ENDURA Alpen-Traum
Traversing the Alps by Road Cycle - Celebrities Included
News Release / 05.09.2014
The list of participants for the upcoming 2nd ENDURA Alpen-Traum is thriving and promises a thrilling competition given the growing number of high-profile cyclists. Apart from defending champ Stefan Kirchmair, – the acting UCI Amateur World Champion (AC 45-49) Bernd Hornetz has signed up. And he's expected to bring friends. Not just any friends but Italian team colleagues Roberto Cunico, Enrico Zen and Alessandro Bertuola. While Cunico recently won the “Ötztaler”, Kirchmair came in third in this race. This would make the Alpen-Traum the second leg for the two to spar off again. Count in Jörg Ludewig (Team ALPECIN), second on the podium last year, and you're looking at a potent lineup of athletes for the 252 km single-stage course from Germany to Italy.
After last year's premiere of the ENDURA Alpen-Traum the word finally got out and a lot of high-profile cyclists seem to show an interest in the race. The level of cycling is expected to increase correspondingly this year which would probably make it more challenging for Kirchmair and Ludewig who pretty much were riding on their own on the home stretch to the finish line in Solda, Italy. Two other riders to look out for are former pros Kai Hundertmarck and Mario Kummer who bring Tour-de-France experience to the start on Saturday, 13th September 2014.
There are several other protagonists – apart from the aforementioned - who will likely mix up the front of the field. Among them several members of the strong Italian „Team Beraldo Greenpaper Europa Ovini“ whose top riders should get a thrill out of the 6,000+ meters of cumulative vertical gain between Southern Germany and the alpine resort of Solda deep in the Italian Alps and south of the High Divide. Riding with famous company across five passes with the two last ones (Umbrail / Stelvio) being 'ueber' tough – that will be the name of the game for ambitious cyclists early September.
The names of this year's ENDURA Alpen-Traum protagonists will hold similar significance for the marathon crowd as does Tour-de-France winner Vincenzo Nibali for the pros. It doesn't get much better, one would think. Reborto Cunico, Enrico Zen and Alessandro Bertuola are not only held in high esteem by the Italian Granfondo crowd but by a much larger audience by now. Cunico, in particular, can claim the honors for an impressive series of victories.
Last year alone, Cunico won several noteworthy races, incl. the Novecolli, CharlyGaul, Highlander, alpenchallenge and Ötztaler. This year he added victories at the Liotto, Felice Gimondi, 10 Colli Bolognesi, Marcialonga, Engadiner und Highlander (Ex-Aequo). As if that wasn't enough, Cunico also claimed second place at the Arlberg-Giro behind victor Jörg Ludewig. And just days ago, the Italian won the Ötztaler for the second time.
Enrico Zen, team colleague of Cunico and Hornetz, can claim victory at the SuperGiroDolomiti (Lienz/AUSTRIA) as a recommendation.
Given that a lot of German-speaking cyclists will be at the start, many eyes will be turned towards one of Germany's notable amateur cyclist, Bernd Hornetz. Whereas Hornetz started on the short 144 km course in 2013, his eyes are firmly set on the 252 km course this year although by his own admission, he's “never been on a course this long”.
Hornetz might be belittling his experience and overall physical condition. Last year, he impressed by claiming the title at the UWCT road cycling finale in Trento. Mid-August of this year the exceptional German athlete went on a nine-day training camp in the French Alps at the end of which he had 1,400 km and 33,000 m of vertical on his dial. “I was on a bike for seven to eight hours a day to make up for six weeks of work- and health-related break mid-summer. The toil paid off as Hornetz rode to third place at Les Deux Alps behind team colleague and winner Bertuola. Not bad!
Despite his disclaimer Hornetz loves distance. And steep climbs. The ENDURA Alpen-Traum' five passes, the Hahntennjoch, Pillerhöhe, Passo Umbrail, Passo Stelvio and the final ascent to Solda should suit him well. His choice to register for the short instead of the long distance in last year's race followed a meticulous strategy. He used that course as a 'taper' for the ensuing World Championship final. The 45-year-old is generally guarded when it comes to any kind of predictions but has a clearly-defined preference for the 2014 ENDURA Alpen-Traum. “Of course, I'd like to win but I have to be realistic. The lineup of high-profile athletes who have signed up is long and international. What counts is that one of our team wins, doesn't matter who, we're all good friends”.
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