The 17th Craft BIKE Transalp powered by Sigma starts in about 10 days, and the attending field promises to show mountain biking at its best. Numerous top stars of the scene guarantee some exciting duels for the precious title. Especially as the last five editions of the race across the Alps produced different winners. In 2014 there are at least five teams of two which are capable of clinching the Transalp which covers over 587.06 km and 19,147 metres of altitude from Oberammergau to Riva del Garda from July 20 thru 26.
The race will be led by reigning champions Jochen Käß and Markus Kaufmann of Centurion Vaude who naturally have one goal. “If you have won the Transalp once, you want to win it again,” says Kaufmann.
That’s a sentiment that Austrian Alban Lakata could agree with. The 2014 Marathon World Championships Silver medallist, who came out the Transalp victorious in 2012 fighting alongside Robert Mennen, will give it another shot, this time together with his Czech Topeak-Ergon Team member Kristian Hynek.
“We obviously want to win! But it won’t be a laugh,” knows Lakata. “On the one hand, you have to come through the race week without any problems. On the other hand, there are very strong competitors lining up again.”
Team Bulls sends two well-experienced duos. German Karl Platt will start with the Swiss Bull Urs Huber while Thomas Dietsch will race alongside Stefan Sahm. Dietsch is the only one of the foursome who hasn’t won the Transalp yet. Swiss riders Konny Looser and Lukas Buchli have one win each to their belt, however, earned with different team partners. In 2014 the Swiss racers will enter the mountain bike classic as Wheeler-BiXS-iXS Proteam. Although Daniele Mensi and Franz Hofer haven’t got any stage race experience yet, the two Italians could play a strong role in the battle for the title as both are part of their national team.
Favourites for women’s title come from Switzerland
In the women’s event, Cornelia Hug and Andrea Fässler of Crazy Velo Shop Scott, who placed second in 2013, are the main aspirants for the Transalp crown if defending champion Sally Bigham (UK) of Topeak Ergon doesn’t find a strong partner to attend the event.
The Mixed race should prove interesting, and the Subaru-MarathonMTB Team will be represented by Naomi Hansen and Stu Spies. Hansen finished 5th in the mixed category in 2012, and hopes to finish higher on the podium this year. Spies hopes to not cry if they do.
In 2014, the event will feature seven stages taking place from July 20 thru 26. It kicks off in Oberammergau from where the field pedals via Imst, Nauders, Naturns, Sarnthein, Kaltern and Trento to Riva del Garda.
A maximum of 600 teams of two will cover a total distance of 581.97 kilometres peppered with 19,227 metres in elevation gain.