Legendary Alpine Crossing

The starting shot for the 22nd BIKE Transalp will be fired on 14 July

2019 in Tux, in Austria’s Zillertal region. But the starting point of the Transalp will not be the only site celebrating its premiere in 2019 during the mother of worldwide mountain bike stage races: for the first time in Transalp history, the new location of Molveno in Trentino-South Tyrol, where up to 1,000 mountain bikers from more than 30 nations will arrive on 20th July, will also replace Riva del Garda as a destination town. There will also be an individual classification for the first time, in addition to the traditional team classification. The route will include seven stages and a total distance of 550 kilometres as well as 18,500 metres of elevation. Those, who do not want to ride the whole course, but still be part of the race, can book the taster session and only ride one or two stages

Bielefeld/Hamburg/Munich, 28th May. It is considered the first mountain bike stage race in the Alps and enjoys a superb reputation in the international cycling world. This year’s race will be the 22nd BIKE Transalp (14th to 20th of July 2019). Several thousand mountain bikers have experienced the mythical Transalp since its inception – with many racing repeatedly, and up to now, always in teams of two cyclists. That will change in 2019, when among the 1,000 starting places, there will be a limited number of 200 individual competitors in the five categories: men, women, men’s masters from 40 years of age, men’s grand masters from 60 years of age, and the under 23 classification.

The route with the three new stage locations in Tux, Eggental in South Tyrol and Molveno was meticulously designed by race and track manager Marc Schneider and is sprinkled with numerous trail passages which have not yet been ridden in any Transalp race. A very special highlight awaits the international field of participants at the finish line for the race on the shores of Lago di Molveno with its impressive mountain scenery.

“The Transalp includes everything the Alps have to offer mountain bikers: completely new panoramic trails in the high mountains like the new path from the Tuxer Joch to the Schirntal, fun tracks like the flowing ‘Jerry Line’ in the Brixen Bikepark and the Carezza Trail in Eggental,” says Marc Schneider, describing some of the new sections.

Stage victory for Gschnitzer (IT) and Pechtl (AT)

The second stage of the 17th TOUR Transalp was quite an affair. At temperatures over

35 degree, the riders had to cross the Penser Joch and the Schermoos Sattel. Overall the stage covered 3473 meters of elevation, stretching over 143,4 kilometres. There is a new overall winner in the men classification: Thomas Gschnitzer (IT) and Daniel Pechtl (AT) from Team-Tec Automation rode into the yellow jersey. “The last two kilometres with several ups and downs have been a nightmare”, says Gschnitzer, exhausted but happy about the success.

Kaltern, 24 June. In one group with the individual starter Mathias Nothegger (AT) Pechtl and Gschnitzner took the lead from the second pass. Finally Nothegger crossed the finish line as the fastest rider of the day. The heat could not stop the Austrian, spending most of his time in

Gran Canaria. „I find mountain stages much easier than flat courses.“ Thanks to his victory of the day, he will slip into the leader jersey of the individual classification. His aim: to keep the shirt till Riva del Garda.

With more than six minutes delay the Italian team Daniele Terzi and Piero Lorenzini (Argon 18-Hicari) finished the race, followed by the German duo Duo Tom Walther and Nils Kessler (Team Strassacker1/radsport-news.com). „We were riding the race very controlled today and did not start too fast at the Penser Joch “, says Kessler.

Riding in the yellow jersey today, Riccardo Zacchi and Christian Martinelli from Italy could not defend their overall win. They finished sixth. Zacchi: „Today it was tough from the very beginning.”

Although the Belgian women team Inge van den Broeck und Katleen Luypaert (#GFTbe Chicas) reached only second podium, they kept their pink jersey. Different to their husbend: Jurgen Van Goolen and Bart Van Kerkhoven (#GFTbe los azules) lost their overall lead in the Masters category to the Austrian Bernhard Kohl Racing Team (AT) Jürgen Pansy and Mattias Wolf.

More successful finished the Italian mixed duo Carlo Muraro und Tatiana Guderzo (Pink Dream). Tomorrow, they will again start in the orange shirt. So does Janine Meyer (GER), the fastest individual female starter of the race, and also Udo Bölts, the former pro rider, who suffered a lot from the heat, but still came first in the Grand Masters category.

Stage 3 TOUR Transalp: Short but challenging from Kaltern to Passo Tonale

Italian mixed rider extend their lead

Due to the risk of landslides the route of the third stage had to be changed. Unfortunately the popular Passo Gavia was not part of the course. Quite disappointed about missing this famous pass has been Tatiana Guderzo (IT), one of the best road racers in the world, who is using the TOUR Transalp to prepare for the Giro Rosa. Nevertheless, the third stage was very successful for the Italian and her team partner Carlo Muraro: They mastered the 85 km as the best team in the mixed classification with a lead of almost ten minutes and extended their overall lead.

Bormio, 25 June 2019. Day three of the TOUR Transalp was a good day, especially for the Italian teams. Team Argon 18-Hicari - Daniele Terzi and Piero Lorenzini - was the fastest duo, to reach the top of the Passo Gavia. They are now second in the men overall classification behind Daniel Pechtl (AT) and Thomas Gschnitzer (IT) from Tirol TEAM-TEC Automation, who finished second today. Terzi: „Yesterday we really suffered, but today was also hard, because it was a short stage and we gave full speed.“

Also Tatiana Guderzo has done her best. To take part in a mixed race with both male and female riders, is a total new experience for her: „In the women races there are many climbs as well, but with less meters of altitude.” She enjoys the relaxed atmosphere of the TOUR Transalp. „The riders are always smiling.“

This is unusually for me, because at women races there is a tension and many aggressive riders, pushing to the front. This is also a race, but I can still enjoy the view and this is very important for my mind.“

Having fun on the road is most important for the women team #GFTbe Chicas - Katleen Luypaert and Inge Van den Broeck - from Belgium. They lost their leader jersey today, but not there smile. Four minutes faster have been Linda Stuurman and Carla Mellema. The Dutch team will start in the leader shirt tomorrow.

For most of the riders, the stage race is rather about competing, than about a personal challenge. „Something, that

you want to do once in your life“, says the US-American Jeffrey Henderson. He had to admit that he had underestimated the conditions of the race a little bit. „Yesterday was the hardest day in my life, seriously.“ Apart from that the American is enjoying „the great landscape and the beautiful mountains“.

Stage 4 leads from Bormio to LivignoThe Queen stage

The fourth stage, leading the riders from Bormio to Livigno with a side trip to Switzerland, was not easy, but worth every drop of sweat. For many participants, the route with four impressive mountain passes has been one of the most scenic stages so far. Especially for Transalp newcomers the course, covering the Umbrailpass, Ofenpass, Passo Bernina and Forcola di Livigno, was both impressive and challenging.

Livigno 26 June 2019. Tsutomu Inoue, who comes from Japan but lives in Hamburg (GER), enjoyed the stage, although he was riding at his limits. He has been on the road for about eight hours – a normal working day. “But much more exhausting – and much more fun, too“, the 54 year old says. „During the race I often ask myself, why I’m actually doing this.“ But giving up is not an option for the teacher. “I told my pupils about my plans, so I have to finish it.”

Also for the Austrian team Harry Pancis (Salzburg) and Walter Weineisen (Tyrol) the fourth stage has been a highlight. Together they are 138 years

old and probably the oldest team of the race. „Doing the TOUR Transalp is the highlight of our friendship“, says Weineisen (70). He has already done the race three times, but for his mate (68) it is a premiere.

They got to know each other during another stage race. Weineisen: “We have been together on the podium and came down as friends.” And what are their plans after finishing in Riva del Garda? The duo wants to ride the Mondsee Marathon, covering 200 km, just one day after the finish of the TOUR Transalp. Pancis: “We are registered at least…”

The stage race is also a big first time for this German female trio: Gitta Fernau, Petra Marton and Susanne Milowsky. Together they mastered all three stages with a smile. “We love to cycle and were looking for a big sportive challenge”, the 50+ women say. Their aim was, to not be collected by the broom wagon and so far, they have not even seen the car once.

Fifth stage from Livigno to Aprica / Stage victory for Italians

Wonderful torture at the “Ascent of Pantani”

The fifth stage over the Passo Mortirolo has been a nice walk – at least for the German duo Klaus Wermker (76) and Arndt Paykowski (56). But not, because the nasty ascent with an average incline of more than 10 % was easy. “We surely have to get off our bikes and walk the mountain”, Paykowski says. But despite they won’t miss the fun. After all, they have a special motivation.

Aprica 27 June 2019. The fifth stage covered 110 kilometres and 2500 meters of elevation, crossing Passo d’Eira, Passo Foscagno and the steepest ascent: Passo Mortirolo. Some riders take part in the TOUR Transalp to win, others to prove themselves, to just have fun or to ride for charity reason. Such do Klaus Wermker and Arndt Paykowski. They support the project „Glückskinder“, helping young children at school. On a similar mission is the German-Austrian Team Plasmatreat. Jannik Tautz and his colleagues are sweating and suffering for a children hospice. Their shirts are decorated with butterflies, painted by the children. Tautz: “The butterflies give us wings to continue, when it comes to suffering at the ascents.”

Almost flying above the mountain

passes were the leading riders. Within 3:25.05,9 the Italian Daniele Terzi and Piero Lorenzini reached the finish first. At the ascent of the Mortirolo, they managed to break away, but almost got caught before the finish. “So we had to really speed up in the end”, Lorenzini says.

Second podium goes to Erik Franssen and Stefan Verhaaf (NL), followed by Riccardo Zacchi and Christian Martinelli (IT). 30 minutes later than the first team came the best mixed duo Tatiana Guderzo and Carlo Muraro (IT). The Dutch Team Linda Stuurman and Carla Mellema (4:22.26,0) finished as the fastest women-duo.

Also still in the race are the German Grand Masters Rolf Steffes and Ralf Küpper. „After suffering a lot on the first stages, giving up is not an option“, explains Steffes, and his mate admits: „This is the hardest, we’ve ever experienced.“ But they make the most of it, take many pictures of the scenery, refresh in a stream and relax over an ice cream.

Their motivation: “We want to get the finisher tricot and jump into Lake Garda!”