BIKE Transalp powered by Sigma
Hynek Crash Shatters Topeak Ergon Hopes For The Title
Race Release / 21.07.2016
Hermann Pernsteiner (AUT) and Daniel Geismayr (AUT) have secured a preliminary decision on the fifth day of the BIKE Transalp powered by Sigma. The overall leaders of Centurion Vaude 2 mastered the 86.32 km and 3,073 metres of climbing from Bormio to Mezzana in 3:52.09,8 hours therefore extending their lead in the battle for the title. However, the two Austrians also benefitted from the misfortune of their biggest rivals.
Kristian Hynek (CZE), who – together with his Austrian teammate Alban Lakata – had entered the queen's stage of the 19th Transalp edition over Passo Gavia and Alta Via Camuna with the tiny deficit of only 5,9 seconds, crashed at the top of the final climb suffering an injury of his right shoulder.
In the end, Topeak Ergon Racing 1 lost 9.20,8 minutes on today's winners coming in as fifth best men team. As if that weren't enough the so far strongest pursuers of the Yellow Jerseys don't know yet if they can compete on tomorrow's sixth of seven stages as a visit to the hospital will finally add clarity.
“It's been only a few seconds of lack in concentration, and I hit something in the grass. I then went over the handle bar. We will find out if I broke my collarbone or damaged the ligaments,” said Hynek.
The crash of this year's world championships bronze medallist and the possible title decision involved definitely casted a cloud over the fourth consecutive stage win of the strong young guns of Centurion Vaude 2.
“That's a bummer for sure! And a good proof on how quickly such a race can change. But we never wanted to end the title battle this way. We do hope that Kristian [Hynek] isn't injured too bad and that he will be able to continue the race,” stated Hermann Pernsteiner.
Today's respective second and third rank went to Johnny Cattaneo (ITA) and Tony Longo (ITA) of Wilier Force 1 (3:54.52,1; +2.42,3) as well as defending champions Markus Kaufmann (GER) and Jochen Kaess (GER) of Centurion Vaude 1 (3:54.52,6; 2.42,8).
Overall third ranked duo Karl Platt (GER) and Urs Huber (SUI) of Team Bulls 1 lost some more time in the title battle finishing the stage as today's fourth best men pair (3:59.01,1; +6.51,3).
Women Leaders Clinch Photo Finish
Sarah Reiners (GER) and Cemile Trommer (GER) of Team Nutrixxion Focus RAPIRO have once again underlined their downhill skills today.
After the leading women pair had already lost more than four minutes at the intermediate staged at the second climb both caught up metre by metre again on Alta Via Camuta and the following decent to Passo Tonale finally clinching the photo finish with only 0,1 second ahead of Swiss Sabrina Compassi and Melanie Alexander (5:34.49,0).
However, the pair racing for Cyclopedia-DANiSchnider Radsport had a good reason to be pleased with the result, too, as they climbed from third to second in the overall ranking (+9.03 min).
Grand Master Leaders Strike Back
Thanks to an outstanding performance today Hansjuerg Gerber (SUI) and Daniel Annaheim (SUI) were able to bring home their second stage win therefore finally extending their lead again.
Team baumat/bikeholiday.ch mastered the leg to Mezzana in 4:45.51,4 hours and now has an advantage of more than 13 minutes on today's third ranked Thomas Damm (GER) and Peter Vesel (SLO) of Scott Fahrradladen Gudensberg (4:58.30,8) with only two more stages to come.
Mixed Leaders Beaten For First Time
While Massimo Debertolis (ITA) and Andreas Laner (ITA) of Wilier Force 2 were able to keep a clean sheet clinching the queen's stage of the 19th Transalp edition in the master classifier in 4:17.10,6 hours Sally Bigham (GBR) and Ben Thomas (GBR) missed to pull of this feat in the mixed category.
Topeak Ergon Racing 3 came in as second best mixed pair (4:34.02,9) with a deficit of only 0,4 seconds on defending champions and overall second ranked Team Herzlichst Zypern I (4:34.02,5) with Sascha Schwindling (GER) and Silke Ulrich (GER).
Stage 6
Tomorrow's stage from Mezzana to Trento might only bring one real climb up to Passo le Fraine but also a total of 88.24 km and 2,364 metres of climbing.
For a more precise stage preview and further news on the race please visit bike-transalp.de.
Results
You can find all results of stage five, which will be constantly updated throughout the day, online.
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