Craft Bike Transalp
Centurion Vaude Aims for Transalp Title Three-Peat
Press Release / 09.07.2015
In the so far 17 editions of the Craft BIKE Transalp powered by Sigma, no team has managed to win the seven-day mountain bike stage race three times in a row. But that's exactly what Markus Kaufmann and Jochen Kaess of Centurion Vaude are going for: the title three-peat. The 2013 and 2014 winners have successfully overcome their early season health problems and recently underlined that both are in a good shape for the Alps crossing classic from Ruhpolding, Germany to Riva del Garda, Italy (July 19th thru 25th).
A few weeks ago, Kaufmann brought home a sixth rank finish from the marathon world championships and was also able to secure victory at a stage race event in Austria where his team partner Kaess came in as fifth.
“We both don't feel any impairments anymore. I might have cracked my broken collarbone again a few weeks ago in Tegernsee, but it has healed already,” says Kaufmann.
“Therefore,” the 33-years-old adds, “we want to defend the title and earn this three-peat for sure!” However, it won't be a goal easy to achieve as “there are many strong rivals”.
Some of them are – according to Kaufmann – wearing the same black jersey as Centurion Vaude 2 consisting of Austrian top racers Daniel Geismayr and Herman Pernsteiner are also entering the event with a good momentum.
Besides the squad-intern competitors, the defending champion knows whom to have an eye on: Topeak Ergon Racing.
New-fledged marathon world champion Alban Lakata (AUT) and his Czech team mate Kristian Hynek are keen to up the ante from last year when both finished in third position.
In addition, 2015 is the first time that Topeak Ergon Racing has registered a second and also strong team featuring Robert Mennen (GER) who won the 2012 Transalp alongside Lakata and will compete with Jeremiah Bishop (USA).
Other duos to look out for are Team Bulls pairings Karl Platt (GER)/Urs Huber (SUI) and Tim Boehme (GER)/Simon Stiebjahn (GER) who all bring in a lot of race experience.
Uwe Hardter and Christian Schneidawind of German Team Texpa-Simplon have also proven in the past that both have some strong legs to master the Alps.
Four Peaks winner Juri Ragnoli (ITA) and his fellow countryman Franz Hofer of Team Scott have also a top-5 finish in mind while Austrian Rad.Sport.Szene Ausseerland teams Manuel Pliem/David Schoeggl and Uwe Burgsteiner/Anton Warter will line up in Ruhpolding with high hopes, too.
Topeak Ergon Favourite Team in Women's Competition
In the women's category it looks like you have to beat Topeak Ergon Racing consisting of Sally Bigham (GBR) and Christina Kollmann (AUT).
The British two-time Transalp winner (2013 women, 2014 mixed) and the 2013 Austrian marathon champion race together since this March and have gained some stage race experience together already.
An interesting team named RacingMums is coming from Germany featuring three-time Ironman winner Nicole Leder and Tanja Lutz who has crossed the Atlas mountain range on a mountain bike already back in 2011.
For further information about the race visit bike-transalp.de.
Craft BIKE Transalp Powered by Sigma
The Craft BIKE Transalp powered by Sigma is the most famous stage race for mountain bike teams of two. From its first edition in 1998 until 2013, the routing led in eight stages from Germany across the main chain of the Alps to Italy. In 2014, the event featured seven stages for the first time in Transalp history.
In 2015, Race Organisers come up with five stage town debuts (Ruhpolding, Saalfelden Leogang, Mittersill, Sillian and Levico Terme) as well as an almost complete new routing.
From July 19th thru 25th, a maximum of 600 teams of two will tackle 625.79 km and 19,375 metres in elevation gain traveling from Ruhpolding via Saalfelden Leogang, Mittersill, Sillian, Alleghe, San Martino di Castrozza and Levico Terme to Riva del Garda.
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