BIKE Transalp powered by Sigma

Pernsteiner and Geismayr Crown Break Away Ride

Race Release / 18.07.2016

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Hermann Pernsteiner (AUT) and Daniel Geismayr (AUT) have rewarded themselves for their magnificent parforce run with the stage win on the second day of the BIKE transalp powered by Sigma (2:28.30,1). Team Centurion Vaude 2 came home with the tiny lead of 16,6 seconds over Karl Platt (GER) and Urs Huber (SUI) of Team Bulls 1 (2:28.46.7) after they had been leading the field over almost the whole distance from Nauders to Scuol (56.17 km, 2,126 m).

Alban Lakata (AUT) and Kristian Hynek (CZE) of Topeak Ergon Racing 1 finished the stage from Austria to Switzerland as third best team (2:28.49,7) coming in 19,6 seconds after todays fastest pair. The Austrian-Czech duo therefore defended its lead over Pernsteiner and Geismayr going into tomorrow's stage to Livigno with an advantage of 44,9 seconds.

However, it could have come worse for the leading duo as the young Centurion Vaude racers, who are currently the strongest athletes in the climbs, could have been able to make it event more exciting ranking-wise.

After their successful attack in the first climb to the mountain top station of the Bergkastel gondola, both Austrians had temporarily taken over the virtual Yellow Jerseys but lost second by second of their gained lead again in the descents and the second ascent to Reschner Am.

However, no need to worry at all for Daniel Geismayr: “We had a really good day today. We are working together better than last year. We noticed in the first climb that the others had problems to keep up the pace so we went for it. We just rode and rode and rode. And it worked out.”

However, Kristian Hynek of the still leading team Topeak Ergon Racing 1 was also pleased with how things turned out:

“We didn't lose too much time. That was our goal. We didn't have to invest too much energy and were able to control the race. And it's still a long way to go.”

While the top-3 pairs are close together promising some thrilling competition for the 2016 title of the mountain bike stage race across the main ridge of the Alps, defending champions Markus Kaufmann (GER) and Jochen Kaess (GER) of Centurion Vaude 1 slowly but surely have to move away from their idea to celebrate a title four-peat with already more than 10 minutes behind of the Yellow Jerseys.

Change of lead on women's side of things

Lorenza Menapace (ITA) and Elisabeth Ann Simpson (GBR) have crowned their outstanding performance today with the stage win (3:39.01,2).

The duo of Val di Sole Bikeland_Lady relegated Sarah Reiners (GER) and Cemile Trommer (GER) of Team Nutrixxion Focus RAPIPRO to the second rank (3:40.16,4).

Rank three went to Swiss racers Sabina Compassi and Melanie Alexander of Cyclopedia-DANiSchnider Radsport (3:40.47,7) who therefore lost the women's lead to today's best female pair.

Category leaders still strong

In the master category defending champions of Wilier Force 2 Massimo Debertolis (ITA) and Andreas Laner (ITA) are looking good to keep hold on their title after they had turned a deficit of more than four minutes after half of the course into another win (2:49.11,8).

Costa Ricans Dax Jaikel and Federico Ramirez of Sevencard-Lacoinex rolled in as second (2:49.55,9) 44,1 seconds later edging off today's third ranked master team toMotion Racing by black tusk/Bergamont (:53.06,2) to the third overall rank.

Sally Bigham (GBR) and Ben Thomas (GBR) of Topeak Ergon Racing 3 brought home another safe win in the mixed category (2:54.57,6) while Thomas Damm (GER) and Peter Vesel (SLO) of Scott Fahrradladen Gudensberg celebrated the stage win in the grand masters category (3:03.47,3) ahead of leading duo Hansjuerg Gerber (SUI) and Daniel Annaheim (SUI) of baumat/bikeholiday.ch (3:03.53,0).

Tomorrow's third stage from Scuol to Livigno will lead over four passes and 72.30 km as well as 2,598 metres of climbing from Switzerland to Italy.

For further news and information on the race please visit bike-transalp.de.

Results

You can find all results of stage two, which will be constantly updated throughout the day, online.