Less then one week before the official registration for the 2013 Craft BIKE Transalp powered by Sigma starts on December 11, 2012, on bike-transalp.de, the stage towns for the 16th edition of the mountain bike classic have been announced, and as a consequence the routing too.
As has become traditional, the route switches from a more western to an eastern route each year. After staying further west and passing through Switzerland in 2012, the route head a little further east in 2013 – by passing Switzerland and taking in the Italian dolomites instead.
Like 2005, the world’s most famous mountain bike stage race for teams of two will kick off in Mittenwald (GER) with direction Mayrhofen (AUT). From the sole Austrian stage town in 2013, the route leads to Brixen (ITA) and right into the heart of the beautiful Dolomites. Then it follows the 2011 stretch where Race Director Marc Schneider has some innovations up his sleeve for the course via St. Vigil and Alleghe to San Martino di Castrozza in Trento.
With the military paths on the Monte Grappa, which Transalp innovator Uli Stanciu had pulled out of his hat for the 2013 race, leading the way, the whole course promises to become a true highlight of the summer. “It’s pure mountain biking at its best,” says Schneider.
The penultimate stop is Crespano del Grappa which will leave its marks on the Transalp map for the first time when becoming the 46th stage town in Transalp history on July 18.
Stage seven brings the 600 teams of two to Rovereto before the 2013 Transalp concludes in Riva del Garda, which will host the finish for the 14th time already.
For further information on the route check visit bike-transalp.de.