Epic Event: Craft Bike TransAlp – Part One

Having raced TransAlp twice, I’d like to share my experiences with this awesome stage race with the readers of MarathonMTB.com.

Logistics

So having logged on around the 15 December last year and having secured an entry to the famous Craft-Bike TransAlp MTB stage race, what challenge lies before you ? Keep in mind that as a team race, TransAlp encourages team work from early on with logistics planning too. The race at this point is maybe 6 months away, but early preparation can save a lot of stress. Start booking and planning early!

The route of TransAlp is well known, there are basically two variants, an eastern route or a more western one. All up, over the eight days, you will traverse something like 600 km, climb 20,000 vertical metres and pass through three or four countries (the western route often passes fleetingly through Switzerland). And encounter 2-3 languages, numerous dialects, a variety of awesome food and the beautiful vistas of The Alps.

At the time of registration, you will be presented with a few accommodation options – the main ones being TransAlp Camp (about which Mike can present an entire article) or find your own accommodation in each stage town. Both times I have chosen the later. This definitely costs more, and can present a real challenge. But a comfortable room and some space also proves invaluable in preparing for the next day’s racing.

Dealing with hotels/pensions/garni in a strange language is one thing, actually getting a room for a single night in peak season can be another. The TransAlp website has Tourism Board contacts for each town and a pro forma sheet you can use. Having lodged the form via email the prospective establishments will email you offers directly. Central location is key, both for the nightly Pasta Party and also the race caravan and the support of the main component manufacturers. Remember, that mere 300m vertical climb post stage in Austria may seem trivial when the Pension is only 4 km down the road, but recovery is your real aim.

Both times, I recall only booking the final rooms for some nights once the race is actually underway. Surprisingly, some rudimentary German over the telephone to the local tourism board has actually worked wonders, even in Italy! Vacancies often miraculously appear close to the date once it is apparent to the vendor the room won’t get booked for a week.

Travel insurance can present a problem – many policies specifically state that racing is NOT covered. Cycling Australia provides international racing insurance in conjunction with their UCI licenses (international license). Curiously you will find your bike is not actually covered in transit by this insurance though. Maybe consider travel insurance associated with a credit card for the travel portion and the CA insurance for the racing portion ? The added bonus is when a race like TransAlp is a rated UCI stage race, points are on offer, and more importantly on day 1 the first start box is allocated to UCI license holders you get a chance at a good start. There is nothing quite as stressful as being stuck behind a 500 rider conga line the minute race leaves a bike path and heads up a narrowing farm double track in southern Germany – think the Wall in the Convict 100 with the bonus that you’re then paying for a poor start for the next 8 days!

The next consideration is clothing. You’ll want at least 3 complete sets of knicks and jerseys. Washing along the route is a reality of a stage race, hopefully the weather gods take pity on you with some nice sunny weather, and an awesome farm fence to hang your clothes 🙂 A distinctive design and the same kit as your team mate helps too … both to locate them in the melee of a start climb and also to make it clear you are in fact a team. The more superstitious of us would suggest no brand new untested clothing in a stage race. There is nothing worse than a sore saddle from day 1 …

We’ll end part 1 here, next time we will consider bike and tyre choices, and discuss the actual racing. Stay tuned.