CRAFT BIKE Transalp: Across the Alps in Eight Days

The 15th CRAFT BIKE TRANSALP, from Oberammergau, Germany, to Riva del Garda, Italy, was held from July 14 thru 21 this year. With a length of 612 km and 21,000 meters in elevation it once again made it the hardest mountain bike stage race in the world. Next year's event is scheduled for July 13 to the 20th. Registrations fill almost immediately, follow all announcements and see photos of this year's event at www.bike-transalp.de

Event video:


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TRANSALP CHALLENGE, Stage 8 & Finish

Stage 8, from Andalo to Riva del Garda on Lake Garda, was the final stage of the Transalp Challenge. Lukas Buchli and Thomas Stoll (BiXS iXS Pro Team) were the ones to finally triumph with a lead of 2:53 minutes in the overall ranking. The 2009 Transalp title holders mastered the total distance of 528 kilometres and 18,808 metres of elevation gain in the time of 23:42:28.6 hours. Hannes Genze and Andreas Kugler (Multivan Merida Biking Team) finished 2nd and Thomas Dietsch and Tim Boehme (Team Bulls 2) rounded out the overall podium as third.

With their seventh consecutive stage win Milena Landtwing and Kristine Noorgard (Rothaus-Cube) won the womens' competition. After their triumphing ride-in on the home straight, which was lined by many spectators, 2008 mixed title winner Milena Landtwing stated: “It is a different win but always nice although I have to get used to a new partner each year trying to find a rhythm.”A comment, which Kristine Noorgard could also have brought on the table. The Danish rider, who had finished in 2008 as runner-up in the women category with her sister Anna-Sofie explained: “It’s weird to not race with my sister. But a race is a race. And you want to win it for sure!”

Photos: Stage 8

Stories, including cycling trip stories, for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact veronaman@gmail.com

TRANSALP CHALLENGE, Stage 7

Yesterday's Stage 7, the second to last stage, was not the longest one but was peppered with a lot of meters of elevation gain again due to two climbs. A total of 74.63 kilometres and 3,007 metres of elevation gain had to be conquered the course from Kaltern to Andalo.

Photos: Stage 7

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TRANSALP CHALLENGE, Stage 6

Today's 6th stage from Sarnthein to Kaltern offered some compensation for the last two difficult days with "only" 3,173 m of climbing over 77.40 Km. The route began a mix of partly steep gravel roads and trails up to the Kreuzjoch, which provides some breathtaking views into the Dolomites and to the Ortler.

Photos: Stage 6

Stories, including cycling trip stories, for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact veronaman@gmail.com

TRANSALP CHALLENGE, Stage 5

Stage 5, from St. Christina to Sarnthein (both in Südtirol), included the longest climb of the event in a stage of 82.27 Km with 3,305 m of total climbing.

Photos: Stage 5

Stories, including cycling trip stories, for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact veronaman@gmail.com

TRANSALP CHALLENGE, Stage 4

There was plenty of suffering, and beauty, on the climb up to the Groednerjoch on the 83.52 Km stage today from Brixen to St. Christina. The day had 3,665 metres of climbing.

A die-hard roadie, my thoughts are turning to getting a mountain bike! What's there not to like?

Photos: Stage 4

Stories, including cycling trip stories, for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact veronaman@gmail.com

TRANSALP CHALLENGE Rolls Into Italy

After beginning in Germany, passing through Austria, the Transalp Challenge rolled into Italy yesterday via the Alto Adige. The stage ended in Brixen.

Photos: Mayrhofen to Brixen stage

Background story about the Transalp Challenge:

http://italiancyclingjournal.blogspot.com/2009/07/transalp-challenge.html

Stories, including cycling trip stories, for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact veronaman@gmail.com

First Stage of TRANSALP CHALLENGE Cancelled

A reminder of the weather that may be encountered in the Alps, even in summer:


For the first time in the history of the JEANTEX BIKE TRANSALP a stage of the world’s hardest mountain bike stage race had to be cancelled. Due to the bad weather conditions with heavy rainfall in the start town Mittenwald and partly snowfall in higher altitudes with already 0°C at the Karwendelhaus a safe run of the course to Reith im Alpbachtal could not be guaranteed.


As a changing of the weather wasn’t to expect throughout the day making a postponement of the race start impossible, the organisers decided at 8:45 AM to cancel the first leg. “It would have been too dangerous to run this stage. We didn’t want to take a risk” Heinrich Albrecht said, CEO of the organising event company PLAN B.


“Of course it is pitiful to take this decision. But the participant’s health is the most important thing. It would have been to dangerous to let them ride downhill being all wet and highly reserved.”


For all 550 participating teams, a shuttle service to Reith im Alpbachtal will be organised. Thus, the official race start of the twelfth JEANTEX BIKE TRANSALP will be in Austria tomorrow. “We are looking forward that this will be possible as the weather forecasts look better.”


More about the TRANSALP CHALLENGE:
http://italiancyclingjournal.blogspot.com/2009/07/transalp-challenge.html


More about the proper clothing to pack for riding in the mountains:
http://italiancyclingjournal.blogspot.com/2009/06/proper-clothing-for-riding-in-mountains.html

Stories, including cycling trip stories, for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact veronaman@gmail.com

The TRANSALP CHALLENGE

The TransAlp Challenge is an 8 day mountain bike race, 400 miles in length with 60,000+ feet of climbing. The route traces some of the most beautiful mountain ranges in Germany, Austria, and Italy from the start in Mittenwald (Germany) to the finish in Riva del Garda on Lake Garda (Italy). A truly epic race for the 550 teams that compete each year.

The race will begin in 4 days on July 18th and will end July 25th. The stages:
Stage 1: Mittenwald - Reith im Alpbachtal

Stage 2: Reith im Alpbachtal - Mayrhofen

Stage 3: Mayrhofen - Brixen

Stage 4: Brixen - St. Christina

Stage 5: St. Christina - Sarnthein

Stage 6: Sarnthein - Kaltern

Stage 7: Kaltern - Andalo

Stage 8: Andalo - Riva del Garda

The official website for this event is http://www.bike-transalp.de/englisch

Photos: see http://picasaweb.google.de/bike.transalp for a stage by stage photo gallery of the 2008 event.

Video:

Stories, including cycling trip stories, for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact veronaman@gmail.com