Craft Bike TransAlp

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First Time Stage Winners on the Podiums

Press Release / 18.07.2011

Hannes Genze (GER) and Andreas Kugler (SUI) have won the third stage of the 14th CRAFT BIKE TRANSALP powered by NISSAN. After 94.01 kilometers and 2,154 meters of climbing from Mayrhofen (AUT) to Brixen (ITA), team ‘Multivan Merida Biking’ successfully competed in a finish sprint of the top teams (3:40:39.3). Germany’s Markus Kaufmann and Rupert Palmberger of ‘Centurion-Vaude’ came in as second (3:40:40.7), only 1.4 seconds behind of the winners, securing their first ever Transalp podium finish.

The men in Yellow coming from Italy, Massimo de Bertolis and Johann Pallhuber of ‘Silmax Autopolar Cannondale’, rounded out the podium (3:40:42.4) after they had controlled their competitors over a course characterized by bad weather, cold temperatures (around zero degrees), and five centimeters of snow at Pfitscherjoch (2,246m).

Due to the weather conditions and with only one mountain to master followed by a 60 kilometers long smooth downhill into the finish, none of the favoured teams had tried to pull clear or set any kind of attacks. “The tempo was pretty slow,� Andreas Huber of the winning team recapped. “It was obvious that no one would try to get away if it’s so easy for the field to close the gap on the downhill.� In the end, all riders in the leading group knew how the stage would wrap up – with a sprint for victory.

With the experience of a similar finish in 2009 on the same stage under his belt, Genze took over the main work in the wind for the last three kilometers upping the tempo. It was a clever move for ‘Multivan Merida Biking’ as Genze outlined the tactic: “I remembered the finish from two years ago and knew exactly where I had to push it so no one could pass me.� The 2009 and 2010 Transalp runner-up also added that “It was an important win for the team. Now, we hope that we can also move forward in the ranking.� After today’s performance the team currently ranks third, a mere 45 seconds behind De Bertolis and Pallhuber.

<b>Tension is Mounting Prior the Queen Stage</b>

The two Italians, who took over the lead yesterday after an impressive attack, had no problems at all to keep control of the field today. “It was our goal to make it up to Pfitscherjoch with the other top teams. And we achieved it,� Pallhuber said.

However, the 37-year-old rider from South Tyrol also knows that tomorrow will not only bring a different stage profile but also some serious threats for the Leaders jerseys. “It’s so close. There will be attacks for sure. I don’t think that the first climb is made for it as this could backfire. But the second peak might bring some turbulent race situations.�See All Event Posts