BIKE Transalp powered by Sigma: Pernsteiner and Geismayr with back-to-back win
Topeak Ergon defends lead. Women with change of leadership again!
Livigno, July 19th, 2016 – Hermann Pernsteiner (AUT) and Daniel Geismayr (AUT) have celebrated their second consecutive stage win at this year's BIKE Transalp powered by Sigma. Centurion Vaude 2 mastered the 72.30 km and 2,598 metres of climbing from Scuol to Livigno in a time of 3:17.41,1 edging off overall leaders Alban Lakata (AUT) and Kristian Hynek (CZE) to the second rank (3:17.48,6; +5,5 sec). However, Topeak Ergon Racing 1 was able to defend its lead in the overall ranking going into tomorrow's fourth of seven stages with an advantage of 39.4 second over today's victorious pair.
Rank three went to Team Bulls 1 (3:20.29,3) which is also sitting in third position of the overall ranking (+4,06 min). Karl Platt (GER) and Urs Huber (SUI) lost 2.46 minutes today after having played the main role in keeping the pace high today.
But in the final climb to Passo Trela, the German seven-time Transalp champ rapidly lost energy after he and the reigning Swiss marathon champ had initiated an attack after the long ascent to Pass da Costainas.
“It was pretty gentle riding in the beginning, but than the field got separated pretty quickly. We then entered the final climb with the two other teams where we lost Team Bulls soon after,” summed up Kristian Hynek today's race over the very exhausting long climbs as well as steep and nasty ramps like Fuorn Pass or Passo del Gallo.
“It was a good stage for us again. We didn't win but we had everything under control again. We are still in Yellow, and that is the most important thing,” said this year's bronze medallist of the marathon world championships before also warning:
“We capitalized on the profound local knowledge of Centurion Vaude which have been her for a training camp, which helped increasing the lead over the third ranked team. But they are very strong, and there are still four more days of hard work to come. Still, a lot of things can happen.”
Especially as today's stage profile wasn't to the taste of the two Austrians who hope to keep the momentum for the next couple of days as Herman Pernsteiner explained:
“Those many short climbs are not in our nature. We prefer longer climbs. And today, the others pushed it a lot. We will see how things turn out. It's still very exciting – and having two wins in the books is also nice.”
Another change of leadership in the women's category
The third day of Transalp racing brought the third different pair leading the women category.
Although Sara Reiners (GER) and Cemile Trommer (GER) of Team Nutrixxion Focus RAPIRO came in second (4:46.36,1) behind of Veronika Weiss (GER) and Naima Diesner (SUI) of fi'zi;k (4:42.02,2) today, they were able to earn the Pink Jerseys of the leading women duo.
Both rolled in 3.43 minutes ahead of today's third best female team Lorenza Menapace (ITA) and Elisabeth Ann Simpson (GBR) of Val di Sole Bikeland_Lady (4:49.19,1) edging them off the hot spot with a lead of 55,1 seconds on the Italian-British pair which was in front since yesterday.
More excitement in grand master category
Just like on the side of the men teams, also the pursuers in the grand master category were able to make up some time on the leading duo – in fact a lot of time.
Thomas Damm (GER) and Peter Vesel (SLO) of Scott Fahrradladen Gudensberg were able to repeat their yesterday's stage win (3:57.24,6) crossing the finish line 8.30 minutes ahead of leading duo Hansjuerg Gerber (SUI) and Daniel Annaheim (SUI) of baumat/bikeholiday.ch (4:05.54,8).
However, the two Swiss seniors are still in front by 56,1 seconds with four more stages to come.
Master and mixed leaders keep on moving fast
In the master category defending champions of Wilier Force 2 Massimo Debertolis (ITA) and Andreas Laner (ITA) brought home another stage win (3:41.53,4) just like mixed leaders Sally Bigham (GBR) and Ben Thomas (GBR) of Topeak Ergon Racing 3 (3:49.23,5).
Stage 4
Tomorrow's fourth stage from Livigno to Bormio brings a total of four tough climbs: Passo Alpisella, Doess Radond and Bocchetta di Forcola. In total, 73.55 km and 2,573 metres of climbing have to be mastered.
For a more precise stage preview and further news on the race please visit bike-transalp.de.
Results
You can find all results of stage three, which will be constantly updated throughout the day, online.
Photos
Find free of charge photos of today's third 2016 Transalp stage for your editorial needs here. Please note that a one-time registration to the data base is mandatory. Please credit the respective photographer.
BIKE Transalp powered by Sigma
The BIKE Transalp powered by Sigma is the most famous stage race for mountain bike teams of two. Since its inaugural edition back in 1998, the route led in eight and from 2014 on, in seven stages from Germany across the main ridge of the Alps to Italy.
For 2016, organisers came up with some interesting and surprising novelties. For the first time in history, the stage race won't start in Germany but in Imst, Austria and comes to an end in Arco, Italy.
From the well-known Tyrolean stage town on the field will master a total of 519.03 km and 17,736 metres of climbing via Nauders, Scuol, Livigno, Bormio, Mezzana and Trento before finally arriving close to Lake Garda.
Links
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