Craft Bike TransAlp
13th Transalp Kicks Off on July 17th
News Release / 16.07.2010
On July 17th, 2010, the starting gun for the 13th CRAFT BIKE TRANSALP powered by NISSAN will be fired off at 9:30 AM in Füssen (GER). 550 teams of two will hit the 600 kilometres of roads and trails for Riva del Garda also facing more than 19,500 metres of altitude dispersed on eight stages. Among the starters are several duos of international renown, who all – justifiably – are aiming for a Transalp victory. Defending champions BiXS iXS Pro Team leads the pack of title aspirants from the front. In 2009, Switzerland’s Lukas Buchli and Thomas Stoll took over the lead on stage five and kept hold to their lead to the end.
This year, it’s time for a title defence. “For us it’s all about racing a good Transalp. We are optimistic to achieve this goal,� explains Lukas Buchli. The 30-year-old, who will celebrate his 31st birthday on the first stage, adds that both riders don’t feel as much pressure as they did last season. “In 2009, we entered our first Transalp with the goal to win. As we accomplished our purpose, the situation is much easier for us this summer.�
However, to be in contention for a back-to-back win, both mountain bikers, who enter their third consecutive season together as a team, toiled last week. “We pedalled six Transalp stages within five days from Imst on. It was tough, but also very important for us in order to be well-matched again.� So we know for sure that the Oberengadin resident and his 27-years-old mate from Schaffhausen know the stages very well.
<b>Knowledge of Routing and Rivals</b>
In addition, both also have knowledge of their competition. “We have great respect for Karl Platt and Stefan Sahm. It’s impossible to ignore their experience,â€? points out Buchli. The two German veterans, who were victorious in 2007 and 2008, had to swallow the pill last year after Platt had to quit the race due to injury and thus hope for a good comeback in 2010. However, they are also completive with the second duo of Team Bulls consisting of French Champion Thomas Dietsch and Tim Böhme (GER), who came in as third in 2009.
This strong team size is another advantage for the Bulls pilots as Buchli concludes. “Having two teams in the competition is a good backup as you won’t see a team which makes it through all eight stages without any technical defects.�
The 2008 Swiss Champion also lists the Multivan Merida Biking Team as strong contenders. The team in the green Lycra are definitely capable of a top result. 2005 Marathon European Champion and 2005 ECS runner-up Hannes Genze (GER) and Andreas Kugler (SUI) were in the lead last year for several days and finished in second position with a gap of less than three minutes.
In addition, there is another Swiss pairing which might be able to cut a dash. Thomas Zahnd, an experienced Transalp rider, who finished as runner-up in 2006, enters the competition with U23-ace Konny Looser as Team Stöckli-Craft.
Besides them, there might be a slight chance for the team which represents the stage town Ponte di Legno. Italy’s Marzio Deho, the 2008 Trans-Rockies winner, will travel the whole distance with his countryman Mirko Celestino.See All Event Posts
