Craft BIKE Transalp powered by Sigma

1-2 punch for Centurion Vaude

News Release / 24.07.2014

Markus Kaufmann (GER) and Jochen Käß (GER) have taken a big step forward to keeping hold to their title clinching their second consecutive stage win at this year's Craft BIKE Transalp powered by Sigma today. The defending champions of Centurion Vaude 1 mastered the 73.79 km and 2,645 metres of altitude from Naturns to Sarnthein in 3:22:25.7. Their team mates Daniel Geismayr (AUT) and Hannes Genze (GER) of Centurion Vaude 2 came in 2:18 minutes later making the double victory perfect.

Italian national team members Franz Hofer and Daniele Mensi of Team Scott rounded out the podium as third (3:29:30.6) celebrating their career's first Transalp podium finish.

Thanks to another strong performance on day four of the Alps crossing stage race, the wearers of the Yellow Jerseys extended their lead in the overall ranking. Kaufmann and Käß have an advantage of 7:40 minutes on their main pursuers who – since today – are coming from the same squad. Geismayr and Genze took over the runner-up position.

However the Austrian-German duo capitalised on a fatal technical defect suffered by so far second ranked Team Topeak Ergon Racing with Alban Lakata (AUT) and Kristian Hynek (CZE).

After a successful attack in the 1,800 metres of altitude climb from Sinich to Vöraner Alm the two Centurion Vaude teams and Topeak Ergon Racing raced uphill together until the final, technical descent from the Sarner Skihütte brought the battle for the stage win to a head.

Due to a riding mistake of Hynek the Czech athlete hit a stone which caused a flat and later own a broken rim. As a result, the luckless racer had to tackle the last three kilometres by foot.

“It's a disaster,” said the jinx. “I had to run the last kilometres. I don't know what to say.”

While the race day wrapped up in the most frustrating way for one title aspirant, another was able to take positive stock of the results.

“Of course we are pleased with the stage. We take it day by day like last year and try to make the best out of it when other teams have some problems. This is what we did today. Now we have a comfortable lead over our second team”, stated Käß after the finish.

Nakita Powermums Reduce Deficit

Day four brought a little bit of action for the women's overall classification when Silke Schrattenecker and Barbara Mayer made up some time on the Pink Leader Jerseys.

The two Austrian racers mastered the 73 km from Vinschgau to Sarntal in 4:31:33.0 finishing seven minutes ahead of Cornelia Hug and Andrea Fässler (4:38:28.5). But the two Swiss athletes of Crazy Velo Shop Scott still have some 15 minutes advantage over their main rivals from Nakita Powermums – with only three more stages to go.

Sarah Bosch (GER) and Danièle Troesch of Mountain Heroes finished in third position (4:59:14.2) and also sit in third in the women's ranking.

In the Masters event, Massimo De Bertolis (ITA) and Andreas Laner (ITA) of AIL Trentino celebrated their fourth consecutive win (3:45:41.8).

Sally Bigham (GBR) and Ben Thomas (GBR) of Topeak Ergon Racing also claimed their fourth win in a row in the Mixed category (4:03:40.7) with the same for Heinz Zörweg (AUT) and Andrew McLean (RSA) of Rad.Sport.Szene Ausseerland Racing in the Senior-Masters classification (4:09:53.9).

Special Categories

The best climber classification called Sigma Vertical Ride for the Red Polka Dot Jersey is still dominated by Jochen Weisenseel (GER) of Team Sigma Rox Rocky.

In the Kenda Enduro-Challenge, Florian Schön (GER) of Scott Bike24 MTN Team 1 was able to extend his lead to 14.4 second over Team Texpa-Simplon racer Andreas Kleiber (GER).

The best U23 talent is Frank Demuth (GER) of Centurion Vaude 3 who leads the race for the White Jersey with only 0.1 seconds over Lukas Islitzer (AUT) of Craft-Rocky Mountain.

Fifth Stage From Sarnthein To Kaltern

The Transalp continues tomorrow with the fifth stage over 67.42 km and 2,785 metres of altitude from Sarnthein to Kaltern. Highlight of the day which features two long climbs and a mountain finish are for sure the old witch cult place called Stoanernen Mandln and the downhill to Vilpian. The stage starts at 9 AM CET.

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