Craft Bike TransAlp
Another Italian Stage Win
News Release / 21.07.2010
Marzio Deho and Mirko Celestino have claimed victory on the fourth stage of the highly competitive 2010 CRAFT BIKE TRANSALP. Team Adamello Bike Olympia–Axevo completed the 73.91 kilometre route and 2,377 metres of ascent from Scuol (SUI) to Livigno (ITA) in 3:07:31.8 hours. Hannes Genze (GER) and Andreas Kugler (SUI) of Multivan Merida Biking came in second after winning the finish sprint from the chasing group (3:11:56.2). Despite a crash, Massimo De Bertolis (ITA) and Mike Felderer (ITA) of Full-Dynamix, who were victorious yesterday, rounded out the podium as third (3:11:56.5). The Val Mora trail between the Pass Döss Radond and Passo Alpisella was where the race was when the two Italians, who brought home the second consecutive Transalp stage win for their home country, took advantage of an unlucky situation for their fellow countryman Felderer. The 2009 National Marathon Champion crashed in the downhill enabling the other leaders to break away. This group included the subsequent winner, Dynamix and the current first ranked riders Lukas Buchli and Thomas Stoll of BiXS iXS, who finished fifth today thus securing their lead.
“Both attacked and when I had to stop to readjust a spoke they were gone in the climb to Alpisella,“ Stoll said. Despite the little technical defect, the 27-years-old, who is still bearing the Yellow Leader Jerseys with his team mate, was pleased with the result. “We took it easy today although it was a fast day again due to attacks by Full-Dynamix.�
<b>Winners Pay Respect to Yellow Jerseys</b>
Stoll and his partner are still the only team of the inner circle of title aspirants which hasn’t shown any weakness throughout the first four stages. A fact, which Marzio Deho had to pay tribute to: “They are really strong. They have no weakness and will win the race,� said the 2008 Trans Rockies winner about the defending champions. “But I’m glad that I was able to win today with Mirko.�
<b>Senior Master Leaders Falter</b>
Currently second ranked in the senior masters category, Josef Pallhuber and Hartmann Stifter, put pressure on the bearers of the Green Leaders Jerseys, Ferdinand Ganser and Georg Niggl. The South Tyrolean Green Valley Team 100 finished the stage in 3:47:59.1 hours reducing their arrears by three minutes down to 9:51 minutes on defending champions Team Craft (3:50:59.2).
Ferdinand Ganser of Team Craft, who has been struggling with circulation problems ever since the first stage, had to admit: “It’s going to be a close decision. Normally I’m much stronger but it seems that 20 percent of my power is missing.�
Swiss duo max Bertschinger and Thomas Rüegg of Thomax Bike (3:59:33.2) rounded out the podium as third.
<b>Business As Usual for the Masters</b>
Just like the tree days before, Udo Bölts (GER) and Silvio Wieltschnig (AUT) have dominated the fourth stage within the class of the teams with a minimum total age of 80 years. Team Cube needed only 3:19:41.3 hours for today’s course.
And just like yesterday, it was the Namibian-Austrian pairing Garmin adidas/Bike and Soul, consisting of Mannie Heymans and Reini Woisetschläger who came in as runners up in 3:28:57.2. The Transalp master winners of 2006 through 2009, Heinz Zörweg and Ekkehard Dörschlag of Austrian Team KTM, finished third (3:30:30.4).
The second ranked team of Johann Grasegger (GER) and Georg Koch (AUT) of Scott / RS Janger had to withdrawal from the competition due to an injury Koch had suffered in his yesterdays crash.
<b>Mixed Leaders Again in Front</b>
Pia Sundstedt (FIN) and Daniel Gathof (GER) of Craft-Rocky-Mountain have been the mixed to beat on stage four again by nailing a fast time of 3:36:58.7 hours. There were also no changes for the other two podium spots. Like the days before, Milena Landtwing (SUI) and Heiko Gutmann (GER) of Rothaus-Cube crossed the finish line as runners-up (3:40:10.2) thus relegating Jane Nüssli (SUI) and Markus Hochstrasser (SUI) of credo-bikes.com to third.
<b>Rothaus-Cube Keeps on Dominating Ladies’ Category</b>
The two sisters from Denmark, Kristine and Anna-Sofie Norgaard, seem set to keep their promise of winning every single stage. Today, team Rothaus-Cube secured their fourth triumph in 4:00:27.4 hours. Natascha Binder and Bettina Dietzen of team Felt Ötztal X-Bionic/Cannondale Store followed as second (4:13:08.9). In the race for second and third the two Germans edged out their fellow countrywoman Katrin Neumann and her Mountain Heroes team mate Danièle Troesch (FRA) by 30.7 seconds.
<b>Preview Stage 5: Livigno (ITA) – Ponte di Legno (ITA)</b>
While the first four stages have been – at least for the Transalp experienced riders – quite well known and branded with cult status, the last four legs are new ground. For the first time, the route leads across the Passo di Verva and the notorious Mortirolo Pass to Ponte di Legno – a royal stage which is without equal.
The raw data shows why day five will be the one to survive: 106.84 kilometres and and enormous 3,461 metres of ascent have to be travelled from Livigno to the new stage town. But the new stage is not only a scary obstacle on the way to Lake Garda because of its physical and mental demands. It is also a natural treat. The trails from Passo d’Eira to Passo Trela might be the best of the 2010 route.See All Event Posts
