Craft Bike TransAlp

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Huber and Looser Clinch Fourth Stage Win

News Release / 22.07.2011

Switzerland’s Urs Huber and Konny Looser have impressively reinforced their claim on the 2011 title at the CRAFT BIKE TRANSALP powered by NISSAN. ‘Team Stöckli’ completed the 73.39 kilometers and 3,156 meters in elevation from Alleghe (ITA) to San Martino di Castrozza (ITA) in 3:33:48.5 hours, extending their lead in the overall ranking. Italians Mike Felderer and Johnny Cattaneo of ‘Team Full-Dynamix’ came in second (3:35:00.1). ‘Team Bulls’ followed in third position (3:35:20.6, so runner-ups in the overall ranking Karl Platt (GER) and Thomas Dietsch (FRA) are now 3:15 minutes behind of the Yellow Jerseys with only two more days to come.

After the neutralized section had ended after a few kilometers, the top athletes of this year’s Transalp, Huber and Looser, set a high pace when the field entered the first climb to Forcella Celat and kept on racing fast. “We thought that attack is the best form of defense,� explained Konny Looser in the finish area. “We felt pretty good and had very strong legs.� Due to the high tempo the field quickly strung out, claiming some prominent victims. Right after Falcade, the men in Yellow were only accompanied by ‘Team Bulls’ and ‘Full-Dynamix’.

Even obstinate pros like Hannes Genze (GER) and Andreas Kugler (SUI) of ‘Multivan Merida Biking’ and Italians Massimo de Bertolis and Johann Pallhuber of ‘Silmax Autopolar Cannondale’ lost contact. It was a tough day for the team of former Marathon World Champion De Bertolis: in the end, the 2004 champ ended up with a deficit of eight minutes, loosing the third position overall to ‘Full-Dynamix’.

But the young guns from Switzerland weren’t fully pleased with riding in a leading group of three teams. At the end of the ascent to Passo San Pellegrino, ‘Team Stöckli’ attacked for the first time and was able to jump away. “That was the last hard stage. So, we had expected the others to attack. When nothing happened, we decided to give it a go,â€? said Urs Huber.

Indeed, Mike Felderer and Johnny Cattaneo were able to close the gap again in the following downhill. But in the final climb to Baita Segantini ‘Team Stöckli’ set another hurtful and successful push, pulled clear and stormed into the finish bringing home their fourth stage win. Looser was naturally very pleased with how the day wrapped up: “It was super. We completely dominated the race and were always in the spot.â€?

<b>Rivals Pay Respects</b>

Mike Felderer knew his team had tried everything but had to admit defeat again. “We wanted to attack whenever it was possible. But the two Swiss of ‘Team Stöckli’ were too strong in the last ascent. They simply had more power in their legs and we couldn’t do anything against it,â€? summed up the South Tyrolean mountain biker.See All Event Posts