Jeantex Bike Transalp 2009
Buchli and Stoll Power Uphill into the Lead
News Release / 22.07.2009
Switzerland's Lukas Buchli and Thomas Stoll have not only won the fifth stage of the 2009 JEANTEX BIKE TRANSALP powered by NISSAN due to an incredible performance throughout the 82.27 kilometres and 3,305 metres of altitude from St. Christina to Sarnthein (3:46:49,2). The BiXS iXS Pro Team riders also took over the leadership from today's runner-ups Hannes Genze and Andreas Kugler (SUI) from Multivan Merida Biking Team (3:52:39.4). Team Bulls 2 came in third. Thomas Dietsch (FRA) and Tim Boehme crossed the finish line after 3:54:00.3 hours, only 1.9 seconds ahead of their squad members Karl Platt and Stefan Sahm, who had to bury all of their hopes for victory due to a flat tyre.The pairing of Buchli/Stoll entered today's leg, which hasn't been part of a Transalp routing ever before, more reserved than the day before, trying not to fire their guns too early. It was, as it turned out later on, the right decision.
<b>Longest climb of the Transalp History</b>
"In the first ascent to Seiser Alm we held our horses back and let others pedal in front. And we did the same up to the Gasteiger Sattel". On the 1.679 metres of altitude, the longest climb in the Transalp history, "we forced the pace together with Team Bulls", Lukas Buchli summed up the first half of the race. "When we noticed that Hannes Genze had problems to keep up with us we pedalled on with power" the 2008 Swiss National Champion said.
"In the last ramp after the peak we were able to break away from Karl (Platt) and Stefan (Sahm). Then, we went downwards full speed aiming for the stage win. We didn't think about the Yellow Jersey at all. But now, after all the bad luck we had yesterday, it is simply amazing that we took over the lead."
<b>Flat tyre destroys all hopes for Team Bulls</b>
While riding downhill in the direction of Sarnthein, the two Swiss pros also took advantage of their contender's bad luck. At about Reinswald, Team Bulls was only ten seconds behind the future winners but then a flat tyre on Platt's back wheel shot their dream of victory down.
"This was a real set-back for us. We lost a lot of time. We gave everything and did pretty well regarding Karl's recurring shoulder problems in the downhill sections. This is our problem right now. We lose time in parts where we were strong: downhill" Stefan Sahm explained.
His team mate Karl Platt, who once and again suffers with a dislocated shoulder, was even more depressed about the result. "The most disappointing thing actually is that I cannot go full speed downhill. Every time when it's slippery or when there are rocks I got scared of going fast" the 2008 German National Champion, who was on the top podium spot at the last five Transalp editions, delivered insight into the inner life of a professional mountain biker. See All Event Posts
