Craft Bike TransAlp
The Champions Fight Back
News Release / 19.07.2010
Lukas Buchli and Thomas Stoll have clinched victory at the second stage of the 2010 CRAFT BIKE TRANSALP powered by NISSAN. The 2009 Transalp winners completed the 76.92 kilometres with 3,184 metres of ascent from Imst (AUT) to Ischgl (AUT) in 3:27:02.3 hours. In the end, the two Swiss, who had attacked the rest of the pack right away in the first of the three climbs up to Venetalm, saved 34.8 seconds of the more than 2 minutes of lead they had gained throughout the day before. Hannes Genze (GER) and Andreas Kugler (SUI) came in second (3:27:37.1), 1.2 seconds ahead of Germany’s Karl Platt and Stefan Sahm of Team Bulls (3:27:38.3).That it finally was a close finish for Buchli/Stoll was due to the incredible work of Hannes Genze. The 2005 European Champion was pushing it hard for the chasing group from See on in order to make up time. The pace was too hard for fourth and fifth ranked Team Adamello Bike Olympia – Axevo and Stöckli-Craft, who had to let go until Kappl. In the end, it was only Multivan Merida Biking and Team Bulls breathing down the neck of the BiXS iXS Pro Team and reducing the arrears second by second.
Lukas Buchli commented, “In the end, it was a close thing.� But the plan for wining worked out today as the 31-years-old’s team mate Thomas Stoll explained: “We wanted to attack. We noticed yesterday that we are very strong in the climbs, so we tried to outrace the competition.� The idea paid off before they slowly lost the edge. “We had gained a comfortable lead of more than two minutes and didn’t risk anything on the last kilometres,� the 27-years-old said.
<b>Team Bulls Still Optimistic</b>
Yesterday’s winner Karl Platt complimented his rivals from Switzerland on their performance: “To be honest, both pushed the pedal right from the beginning. It was not rhythmic enough for me so we decided to ride our own speed,� the six-time Transalp winner stated.
Considering the gap in the ranking of 34 seconds on the new bearers of the Yellow Leader Jerseys the experienced Bulls pilot kept cool and collected. Platt commented, “If we are two or three minutes behind at the halfway point of the race, it would be fine. I could live with it. There is still the possibility that such an attack, forced at such an early stage of a long tour, comes home to roost. I’ve competed in 20 long stage races and Buchli/Stoll are doing their second Transalp!�
<b>Team Cube Extends Lead in Master Category</b>
After they had scored a surprising coup yesterday, the glory days cointinued for Udo Bölts (GER) and Silvio Wieltschnig (AUT). The duo crossed the finish line in Ischgl after 3:43:05.5 hours to extend their lead in the master category.
Runner-ups Johann Grasegger (GER) and Georg Koch (AUT) of Team Scott/RS Janger followed after 3:47:29.2 hours consolidating their second ranking. The dominating duo in the master class of the last four years finished as third. Ekkehard Dörschlag and Heinz Zörweg of Austria’s Team KTM needed 3:50:43.0 hours for the almost 77 kilometres through the countryside of Tyrol.See All Event Posts
