GORE-TEX® TRANSALPINE-RUN 2012
The 2012 GORE-TEX® TRANSALPINE-RUN reaches the Dolmites
Press Release / 07.09.2012
The penultimate stage of the 2012 GORE-TEX® TRANSALPINE-RUN got underway from the beautiful village of St. Vigil without a hitch. Weather conditions continued to improve as the day dawned with clear conditions that would remain for the remainder of the stage. As the runners began their journey deeper into the heart of the Dolomites, towards the finishline in Niederdorf, it was evident that spirits had once again lifted after a tiring stage 6.
The stand out duo of this year’s event, the pairing of Iker Karrera and Philipp Reiter from Team Salomon International, once again showed why they represent the pinnacle of the sport as they claimed yet another stage victory. Arriving in Niederdorf, Italy in a time of 4:16.10, it was apparent that, even with a time cushion of more than 1 hour and 30 minutes over their nearest rivals, they were not ready to take their foot off the accelerator just yet. Second place for the stage went once again to Florian Holzinger and Volkmar Rolfes from Team Gore Running Wear who finished in another solid time of 4:34.00, who continue to run consistantly to hold onto second position overall.
Chatting with race organizers after the stage, Philipp Reiter commented on the great atmosphere of this year’s GORE-TEX® TRANSALPINE-RUN, particularly referring to today's stage. “At aid station 2, alongside a big lake, the local villagers had come out in huge numbers to support the runners. It really gave me goose-bumps to be there!“ said Reiter.
WOMEN
With just one stage left to go, the womens category continues to see an epic performance by Gitti Schiebel and Ildikó Wermescher, the German/Hungarian pairing of Team Mountain Heroes, as they added 22 minutes to their overall lead, finishing in Niderdorf in a time of 5:58.30. Second place went to Jutta Buschmann and Kristin Berglund of Team SCLT Breitenbach once again who continue to slip further back in these closing stages of the GORE-TEX® TRANSALPINE-RUN, finishing in a time of 6:12.12.
MIXED
Irene Senfter and Stefan Tschurtschenthaler of Team Sudtirol Dolomiti Superbike continue turn on the pace in these late stages of the GORE-TEX® TRANSALPINE-RUN as they take a second stage victory. Crossing the finishline in a time of 4:46.26, and extending thier newfound lead by 25 minutes and 31 seconds, means that a comfortable run on stage eight will secure them the overall victory. Having no option but to run for second place was the Spanish duo of Che Bustillo and Nuria Dominguez from Team Buff, who had no answer to Senfter and Tschurtschenthaler's improving form. They crossed the finishlline in Niederdorf in a time of 5:11.55.
MASTER MEN
As the sun’s warm rays fell on the picturesque town center of Niederdorf, it was once again the pairing of Christian Stork and Michael Veit of Team Salomon Masters who stole the limelight. Continuing to run impeccably, Stork and Veit finished in a time of 4:40.51, further extending their overall lead. Stefan Zäh and Ralph Klisch of Team Stunde Des Herzens, continued to follow suit and crossed the finishline in a time of 4:46.18.
SENIOR MASTER MEN
Proving that age is merely a number, Gerald Rüschenpöhler and Jörg Schreiber of Team Kempten Hildrizhausen demonstrated one of the most dominating stage performances in GORE-TEX® TRANSALPINE-RUN history, beating their nearest rivals by 1 hour, 4minutes and 40 seconds to claim today’s stage victory and extend their lead into the final stage. Crossing the finishline in a time of 4:49.41, they were dramatically only 33 minutes and 15 seconds behind the men's stage winners, and in sixth place overall.Team Ahrntal, of Peter Steinhauser and Herman Schaiter, had nothing left in the tank on stage 7 as they distantly trailed Rüschenpöhler and Schreiber to finish in a time of 5:53.01.
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