du Léman accumulated by its members.
“It was a fantastic edition,” said Organising Committee President Stéphane Trachsler. “The weather was perfect and we encountered no problems. Only one crew was forced to retire, around the halfway point; all the others completed the full circuit of the lake, which makes me particularly happy.”
Beyond the battle for victory, the 54th edition stood out for its international character and the diversity of its participants.
“I was very impressed by the third place achieved by the AVIRON ROMAND ZURICH/LAUSANNE-SPORTS AVIRON crew, who competed in a coxed four,” Trachsler added. “Congratulations also to Bonne crew No. 3, who completed the course in a coxed double scull. Finally, I would like to congratulate the all-female crew of Frederike Nitschke, Canan Dockendorf, Claudia Ciescholka and Kim Enders, who achieved an excellent fifth place.”
Founded in 1972 by the rowing section of the Société Nautique de Genève, the BCGE Tour du Léman Rowing Race is the world’s longest non-stop rowing regatta held on a lake. It is an event where sporting performance combines with endurance, teamwork and the essential ability to adapt to the changing conditions of Lake Geneva.
The continued success of the event relies on a well-established organisation, the support of numerous volunteers and the commitment of the safety team.