Craft Bike TransAlp

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Multivan Merida Take the Yellow Jerseys

News Release / 21.07.2010

The Multivan Merida Cycling Team has won the fifth stage of the 2010 CRAFT BIKE TRANSALP powered by NISSAN. Hannes Genze (GER) and Andreas Kugler (SUI) set up the decisive attack on the climb to Passo Mortirolo, finally finishing the royal stage of this year’s Transalp (106.87 km and 3,461 metres of ascent) from Livigno (ITA) to Ponte di Legno (ITA) in 4:42:39.0 hours. As a result, the German-Swiss pairing also took over the lead in the overall ranking.
The previous leaders Lukas Buchli and Thomas Stoll (both SUI) came in fourth after 4:47:12.9 hours, while title defenders the BiXS iXS Pro Team lost their comfortable lead of 4:08 minutes and are now sitting in second, 25 seconds behind Multivan Merida.

Teams Full-Dynamix with Massimo De Bertolis and Mike Felder (both ITA) as well as Team Bulls consisting of Germany’s Karl Platt and Stefan Sahm came in as second (4:45:15.6) and third (4:45:16.4) respectively.

<b>Two Climbs Are Decisive</b>

Once again the big climbs to the passes played a major role in the battle for victory. First, 2007 and 2008 Transalp winners Karl Platt and Stefan Sahm attacked at the Passo Verva. However, Team Bulls couldn’t break away. “This was the best preliminary work we could have asked for,� explained Hannes Genze later on in the finish area.

The fast pace set by the Bulls, who kept on pushing up to the well-known and notorious Passo Mortirolo was responsible that the leading group gradually falling apart. When the BiXS iXS Pro Team riders were involved in a crash, they finally lost contact with the front of the race.

In the end Team Multivan Merida had the greater staying power and were able to hold back all attacks from Team Bulls and countered in an impressive way up to the last peak. “It was nice to dominate a climb. From the beginning on, I had the perfect rhythm and Andi fought himself uphill,� summed up Hannes Genze.

However, the 2005 European Champion also knows: “Nothing is decided yet. We knew that today would be the day but we also had to give everything we have. So, we have to make sure tomorrow that we don’t stand around like parking meters.�

Tomorrow, it’s time for a further 72 kilometres; not the easiest stage to defend the small lead which Multivan Merida gained today. Stefan Sahm of the now third ranked Team Bulls honoured the winner’s counter attack at Passo Mortirolo: “They slowly but constantly broke away. We tried everything. But this is cycling sport.�

<b>Bölts/Wieltschnig Still the Masters</b>

Team Cube consisting of Udo Bölts (GER) and Silvio Wieltschnig (AUT) impressively kept a hold to their Master category lead by also winning stage five today. The duo came in after 5:18:16.7 hours thus relegating title defending Team KTM with Austria’s Heinz Zörweg and Ekkehard Dörschlag to second (5:21:58.0). Mannie Heymans (NAM) and Reini Woisetschläger (AUT) of Garmin adidas/Bike and Soul came in third (5:21:58.6).

<b>First Win for Landtwing/Gutmann in Mixed Class</b>

Milena Landtwing (SUI) and Heiko Gutmann (GER) celebrated their first stage win in the mixed category today. Team Rothaus-Cube (5:43:39.9) edged out the current leaders of Craft-Rocky-Mountain Pia Sundstedt (FIN) and Daniel Gathof (GER) to the runner-up position (5:43:40.2). Jane Nüssli and Markus Hochstrasser (both SUI) of credo-bikes.com rounded out the podium (5:52:46.1).

<b>Ganser/Niggl Back in Business</b>

Reigning senior Master champions Ferdinand Ganser and Georg Niggl have outstandingly come back in the 2010 Transalp. After having suffered two bad days on stage three and four, the two Germans of Team Craft were victorious on the fifth stage in 5:47:41.5 hours. Max Bertschinger and Thomas Rüegg (both SUI) of Thomax Bike rolled in as runners-up (6:09:41.2), Hartmann Stifter and Josef Pallhuber (both ITA) of Green Valley Team 100 were third (6:12:21.8).

<b>Another Win for The Norgaard Sisters</b>

Kristine and Anna-Sofie Norgaard are still unbeatable in the ladies’ category. Team Rothaus Cube from Denmark completed today’s stage in 6:11:45.7 hours. After several third ranks so far, Mountain Heroes, Katrin Neumann (GER) and Danièle Troesch (FRA) brought home their best result in second (6:23:36.8). Natascha Binder and Bettina Dietzen (both GER) of Felt Ötztal X-Bionic/Cannondale Store finished the race as third (6:29:54.6).

<b>Preview Stage 6: Ponte di Legno (ITA) – Malé (ITA)</b>

After the exhausting previous day, the sixth stage provides some of the mountain bike moments every Transalpian is here for – it’s time for some pure trail art as a twelve kilometres long panorama path awaits the racers. The path itself is stunning as is the impressive scenery of the Adamello group.

Also the last 30 kilometres into the finish at Malé are – compared to the royal stage – more relaxing in character. From Malga Boai on, it’s only descending to the finish line.See All Event Posts