Craft Bike TransAlp

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Sprint Finish on Stage One

News Release/Rob Howard / 18.07.2011

The 14th CRAFT BIKE TRANSALP powered by NISSAN kicked off with a sprint to decide the first stage win. In the end, after 95.55 kilometers and 2,366 meters of climbing from Mittenwald (GER) to Weerberg (AUT), the victory went to Switzerland’s Urs Huber and Konny Looser in a winning time of 3:34:51.4 hours. Team Stöckli was only 1.3 seconds ahead of runner-up Team Bulls 1 (3:34:52.7) with serial winner Karl Platt (GER) and his French team mate Thomas Dietsch. Another 0.5 seconds behind were Italian riders Massimo de Bertolis and Johann Pallhuber of Srmax Autopolar Cannondale (3:34:53.2) rounding out the podium places.

With the successful sprint, a dream came true for the youngest team in the group of podium candidates; especially for Huber, who secured the Yellow Leader’s jersey at his first ever Transalp appearance. “Our goal was to bring home one stage win. It’s incredible that we did it on the first day,� said the 25-years-old. But Huber was realistic enough to dampen the euphoria. “There is still a whole week more to come. I would say it’s still a tie at 0:0.�

The mountain bike pro from Jonen was drawing attention to the close day one result. Besides the top-3 having finished all within two seconds, the fourth and fifth ranked teams (Multivan Merida Biking - Hannes Genze (GER) & Andreas Kugler (SUI) and Centurion-Vaude consisting of German racers Markus Kaufmann and Rupert Palmberger), are also within reach of the top spot being only 3.2 and 8.1 seconds behind.

<b>Today’s Race is Promising for the Days to Come</b>

None of the podium candidates had been able to break away over the course of day one. From start to finish and across the two peaks of Hochalmsattel and Plumsjoch, the best ten riders had been – except of a few minor breaks – together, eyeballing and testing each other.

Only the final ascent up to Weerberg brought a slight upping of the tempo without breaking the group. So Huber and Looser expect an ongoing close battle for the overall lead.

Mr. Transalp Karl Platt, who crossed the finish line in second position, agreed the race will be close. “All of the teams in front are competing on a very high level. And I bet that no one has laid it on the line already. It’s going to be very tough and exciting. So far, there is no top favorite,� the eight-time Transalp champion said. However, Platt is still hoping for a form increase from his new team partner.

“I felt strong today and could have gone for more. But Thomas (Dietsch) is still suffering from jetlag. He just came over from the BC Bike race in Canada. So, I’m sure he will improve�, was Platt’s hidden declaration of war.See All Event Posts