BIKE Transalp powered by Sigma

Cattaneo and Longo Secure First Stage Win for Italians

Race Release / 22.07.2016

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Johnny Cattaneo (ITA) and Tony Longo (ITA) have secured the first Italian stage win on the 2016 BIKE Transalp powered by Sigma. Team Wilier Force 1 mastered the pen-ultimate stage over 88.24 km and 2,364 metres of climbing from Mezzana to Trento in 3:32.35,8 hours relegating overall leaders Hermann Pernsteiner (AUT) and Daniel Geismayr (AUT) Centurion Vaude 2 to the second spot (3:35.17,5).

As a result, the two Austrians are looking more than comfortable to clinch this year's title especially as their main pursuers Karl Platt (GER) and Urs Huber (SUI) of Team Bulls 1 came in as fourth today (3:37.41,1) behind of Centurion Vaude 1(3:36.08,2) therefore losing some more precious time in the race for the Transalp crown now being more than 15 minutes behind.

Above that, Alban Lakata (AUT) and Kristian Hynek (CZE) of Topeak Ergon Racing 1 had to withdraw from the event after the injury the Czech athlete had suffered yesterday in a crash turned out to be a broken collarbone.

Apart from this, the three best teams of today had already gained some advantage in the first climb to Passo le Fraine before Cattaneo and Longo, with a deficit of more than 20 minutes no real threat to the Yellow Jerseys, jumped at the chance and broke away in the descent to Tuenno to bring home a long desired stage win.

“The stage profile played into our hands. We felt strong and believed in ourselves. It's nice that it finally worked out,” said Cattaneo who – together with Longo – was also able to climb to the third overall rank edging off Centurion Vaude 1 to the fourth position with only one more stage to come.

An improvement the Ravensburg based squad should easily get over as the fourth consecutive title win since 2013 is within reach. However, Hermann Pernsteiner remains modest:

“We are not getting carried away. We haven't achieved or won anything before we finally roll over the finish line in Arco. Then it would be time to celebrate; not now!”

Master Racers Make it a Perfect Day for Wilier Force

Only a few minutes after Cattaneo and Longo had triumphed in the men's category, it was Wilier Force 2 with Massimo Debertolis (ITA) and Andreas Laner (ITA) to bring home the double victory for their team also making it six out of six in the master classification (3:54.51,8).

Mixed Leaders Way Ahead

After they had yielded precedence to their pursuers of Team Herzlichst Zypern I in yesterday's photo finish, Sally Bigham (GBR) and Ben Thomas (GBR) of Topeak Ergon Racing 3 underlined their claim on the mixed team title with stage win number five (4:04.37,7).

Grand Master Leaders Defend Green Jerseys

Swiss racers Hansjuerg Gerber and Daniel Annaheim have warded off an attack of their biggest rivals in the grand master category Thomas Damm (GER) and Peter Vesel (SLO).

Although team Scott Fahrradladen Gudensberg came in as first today (4:09.13,3), an advantage of less than 40 seconds wasn't enough to threaten the comfortable lead of baumat/bikeholiday.ch which is still in front with almost 13 minutes.

Women's Leaders With Strong Performance

By bringing home their third consecutive stage win (4:51.03,0), Sarah Reiners (GER) and Cemile Trommer (GER) of Team Nutrixxion Focus RAPIRO have been able to extend their lead in the battle for the women's title.

The two athletes from Germany are already 12.30 minutes in front of today's second ranked Swiss team Cyclopedia-DANiSchnider Radsport (4:54.30,1) consisting of Sabina Compassi and Melanie Alexander (5:34.49,0) going into the last day of Transalp racing tomorrow.

Stage 7

Tomorrow's final stage leads from Trento to Arco where the Transalp concludes for the first time in 19 years. In total 53.60 km and 2,042 metres of climbing as well as Bocca Vaiona have to be mastered.

For a more precise stage preview and further news on the race please visit bike-transalp.de.