Reaching the Olympic Games by bicycle was originally the goal of 32-year-old Thomas Meixner from Wolfen. With a letter of recommendation from the National Olympic Committee, the approval of the district administrator, mayor, friends, and family, Thomas Meixner set off on May 1, 1998, with over 50 kilograms of luggage on his bike, which he named 'Else', embarking on an adventure that would last 3 years and 7 months. His travel motto was, "Better to have failed than not to have tried.".