Urs Huber and Konny Looser have not only claimed victory on the fourth day of the 14th CRAFT BIKE TRANSALP powered by NISSAN by dominating this year’s Queen Stage from Brixen (ITA) to St. Vigil (ITA) but also reconquered the lead in the overall ranking. The two Swiss riders of Team Stöckli mastered the 72.13 kilometers and 3,504 meters in elevation in 3:41:01.8 hours thus relegating Team Full Dynamix with Italians Mike Felderer and Johnny Cattaneo to the runner-up position (3:42:38.9). Transalp serial winner Karl Platt (GER) and his French colleague of Team Bulls followed as third (3:42:40.2) and are now the main rivals of the new overall leaders with only a mere of 1:41 minutes delay.
In addition, so far leading Italians Massimo De Bertolis and Johann Pallhuber are still in a good position to fight back. Today’s fourth ranked pairing Silmax Autopolar Cannondale is only two minutes behind of the men in the Yellow Leaderjerseys.
However, today was the day of two other mountain bikers. Other than expected by the deposed front runners, the pros set a high pace in the first gravel road climb up to Plose, the ski area of Brixen, thus shedding one of the main candidate teams for the podium.
Multivan Merida Biking with Hannes Genze (GER) and Andreas Kugler (SUI) couldn’t keep the pace; it was the beginning of the end for the duo, which, at the end of a fateful day, came in as fifth but had to bury their hopes for a Transalp title due to a deficit of eleven minutes today.
Huber and Looser go for it
“We kept the pace constantly high,” Urs Huber described the race tactic of the young Swiss team, which now enters the second half of the 2011 Transalp as #1 favorite for the title. “In the downhill from Schatzerhütte, we were all alone in front, only the Cannondale guys were left. But in the climb to Würzjoch we managed to pull clear.”
After the crossing into the Dolomites, the young guns upped the tempo gaining an interim advantage of almost three minutes over the chasing group of four teams until the last ascent up to Forcella da Cians.
It was a performance, Karl Platt, a seven-time Transalp champion, gave credit for: “It was amazing what the two pulled off as it was a very tough stage today. I didn’t expect them to be that strong. So, I’m glad that they lost some of their lead in the final climb.”
However, despite all compliments, Huber and Looser mustn’t show any weakness, so Platt’s warning, as “we are right there, breathing down their necks.” According to this, it’s no wonder that Huber, who just won the Dolomiti Superbike the weekend prior to the Transalp, calls Team Bulls their main contender for the big winners check. “They are well-experienced and know exactly how things work. They are for sure our strongest rivals.”
However, 1:41 minutes are a nice cushion although “it’s still a long way to Riva. We never thought of being in front after half of the race,” Huber finally said.
Change of leadership at women’s side
On the women’s side, the next days will also bring a tight race, just as today. After their strong performance on the Queen Stage, Martina Miessgang (AUT) and Katrin Neumann (GER) have conquered the lead in the ladies’ ranking for the first time.
The Mountain Heroes dictated the rhythm right from the start away but weren’t able to set the decisive attack until the very last downhill down to St. Vigil. Finally, all the effort paid off as 5:24:07.7 hours were not only equal to the second consecutive stage win but also to the lead in the women’s ranking.
“We felt the leaders right in our backs, over the whole distance. In the final descent we risked everything. We are very pleased and happy, that it worked out,” Miessgang said, who had been the pushing factor in the team’s riding performance.
In the end, the Austrian-German pairing brought home a lead of almost two minutes over second classified and so far leading Natascha Binder (GER) and Danièle Troesch of Felt Ötztal X-Bionic/Rotwild (5:26:03,8). According to this, Miessgang and Neumann will bring in a total lead of 90 seconds tomorrow.
Switzerland’s Manuela Jenny and Susanne Tanner of Velorado Racing placed third (5:35:39.0) thus consolidating their third rank in the women’s category.
Preliminary decision in the master category
Having earned their third stage win in 2011, the dominating master team Heinz Zörweg and Silvio Wieltschnig have impressively underlined their aspiration for the title.
The two Austrians of Factory Cube finished the fourth stage in 4:10:54.9 hours thus being way faster than their competition.
7:30 minutes behind were Italians Claudio Segato and Claudio Pellegrini of Trento Iii, who secured their first ever runner-up spot on the podium in 4:18:28.0 hours, being five minutes ahead of the most defeated team of the day.
Germany’s Centurion-Vaude pilots Andreas Strobel and Udo Bölts sat 4:23:26.8 hours in the saddle and came in with a mere of 12:31 minutes delay on the riders bearing the Blue Leaderjerseys.
“It’s simple: they were stronger,” Udo Bölts summed up. The 44-years-old former cycling star also added, with an eye on the overall ranking: “That’s done. That’s history. But a bad day at the Transalp isn’t equal to a bad life.”
Senior Master leaders still unbeaten
In the category for the teams with a total age of more than 100 years, Silvano Janes and Walter Platzgummer were once again the dominating riders.
Finishing on a very strong 14th overall rank, the two Italians mastered the South Tyrol stage in 4:12:22.4 hours, while Austria’s Erich Pross and Erwin Dietrich of Zweirad Janger Simplon had to accept another defeat and thus another second rank (4:41:58.5).
The podium was rounded out by Germany’s Max Pritzl and Klaus Maurus of Team Haibike Bikerbahnhof (4:47:29.5), who celebrated their first podium finish at this year’s Transalp.
Mixed leaders reach for the Transalp crown
Bringing home their third stage win (4:26:35.1), Pia Sundstedt (FIN) and Carsten Bresser (GER) of Craft-Rocky Mountain have given another proof of sign that they are the ones to beat when going for the mixed title.
Five and a half minutes behind were Swiss Milena Landtwing and German Martin Kiechle of Centurion-Vaude (4:32:01.1).
Katharina Alberti and Matthias Gärtner of Moooove Racingteam jumped on the podium as third (4:42:58.1). In addition, the two Germans also fought back into the top-3 of the mixed classifier.
Preview Stage 4: St. Vigil (ITA) – Alleghe (ITA)
After yesterday’s Queen Stage it’s payback time. It’s time for the most breathtaking stage the Transalp has in petto this year – right over 73.59 kilometers and 2,618 meters in elevation through the heart of the beautiful Dolomites.
It all kicks off with Fanes-Alm and Limjoch before the field travels further on to Cortina. From there, the field rides on streets and gravel roads up to Rifugio Averau where a fantastic panorama view over Marmolada and Civetta reveals.
After this scenery experience the racer’s hearts will leap for joy when riding “The Trail” of 2011. The trail leads over 17 kilometers down to Caprile and further on right to Alleghe.
Results from all categories can be viewed here