Craft Bike TransAlp
Still Only Seconds Between the Leaders
News Release / 18.07.2011
After a decisive attack on the ascent of today’s third mountain Italy’s Massimo de Bertolis and Johann Pallhuber secured victory on the second stage of the 2011 CRAFT BIKE TRANSALP powered by NISSAN. Team ‘Silmax Autopolar Cannondale’ cleared the 68.74 kilometers and 2,911 meters of climbing from Weerberg (AUT) to Mayrhofen (AUT) in impressive 3:13:11.0 hours. They were about 45 seconds faster than the chasing group consisting of three teams and took the lead in the overall ranking (by just 44 seconds).The sprint for the other podium spots went to Team Stöckli with Swiss pros Urs Huber and Konny Looser. The former bearers of the Yellow Leader Jerseys came in after 3:13:57.2 hours, only one tenth ahead of Team Bulls 1 (3:13:57.3) consisting of Karl Platt (GER) and Thomas Dietsch (FRA). Hannes Genze (GER) and Andreas Kugler (SUI) of Multivan Merida Biking missed the podium, finishing as fourth ranked team (3:13:57.9); but both racers are still within reach of the top spot of the table being only 48 seconds behind.
However, it will be a tough quest for all the three lurking teams to put the ‘Italian Stallions’ under pressure; especially as De Bertolis and Pallhuber could have done even better if the former World Champion hadn’t experienced a minor crisis in the climb to Lafasteralm or had some problems with the derailleur mechanism after the second downhill from Geiseljoch (2,296m).
“When the problems started, Johann (Pallhuber) showed the right reaction and pressed forward,� said De Bertolis, who was very happy that he didn’t suffer from the same stomach problems as last year – but had come through it already two weeks before the start. “I’m in a very good condition and I’m very pleased with the first two stages. Our goal was to win a stage; so from now on we can take it day by day.�
His team mate from South Tyrol, Johann Pallhuber, added that “it’s awesome to have the Yellow Leader jerseys for one day at least. I never dreamed of this before the race.�
<b>Bitter day for Looser</b>
The dream of the Transalp lead had already come true for the youngest team of the top podium candidates yesterday. But Urs Huber and Konny Looser had been thinking of a happier ending of their first day in Yellow. Both young guns bravely attacked in the first climb right away gaining a lead of some 45 seconds, but that went up in smoke pretty fast again in the second ascent up to Geiseljoch.
“My back was aching so I couldn’t equally pull and push,� Looser glumly said. “Due to this I lost my rhythm�. This weakness was just what the two experienced mountain bikers from Silmax Autopolar Cannondale had been waiting for: De Bertolis/Pallhuber closed the gap and set their own attack in the last and final climb.See All Event Posts
