Brixen, Italy, July 14, 2013 – The second stage of the 2013 Craft BIKE Transalp powered by Sigma wrapped up with a finish sprint. After 99.80 km and 2,497 metres in elevation gain from Mayrhofen to Brixen, Christoph Sauser (SUI) and Max Knox (RSA) of Specialized racing crossed the finish line first (3:37:39.6) thus celebrating their career's first Transalp stage win.

 

Karl Platt (GER) and Urs Huber (SUI) of Team Bulls 1 secured ranked two (3:37:39.9) thus defending their lead of 3:36 minutes. Markus Kaufmann (GER) and Jochen Kaess (GER) of Centurion-Vaude 1 rounded out the podium as third (3:37:40.1). Defending champions of Topeak Ergon Racing, Alban Lakata (AUT) and Robert Mennen (GER), had to settle for fourth again (3:37:40.6), however, were able to step up to third rank in the overall ranking behind of Team Bulls 1 and Centurion-Vaude 1.

 

All four teams dominated the whole course of the race, which kicked off with some high pace right after Mayrhofen when the field entered the 25km long main climb of the day up to Pfitscherjoch (2,258m). Platt and Huber took over control in the beginning, keeping some fast tempo thus forcing the most of the teams to let go. Only the day's top four teams were able to cross the main chain of the Alps and the Italian border together while extending their lead into the finish.

 

Finish sprint decides stage win

 

In the end, Sauser and his team mate Knox launched a final attack in the very last part of the stage, which featured a new design with the 400m climb on Kaiserberg to Spinges, but weren't able to really break away together with Kaufmann and Kaess. Especially as the men in the Yellow Jerseys felt comfortably strong.

 

“They didn't really break away,” said Huber in the finish zone. “We always knew that we would catch up again. So the attack didn't really bother us.”

 

In the end, Specialized Racing at least brought home the stage win. “It's nice to have a win”, explained Christoph Sauser while also aiming for more. “Having one stage win under our belt doesn't mean that we go home. We will keep on chancing our luck while keeping the pressure high.”

 

Women leaders keep on commanding

 

Borghild Loevset (NOR) and Sally Bigham (GBR) of Topeak Ergon Racing have clinched their second stage win in the women category (4:22:59.7). The bearers of the Pink Jerseys once again relegated Swiss racers Andrea Faessler and Cornelia Hug of Crazy Velo Shop Scott to the second rank (4:28:52.7)

 

Katrin Schwing (GER) and Lisa Pleyer (AUT) of Cancer Rehab St. Veit took the third spot again (4:31:28.3).

 

Master leader underline their strength

 

On side of the teams with a combined age of 80+, Carsten Bresser (GER) and Udo Boelts (GER) were once again unbeatable. Team Rocky Mountain/Centurion mastered the almost 100km long stage to Brixen in 3:45:42.4 hours. Johann Grasegger (GER) and Andreas Lander (ITA) of Jeep Scott took second (3:54:54.4) while Claudio Segata (ITA) and Piergiorgio Dellagicoma (ITA) of Team Tecno MTB jumped on the podium as third (4:02:35.1) for the first time.

 

Mountain Heroes mixed team celebrates first stage win

 

In the mixed category, Norway's Kristin Aamodt and Italy's Daniel Jung were the mountain bikers with the strongest legs. Team Mountain Heroes, which had placed third yesterday, crossed the finish line after 4:16:05.1 hours and thus some five minutes ahead still leading mixed www.1place.com/Wheeler iXS (4:21:13.2).

 

Bettina Uhlig (GER) and Mathias Nothegger (AUT) however are still leading the classifier some five minutes ahead of today's best team. Australia's Imogen Smith and Mike Blewitt of Subaru-MarathonMTB.com claimed the third rank (4:31:22.6) thus placing in the top-3 for the first time.

 

Grand Master's leading team a force of their own

 

Italian duo Scott-Torbado with Walter Platzgummer and Gilberto Perini have been able to bring home their second stage win in 4:04:25.3 hours. Like yesterday, Baerti Bucher (SUI) and Doug Brown (RSA) of Bixs nine-twelve-siytyone (4:15:26.9) as well as US-Americans Kevin Hines and Alec Petro of Corner Cycle (4:28:15.7) rounded out the Grand Master podium as second and third.

 

The 2013 Craft Bike Transalp powered by Sigma continues with stage #3 tomorrow which will lead over 56.92 km and 2,833 metres in elevation gain from Brixen to St. Vigil.