Jeantex Bike Transalp 2008
Rothaus-Cube 1 Claims A Stage Victory
29.07.2008
Benjamin Rudiger and Matthias Bettinger celebrated their first stage win at the seventh stage of the 2008 JEANTEX BIKE TRANSALP powered by NISSAN. The bikers from Rothaus-Cube 1 mastered the 74.62 kilometres and 3,041 metres of elevation gain from Kaltern to Andalo in 3:43:22.4 hours. Martin Kraler and Heinz Verbnjak from Craft and Friends/mountainbiker.at followed as runner-ups (3:43:23.8) relegating defending champions and bearers of the Yellow Jersey in a finish sprint to the third spot (3:43:24.2). Although the winning pairing had “expected a good result� Matthias Bettinger didn’t expect to end up with a triumph at the beginning of the stage. “The climb up to Graunerjoch was brutal. Although we didn’t pedal fast I had to struggle hard to keep up with the others.�
In the end, it worked out for Rothaus-Cube 1, who came in second in Livigno taking over the third overall rank. But over the next days, both Germans lost it again due to several flat tyres. “We lost a lot of time due to breakdowns. We gave everything today so the triumph is a satisfaction for us� said Benjamin Rudiger in the finish area.
Roel Paulissen reaches finish with top 3 pairings
This man is in shape! Since Sunday, the reigning World Champion had been training in the region but because “training sessions are boring if you do it only by yourself� Roel Paulissen dialled race director Uli Stanciu’s number without hesitation getting a guest spot for today’s leg from Kaltern to Andalo. “Of course I didn’t affect the race� said the contender for an Olympic medal in Bejing commenting on the seventh stage: “It was a very nice route. After the first peak we did a really beautiful downhill. But the final climb to Andalo was brutal with its ascent of 17 to 18%.�
Team Cube 5 with first day victory
The Danish sisters Anna-Sofie and Kristine Norgaard have their first 2008 Transalp stage triumph under their belt. Team Cube 5 secured victory in the ladies’ ranking in the time of 4:31:18.4 hours. With the small deficit of nine tenths, Orange Jersey bearers Alison Sydor and Pia Sundstedt from Rocky Mountain finished second (4:31:19.3). Fiat-Rotwild consisting of Kerstin Brachtendorf and Danièle Troesch followed in third (4:44:04.6).
Enthralling finish in the mixed category
What a grand finale! In the first sprint for a stage victory in the mixed classification Milena Landtwing and Werner Fischer from leading Institut Ftan/Velo Franz Univega triumphed on the second-to-last stage. With a time of 4:20:58.8 hours, the Swiss athletes were only 1.9 seconds faster than runner-ups Anita Steiner and Cornel Bamert from Team Stoeckli Waedenswil (4:21:00.7). 39 seconds behind the winning pairing in the Orange Jerseys, Heike Hundertmark and Sam Baeten from Rothaus Cube 3 came in third. (4:21:37.8).
After the close race result Milena Landtwing explained all smiles: “Our tactic completely worked out. We wanted to win and in order to that wanted to be the first ones entering the last climb up to Andalo.� The mixed leaders did so but their competitors who are so strong in the mountains made up ground rapidly. “We saw them coming closer and closer but luckily we made it.�See All Event Posts
