Craft Bike TransAlp

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Huber and Looser Secure Title at 2011 Transalp

News Release / 23.07.2011

Urs Huber and Konny Looser have claimed the overall title at the international mountain bike stage race CRAFT BIKE TRANSALP powered by NISSAN. Coming in second on today’s final stage from Trento (ITA) to Riva del Garda (ITA) (3:00:16,2) was enough for the two Swiss racers of Team Stöckli to claim their first ever Transalp title. The newly formed duo completed the total distance of 670.25 kilometers and 21,504 meters in elevation from Mittenwald (GER) to Lake Garda in the time of 27:02:36.3 hours.

Overall second rank went to seven-times Transalp champion Karl Platt (GER) and his Team Bulls colleague from France Thomas Dietsch (27:11:17.0), who placed third today (3:05:42.4) but were, in the end, some 8:40 minutes behind of the new Transalp winners. Italians Massimo De Bertolis and Johann Pallhuber of Silmax Autopolar Cannondale secured 3rd overall (27:21:47.0).

While the triumphant team started to celebrate their first big international title on the last hundred meters, Italy’s Mike Felderer and Johnny Cattaneo went for their first 2011 stage win in 3:00:12.9 hours to make up for a bad day yesterday.

Due to two slashed tires with only one spare 29er tube, Team Full-Dynamix had lost their third spot in the overall ranking. “We entered today’s stage pretty peeved,� said Mike Felderer. “We had to bring home something today. That was for sure a confirmation of our skills and that we are able to keep up with the best.�

<b>Successful Breakaway Group</b>

The two Italians had set an attack on the climb to Monte Bondone, pulled clear quickly and laid foundation to their triumph later on; however, both also played into the overall leader’s hands. Team Stöckli was also ready to give it a shot and was the only one able to keep up.

“We were lucky that Full-Dynamix had the same idea, so we were able to gain a comfortable lead,� Konny Looser explained. However, the young gun didn’t find any more words when asked about his feelings in the mixed zone right after his big triumph.

But his 25-years-old team mate Urs Huber, who nailed it at his first ever Transalp, did so. “It’s great; it’s a super feeling to have won the Transalp. We were able to achieve our biggest goal of the season. We didn’t have any physical or technical problems over the course of the eight days. We had some super good days.�

<b>Martina Miessgang and Katrin Neumann win women’s class</b>

In the ladies’ category, Martina Miessgang (AUT) and Katrin Neumann (GER) have also fulfilled their biggest dream in 36:29:48.7 hours. “I haven’t realized it yet. But the dream was so nice, it had to come true,� Miessgang said. That the dream came true was something both riders of Mountain Heroes had not really expected at all. See All Event Posts