Jeantex Bike Transalp 2009
Weather Forces First Ever Transalp Cancellation
News Release / 20.07.2009
For the first time in the history of the JEANTEX BIKE TRANSALP powered by NISSAN, a stage of the world's hardest mountain bike stage race had to be cancelled. Due to the bad weather conditions with heavy rainfall in the start town Mittenwald and partly snowfall in higher altitudes with already 0 °C at the Karwendelhaus a safe run of the course to Reith im Alpbachtal could not be guaranteed.As a changing of the weather wasn't to expect throughout the day making a postponement of the race start impossible, the organisers decided at 8:45 AM to cancel the first leg. "It would have been too dangerous to run this stage. We didn't want to take a risk" Heinrich Albrecht said, CEO of the organising event company PLAN B.
"Of course it is pitiful to take this decision. But the participant's health is the most important thing. It would have been to dangerous to let them ride downhill being all wet and highly reserved."
For all 550 participating teams, a shuttle service to Reith im Alpbachtal will be organised. Thus, the official race start of the twelfth JEANTEX BIKE TRANSALP powered by NISSAN will be in Austria tomorrow. "We are looking forward that this will be possible as the weather forecasts look better."
<b>Preview of the New 1st Stage: Reith im Alpbachtal (AUT) - Mayrhofen (AUT)</b>
Although Mayrhofen has been hosting a stage finish of the Transalp only twice so far, this sole Austrian leg starting in Reith im Alpbachtal can be already seen as a classic. Just like 2007, the routing leads across the Geiseljoch.
After the start, the peloton pedals up to Reither Kogel and then down into the Zillertal and thereafter via Loassattel to Weerberg, the first ever stage town of the Transalp premiere in 1998. Eleven years later, a food station provides the needed energy to tackle the next climb.
The Geiseljoch is a real challenge as especially the part after the Weidener Huette is partly very steep and this a tough fight to reach the peak. Overall, 87.60 kilometres and 3,344 metres of altitude have to be mastered!See All Event Posts
