Last weekend the 3rd round of the CRC MTB Marathon Series powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport took riders to Marshbrook in Shropshire. A few miles south of Shrewsbury and with ample of hills around it, things were looking promising for the summer round of the series. Similar to the last round in Selkirk, the Marshbrook round […]
Archives for July 2012
Transalp: Fourth win for Lakata & Mennen as crashes cause chaos
Facing a blue bird sky for the first time this week, Alban Lakata (AUT) and Robert Mennen (GER) have build up the pressure on the overall leaders by bringing home their fourth consecutive stage win. Team Topeak Ergon Racing clinched the fifth stage of the 15th Craft Bike Transalp, which led over 69.56 km and […]
Transalp Rescue Team – Keeping you Riding
Craft Bike Transalp is now in its 15th year and, since its inception, Andreas Hamel has headed up the Transalp Rescue Team. An event of this magnitude could not be without an experienced and efficient Rescue Team but few of us consider the ‘behind the scenes’ preparation, unless we are one of the few requiring […]
TransAlp Stage 5: Justification of Sacrifices
Sport, like many pursuits, involves sacrifice. Not like the multiple human sacrifices made in countries in the past. Chasing sporting dreams or goals involves sacrifices that are a little easier to comprehend, but not always easy to follow. People who pursue lofty goals are familiar with the kinds of sacrifices involved. They are not always […]
Transalp: Lakata & Mennen complete hat-trick of stage wins
Due to an extreme parforce run Alban Lakata (AUT) and Robert Mennen (GER) their third successive victory on the fourth stage of the 2012 Craft Bike Transalp. Team Topeak Ergon Racing mastered the shortest distance of the eight-day event with its 52.66 and 1,888 meters in elevation from Nauders, Austria, to Scuol, Switzerland, in 2:15:17.2 […]
Race Update: Kowalski Classic
We are two and a half months out from the race and getting a good feel for the size of each race field. One thing is certain right now – if you have entered Veteran or Masters category and you have your eyes on the top step, you better put in a few extra sessions […]
TransAlp Stage 4: The art of Mixed racing.
Mountain Bike Stage Racing takes many forms around the world. The typical division is either paired or solo stage racing – although some races curiously mix the two. And then you can have a variety of lengths. Weekend stage races, 3 day, 4 day, 5 days with a Prologue, 8 days, 10 days… they’re about […]
Race Preview: 3 Ring Circus
As a boy, I lived in a town with a village green. Through the summer, cricket would be played there, and whilst talking about winning The Ashes, a glass of Pimms would be drunk by the adults. I didnt really care for the summer, nor the cricket, nor the Pimms, and I didn’t really know […]
Transalp: Lakata & Mennen double up, Leaders defend
Just like yesterday, Alban Lakata (AUT) and Robert Mennen (GER) were the dominating racers on the course, clinching the second Tyrol stage of the 15th Craft Bike Transalp. Team Topeak Ergon Racing mastered the Alps classic’s third stage from Ischgl, Austria, to Nauders, Austria and thus 67.83 km and 2,720 meters in elevation in 3:04:49.5 […]
TransAlp Stage 3: 5 out of 9 lives
I’m ok with climbing, you have to be if you like riding a bike a fair amount. There will always be uphills. Whether it’s the slight uphill drag of the Pacific Highway heading to the Northern Suburbs in Sydney, the dirt road out of Wiseman’s Ferry, The Umbrai Pass, Grand Corniche, Sierra Nevada or even […]