TOUR Transalp powered by Sigma
Debertolis/Pallhuber close to snatch the title | Minneart/Moreels extend men's lead | Nothegger/Obwaller forced to withdraw
Press Release / 03.07.2016
Massimo Debertolis and Johann Pallhuber have taken a giant stride towards bringing home the title win from the 2016 TOUR Transalp powered by Sigma. The TOUR Transalp rookies of Ail Trentino finished the sixth stage from Crespano del Grappa to Levico Terme (141.90 km, 3,248 m) as second best team (4:26.22,4) behind of Michel Minneart and Jurgen Moreels of ERTL/RENZ-Velomotion 1 (4:26.22,2) therefore defending their overall lead against the two young guns from Belgium.
The duo supported by former ski star Martina Ertl was also able to cement its lead in the men's category by clinching the queen's stage which made them also the only team of two able to hold a candle to the maestros from Italy.
Especially as one of the dominating teams of the first TOUR Transalp half had to withdraw from the race due to illness. Last year's fourth overall Mathias Nothegger and Hans Peter Obwaller of www.nom-training.com couldn't go on anymore as the first-mentioned athlete's stomach thwarted their plans making Minneart and Moreels the only rivals of Debertolis and Pallhuber for the TOUR Transalp triumph.
However, the two climbing specialists are already more than nine minutes behind of the former MTB world champion and his South Tyrolean teammate befpre going into tomorrow's final stage to Riva del Garda.
Nevertheless, the win in the men's category became pretty likely after their competitors of Herrmann Radteam 2, Strassacker/Garmin and RSV Buehlertal Blackforest came in en bloc more than 13.30 minutes behind the winning duo finishing as respective third, fourth and fifth team overall today.
In the first climb to Monte Grappa the leading four did break away and worked well together to make the gap grow whilst descending down to Fonzaso and ascending back on to Cima del Campo again.
“We worked well together and earned our stage win also extending our lead. We have developed a pretty good spirit over the past days, so it's no big deal to wait if someone has a technical problem,” said Minneart after the finish arrival about the temporary problems of Pallhuber with his rear derailleur.
“Above that, they are stronger in the descents. Thanks to our good co-operation both sides are benefitting.”
Which in the end means, that the overall leading masters duo is getting close to the title win; although the well-experienced athletes keep on understating the case.
“We haven't won anything yet. Tomorrow's stage might not be the longest but it will be tough again. We won't celebrate unless we do see the finish line,” stated Debertolis who has seen to much in his career to not crow too soon.
Women's leaders still unbeaten
In the women's category, leading Janine Meyer and Marina Ilmer of LeXXi SmartSuits/ARSV Vinschgau kept a clean sheet also winning the sixth of seven TOUR Transalp stages in 5:24.07,7.
In the mixed as well as grand masters category, Team Texmarket consisting of Alexandra Hober and Michael Tumler (5:01.31,4) as well as Klaus Elsner and Markus Rieber of Team Continental Thai Do (4:55.04,0) came in in first position.
However, today's second Daniela Pintarelli and Andreas Traxl of Team MooserWirt St. Anton am Arlberg as well as Harry Nussbaumer and Stefan Maag of RTU-Gubi's Bikeshop-alfa.ch are most likely to secure the category title tomorrow.
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