Mayrhofen, Austria, July 13, 2013 – Karl Platt (GER) and Urs Huber (SUI) of Team Bulls have clinched the opener stage of the 16th Craft BIKE Transalp powered by Sigma. This season's newly formed duo finished off their work day from Mittenwald to Mayrhofen (111.08km, 2,106m) after 3:34:49.1 hours on top of the podium.

 

The second rank went to Markus Kaufmann (GER) and Jochen Kaess (GER) of Centurion-Vaude who came out first of a finish sprint performed by three chasing teams (3:38:25.1); despite the fact that both had lost contact on the middle section of the course due to a flat at Kaufmann's bike. Swiss racers Thomas Stoll and Konny Looser of BiXS-Wheeler-iXS Pro Team rounded out the podium as third thus edging of defending Transalp champions Alban Lakata (AUT) and Robert Mennen (GER) to fourth.

 

2013 World Champion and co-favourite Christoph Sauser, together with Specialized Racing team colleague Max Knox, came in as fifth (3:40:06.6), already some 5:17 minutes behind. A huge gap which is a bit surprising when looking on the race course.

 

Powerhouse Huber rides ahead in the flat

 

Platt and Huber, who have a total of eight Transalp titles under their belts with Platt having earned seven of them, broke away in the first climb to Hochalmsattel (1,805m) and were able to extend their lead in the following descent to 2:30 min. The lead then – in contrary to expectations – became bigger across the Plumsjoch (1,680m) and the last 35km long cycle path through the Ziller valley into the finish.

 

Especially surprising because an eight-member chasing group pushed it to the limits. “It was tough”, confirmed Platt, who had won the 2005 opener on the same route too, after his career's 36th Transalp stage win. “It's amazing to have so many wins. I love this race. But I was close to the edge at the end. Urs (Huber) was definitely stronger. 3:36 is OK but nothing to feel easy about.”

 

However, also the other top teams had invested a lot, although they weren't abel to close the gap as German Champion Kaufmann confirmed: “We went flat out and were hoping to catch up. I don't know what they (Platt/Huber) did.”

 

In the end, the unlucky thing of the last World Champs (torn chain after 50m) had nothing else to do but to acknowledge the performance of today's best riders. “More than 3:30 minutes; that's ridiculous. It's unbelievable.”

 

Bresser just like Platt

 

Like 2005, when Karl Platt claimed victory on the opening stage from Mittenwald to Mayrhofen, his back then team mate Carsten Bresser (GER) also repeated the win eight years later; this time together with former cycling pro Udo Boelts (GER) for Rocky Mountain/Centurion in the category for the teams with a combined age of more than 80 years in 3:50:51.7 hours. However, the eighth ranked athlete of the 2000 Olympics had run out of breath today.

 

“It seems that Karl (Platt) and I do like this stage. But I have to admit that I was happy enough having a former pro cyclist at my side. Udo (Boelts) did the most work on the 35km flat at the end of the stage. Otherwise, I guess I wouldn't have finished yet,” said Bresser.

 

3:30 minutes behind of the successful master duo were Johann Grasegger (GER) and Andreas Laner of Jeep Scott taking second (3:54:27.9) with Norwegians Tom Larsen and Thomas Knutsen of Team Hardrocx coming in third (4:06:28.2).

 

Top grand masters super strong

 

However, the best grand master team did make it to the finish before the third master team as Walter Platzgummer (ITA) and Gilberto Perini (ITA) reached the finish after 4:00:30.2 hours. Baerti Bucher (SUI) and Doug Brown (RSA) of Bixs nine-twelve-sixtyone (4:09:46.4) as well as US-Americans Kevin Hines and Alex Petro of Corner Cycle (4:20:33.7) rounded out the podium as second and third.

 

Pink Jerseys for Topeak Ergon Racing

 

Sally Bigham (GBR) and Borghild Loevset (NOR) have earned the Pink Jerseys in the women's classifier due to an impressive performance (4:13:57.1) thus having secured a lead of some seven minutes on their pursuers.

 

Those do come form Switzerland. Cornelia Hug and Andrea Faessler of Crazy Velo Shop Scott rolled in the finish after 4:20:53.3 hours as second team. Rank three went to Cancer Rehab St. Veit (4:22:39.2) consisting of Lisa Pleyer (AUT) and Katrin Schwing (GER).

 

Team www.1place.co / Wheeler iXS wins mixed category

 

Germany's Bettina Uhlig and Mathias Nothegger of Team www.1place.co / Wheeler iXS have won their first Transalp stage in 4:07:53.0 hours and will thus wear the Orange Leader Jerseys on the second stage leading from Mayrhofen to Brixen (99.80km; 2,497m) tomorrow.

 

Annette Griner (GER) and Peter Reiche (GER) of black tusk Racing by toMotion (4:16:49.9) as well as Kristin Aamodt and Daniel Jung (ITA) of Mountain Heroes (4:18:09.3) followed as second and third ranked mixed teams.