Race Organisers have announced the Craft-Bike Transalp course for next summer. From July 20 through to 26, 2014, the route will go past well-known stage towns whilst also providing a varying and extremely exciting route due to the arrangement of the stage towns and new trails that are going to be used.
Nothing looks too bad on paper.
Transalp has always offered a route from southern Germany to the north of Italy. Each year, it switches from an ‘easterly’ to a ‘westerly’ route each year. One of the biggest changes for 2014 is the drop to 7 days from the traditional 8.
“Our goal is to host the most fascinating race, not the hardest. That’s for sure,” explains Marc Schneider, Race Director of the Craft BIKE Transalp powered by Sigma.
There’s a lot of up in Transalp. Photo: Sportograf
Like two years ago, the seven-day mountain bike stage race for teams of two starts in Oberammergau, Germany. Passing Imst and Nauders in Austria, the field will pedal to South Tyrol. Continuing via Naturns, then Sarnthein and Kaltern the route leads deeper into Italy where the mountain bikers stop over in Trento before finally arriving at Riva del Garda, right at the shore of Lake Garda.
Yes!! © Craft Bike Transalp/Peter Musch
Transalp (c) Robert Niedring/Craft BIKE Transalp
It’s the Italian stages where the race typically comes alive. By venturing into the Tyrol the mountains may not be as high as the alps further west, but the climbs are demanding, and the views beautiful. The food gains colour and character as the Italian stage towns seemingly want to out do each other with what they offer racers.
Italian eating at Transalp. Photo: Mike Blewitt
Participants can look forward to race highlights worth riding featuring the Via Claudia to Naturns, trail fireworks into the Vinschgau area as well as some downhill blast in the Sarn Valley before exploring some hidden trails to Trento. And also the final leg to Riva del Garda is brand new. Arriving in Riva is a celebration – the triumphant feeling of finishing such a gorgeous yet demanding route overcomes even hardened professional MTBers. Thankfully, Riva is the perfect place to relax, party… or go free riding!
Online registration starts at 9pm 10th December Australian Eastern Standard Time. Get yourself and a mate registered online, and you will be set for an amazing journey across the european alps. And it’s not all fire trail.