BIKE Transalp powered by Sigma

Pernsteiner and Geismayr Celebrate Title by Bringing Home Fifth Stage Win

Race Release / 23.07.2016

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Hermann Pernsteiner (AUT) and Daniel Geismayr (AUT) have impressively underlined their 2016 BIKE Transalp powered by Sigma domination locking in this year's title with their fifth stage win. Team Centurion Vaude 2mastered the 53.60 kilometres and 2,042 metres of climbing from Trento to Arco in 2:44.10,6 hours edging off overall second and third ranked Karl Platt (GER) and Urs Huber (SUI) of Team Bull 1 as well as Johnny Cattaneo (ITA) and Tony Longo (ITA) of Wilier Force 1 to a respective second and third rank.

As a result, the two Austrians sat 22:48.50,0 hours in the saddle to complete the total distance of 519.03 km and 17,736 metres of climbing from Imst, Austria to Italy and to bring home their career's first Transalp title with a gap of 16.34,8 minutes on runner-ups Platt and Huber.

Both therefore continued the story of success for the Ravensburg based squad which had already celebrated a title three-peat of Markus Kaufmann (GER) and Jochen Kaess (GER) back in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

However, the dethroned champions had to settle for fourth overall this year with a deficit of 29.53,6 minutes on their teammates who already added clarity right after the start of the final stage today.

After five kilometres, Pernsteiner and Geismayr launched an attack in the climb to Bocca Vaiona, the last real mountain of the seven-day stage race, which none of their rivals was able to counter.

Subsequently to their successful break-away attempt both were able to extend their lead before they only had to maintain it on the demanding and slippy technical singletracks from Cavedine to Marocche and further on to Arco, which did host the finish of the world's most popular MTB event for the first time in 19 years of Transalp racing.

“We gave it all in once more. When we entered Arco, we finally knew that we had done it. It's an unbelievable feeling”, said Hermann Pernsteiner after history was written.

His teammate Daniel Geismayr added: “We had a fantastic Transalp as well as a very good back-up team which had been victorious over the course of the last three years. That combined with the great team support made it easy to just concentrate on mountain biking.

Nevertheless, it was very hard but I think that we are well-deserved winners taking our five stage wins into account. I'm very happy to finally having been able to break the spell.”

First Title for Reiners and Trommer

Thanks to their fourth stage win Sarah Reiners (GER) and Cemile Trommer (GER) have secured their career's first Transalp title.

Team Nutrixxion Focus RAPIRO, which had a slow start into the race week, rolled into Arco after 3:52.50,1 hours therefore ranking atop of the final classifier with a time of 32:30.02,8.

“We were getting better and better into racing mode. So we decided to invest all we had once again to bring home the title. I'm speechless that we finally made it,” stated Cemile Trommer. 

Defending Masters Champs Do It Again

Just like 2015, Massimo Debertolis (ITA) and Andreas Laner (ITA) have once again remained unbeaten. By bringing home all seven stage wins Wilier Force 2 successfully kept hold to its title in a time of 25:13.25,2.

The mixed title went – as expected – to Topeak Ergon Racing pros Sally Bigham (GBR) and Ben Thomas (GBR), who needed 26:39.46,0 hours for the total distance. However, both came in second today behind of overall second ranked Team Herzlichst Zypern I with Silke Ulrich (GER) and Sascha Schwindling (GER).

In the grand master category the title winners also finished the final stage as second best team.

While Thomas Damm (GER) and Peter Vesel (SLO) of Scott Fahrradladen Gudensberg claimed their fifth stage win, Hansjuerg Gerber (SUI) and Daniel Annaheim (SUI) of baumat/Bikeholiday.ch were able to defend a lead of 5.47,2 minutes in the overall ranking to crown themselves Transalp champions.

In the additional categories, the so far leading racers were also able to triumph: Igor Mauro Baretto (ITA) prevailed in the MAXXIS Enduro Challenge, Manuel Zorn (AUT) won the best climber category called SIGMA Vertical Ride and Martin Frey (GER) wrapped up things as best U23 athlete.

Results

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