Craft Bike TransAlp
De Bertolis and Felderer Claim Victory on 3rd Stage
News Release / 20.07.2010
Massimo De Bertolis and Mike Felderer have clinched victory on the 3rd stage of the 2010 CRAFT BIKE TRANSALP powered by NISSAN. The Italian duo completed the 73.64 kilometres long panorama stage from Ischgl (AUT) to Scuol (SUI) and its 2,504 metres of ascent in 3:06:00.8 hours. Team Full-Dynamix came in 0.5 seconds ahead of Swiss overall leaders Lukas Buchli and Thomas Stoll of BiXS iXS Pro Team (3:06:01.3), who were able to extend their lead in the ranking. Switzerland’s Konny Looser and Thomas Zahnd of Stöckli-Craft finished third thus celebrating their first Transalp stage podium in 3:08:09.2 hours after having competed successfully in a sprint finish with the chasing group.
However, the preliminary decision took place – just like yesterday – on the first climb of the day up to the highest peak of the 2010 Transalp, the Idjoch (2,737m). Again it was the BiXS iXS Pro Team who were the ones to attack, and again they broke the leading group. “We noticed yesterday that everybody was struggling hard in the climbs. And as we knew that this ascent is made for us, we had to give it a go,� said Buchli. “This was perfect for us as we were able to work together pretty well,� the 31-year old explained.
<b>Green Valley Team 100 Beats Senior Master Leaders</b>
Ferdinand Ganser and Georg Niggl of German Team Craft had to accept their first Transalp defeat finishing second today (3:54:21.0). South Tyrol’s Josef Pallhuber and Hartmann Stifter of Green Valley Team 100 brought home their first stage win in 3:53:17.3 hours. Swiss Max Bertschinger and Thomas Rüegg of Thomax Bike Team came in third (3:57:00.2).
<b>Third Win for Team Cube</b>
In the Master’s category Udo Bölts and Silvio Wieltschnig are still the team to catch. The German-Austrian duo completed the third stage characterised by a high fun factor in 3:18:55.6 hours.
While Team Cube is still the undisputed bearer of the Blue Leader Jerseys, Team Garmin adidas/Bike and Soul was able to make up some time in the battle for the overall podium. The winner of the first ever Transalp (1998), Mannie Heymans (NAM) and his mate Reini Woisetschläger (AUT) rolled into the finish after 3:23:27.4 hours. Both took advantage of a back wheel defect of Team Scott/RS Janger (3:32:12.6) consisting of Johann Grasegger (GER) and Georg Koch (AUT), who still sit in second position of the master ranking. Heymans is optimistic for the coming days. “I hope that our form keeps up and that we can win a stage. This would be awesome for us!â€?
<b>Same Mixed Podium As Yesterday</b>
The top-3 of the mixed class finished in the same running order as yesterday. Once again, Craft-Rocky-Mountain-duo Pia Sundstedt (FIN) and Daniel Gathof (GER) secured victory (3:37:47.8). Milena Landtwing (SUI) and Heiko Gutmann (GER) of Rothaus Cube (3:44:03.2) as well as Swiss credo-bikes.com riders Jane Nüssli and Markus Hochstrasser (3:48:03.5) rounded out the podium as second and third respectively.
<b>Three-Peat for Norgaard Sisters</b>
Kristine and Anna-Sofie Norgaard of Rothaus-Cube celebrated their third consecutive stage win. The two Danes managed to stay under the four-hour-mark completing the 73.64 kilometres in 3:56:35.2 hours. Their rivals. Natascha Binder and Bettina Dietzen of German team Felt Ötztal X-Bionic / Cannondale Store needed over ten minutes more (4:07:04.3) than the wearers of the Pink Leader Jerseys. Mountain Heroes Katrin Neumann (GER) and Danièle Troesch (FRA) came in third (4:11:40.5).
<b>Preview stage 4: Scuol (SUI) – Livigno (ITA)</b>
Before everyone has worked his way through the first half of the race, the mountain bikers have to master a lot of metres of altitude again. From the first and hardest challenge of the day on, the climb to Pass da Costainas, which begins right at the start line in Scuol, the routing leads along the tree line to Italy.
Lovers of nature will get their money’s worth as the field will pass through almost every vegetation zone. After the descent to Val Müstair, the Pass Döss Radond is something very special as one might get the impression of riding through a moonscape. After the third and also unique saddle, the Passo Alpisella, is crossed, the route leads the teams from Lago San Giacomo on old freight hauler paths to Livigno.See All Event Posts
