In 17 editions of the Craft BIKE Transalp powered by Sigma, no team has managed to win the seven-day mountain bike stage race three times in a row. But that’s exactly what Markus Kaufmann and Jochen Kaess of Centurion Vaude are going for: the hatrick. The 2013 and 2014 winners have successfully overcome their early season health problems and recently underlined that both are in a good shape for the Alps crossing classic from Ruhpolding, Germany to Riva del Garda, Italy (July 19th thru 25th).
A few weeks ago, Kaufmann finished 6th in the marathon world championships and was also able to secure victory at a stage race event in Austria where his team partner Kaess came in as fifth.
“We both don’t feel any impairments anymore. I might have cracked my broken collarbone again a few weeks ago in Tegernsee, but it has healed already,” says Kaufmann.
“Therefore,” the 33-years-old adds, “we want to defend the title and earn this three-peat for sure!” However, it won’t be a goal easy to achieve as “there are many strong rivals”.
Some of them are – according to Kaufmann – wearing the same black jersey as Centurion Vaude 2 consisting of Austrian top racers Daniel Geismayr and Herman Pernsteiner are also entering the event with a good momentum.
Besides their own team mates, the defending champion knows whom to have an eye on: Topeak Ergon Racing.
Newly crowned marathon world champion Alban Lakata (AUT) and his Czech team mate Kristian Hynek are keen to up the ante from last year when both finished in third position.
In addition, 2015 is the first time that Topeak Ergon Racing has registered a second and also strong team featuring Robert Mennen (GER) who won the 2012 Transalp alongside Lakata and will compete with Jeremiah Bishop (USA). This makes a big difference, as with 4 strong riders working as a cohesive team, Topeak-Ergon could easily cause Kaufmann and Kaess to become unstuck – especially if they are too concerned about competition coming from within their own team!
Other duos to look out for are Team Bulls pairings Karl Platt (GER)/Urs Huber (SUI) and Tim Boehme (GER)/Simon Stiebjahn (GER) who all bring in a lot of race experience. Again, these teams are strong and part of a cohesive unit that are used to working for a greater goal – something it seems Centurion-Vaude are not when the previous winners are concerned by their own team mates.
Uwe Hardter and Christian Schneidawind of German Team Texpa-Simplon have also proven in the past that both have some strong legs to master the Alps.
Four Peaks winner Juri Ragnoli (ITA) and his fellow countryman Franz Hofer of Team Scott have also a top-5 finish in mind while Austrian Rad.Sport.Szene Ausseerland teams Manuel Pliem/David Schoeggl and Uwe Burgsteiner/Anton Warter will line up in Ruhpolding with high hopes, too.
Ragnoli – on form!
Topeak Ergon favourite team in women’s competition
In the women’s category it looks like you have to beat Topeak Ergon Racing consisting of Sally Bigham (GBR) and Christina Kollmann (AUT).
Sally Bigham is no stranger to a leader’s jersey © Sportograf
The British two-time Transalp winner (2013 women, 2014 mixed) and the 2013 Austrian marathon champion have raced together since March and have gained some stage race experience together already.
An interesting team named RacingMums is coming from Germany featuring three-time Ironman winner Nicole Leder and Tanja Lutz who has crossed the Atlas mountain range on a mountain bike back in 2011. But it doesn’t seem likely that this touring strength will be any match for the professional racers from Topeak-Ergon.
Stay tuned for updates as the race approaches.