Mountain Bike Stage Racing is as much about what happens on the arc track, and what happens between the stages. Here are some of the best things overheard by the Subaru-MarathonMTB.com Team at the 2012 Craft Bike Transalp. “Stage races are won in bed, and at the dinner table.” “Stretching reduces your peak power.” “There’s […]
Archives for July 2012
Sid Tiberlay dominates Three Ring Circus
Sid Tiberlay stormed to a convincing 4 minute win over Kyle Ward at the 2012 Three Ring Circus hosted by Wild Horizons. Jet Cycles dominated the minor placings, but no-one could match the world class matinee performance of Australia’s national representative. Kyle Ward showed he’s still on form after last week’s win at the first […]
Transalp: Lakata and Mennen crowned 2012 champions
Alban Lakata (AUT) and Robert Mennen (GER) have claimed victory at the worldwide well-respected mountain bike stage race Craft Bike Transalp. Team Topeak Ergon Racing secured their first Transalp title by coming in second on the 75.10 km long final stage (1,778 meters in elevation) of the eight-day event (3:09:47.7). The Austrian-German pairing mastered the […]
TransAlp Stage 8: Alpine challenges for the unprepared
Since 2007 I have enjoyed doing a selection of races in Europe through the months of May until September. Some years it has been more, some it has been less. In 2009, I was accused of just ‘entering everything’ – and the same was said for 2010. Far from needing to race overseas to find […]
Sudety ready to write its next epic episode
The Polish towns of Kudowa Zdroj, Kraliky, Stronie Śląskie, Golden Stok, and Walim will act as host cities of the 2012 Sudety stage race, which gets underway on Sunday July 22. The race has gained remarkable popularity year after year, with an ever-changing course character that ensures riders – and repeat riders – a unique […]
Transalp: Huber & Looser first across the line in penultimate stage
Urs Huber (SUI) and Konny Looser (SUI) have achieved their yesterday postulated goal of winning a stage on today’s seventh and thus penultimate Craft Bike Transalp stage. The defending champions of Team Stöckli mastered the 72,25 km long distance from Ponte di Legno, Italy, to Madonna di Campiglio, Italy in 3:53:34.1 hours, cementing their third […]
Postcards From Big French Mountains
“Grab your helmet and hurry up!” These the words that woke me from a much needed sleep. An hour later I found myself hanging onto metal railings, high above Saint-Jean-De-Maurienne, where Le Tour de France had made its depart earlier that morning. Sydney riding buddy, Yvoine McCort, who grew up in the area looked […]
TransAlp Stage 7: A Race of Attrition
The Craft Bike Transalp is known for being a tough race, 8 stages of racing through the Alps, a total distance of 619.41km with some 21,091hm and a maximum height of 2737m. Thrown into this is the fact it is a teams race, two riders constitute a team and for the team to finish both […]
Transalp: Genze and Kugler take the top step on Queen stage
Hannes Genze (GER) and Andreas Kugler (SUI) clinched the queen’s stage of the Craft Bike Transalp from Livigno, Italy, to Ponte di Legno, Italy, today due to a sensational comeback and outstanding downhill skills thus repeating their 2010 victory on the same course. Team Multivan Merida Biking secured their first 2012 Transalp stage win after […]
TransAlp Stage 6: Coping with Disappointment
Incredible highs can bring tremendous lows, and Mountain Bike stage racing is able to deliver this in spades. The week has been full of drama across many categories. Stage one was wet and cold, and a flat tyre suffered by the Topeak-Ergon mens team has had them chasing the lead for days – they will […]