BIKE Transalp powered by Sigma: Pernsteiner and
Geismayr clinch queen's stage | Crash of Hynek
shatters Topeak Ergon hopes for the title
Mezzana, July 21st, 2016 – Hermann Pernsteiner (AUT) and Daniel
Geismayr (AUT) have secured a preliminary decision on the fifth day of the
BIKE Transalp powered by Sigma. The overall leaders of Centurion Vaude
2 mastered the 86.32 km and 3,073 metres of climbing from Bormio to
Mezzana in 3:52.09,8 hours therefore extending their lead in the battle for
the title. However, the two Austrians also benefitted from the misfortune of
their biggest rivals.
Kristian Hynek (CZE), who – together with his Austrian teammate Alban
Lakata – had entered the queen's stage of the 19th Transalp edition over
Passo Gavia and Alta Via Camuna with the tiny deficit of only 5,9 seconds,
crashed at the top of the final climb suffering an injury of his right shoulder.
In the end, Topeak Ergon Racing 1 lost 9.20,8 minutes on today's winners
coming in as fifth best men team. As if that weren't enough the so far
strongest pursuers of the Yellow Jerseys don't know yet if they can
compete on tomorrow's sixth of seven stages as a visit to the hospital will
finally add clarity.
“It's been only a few seconds of lack in concentration, and I hit something in
the grass. I then went over the handle bar. We will find out if I broke my
collarbone or damaged the ligaments,” said Hynek.
The crash of this year's world championships bronze medallist and the
possible title decision involved definitely casted a cloud over the fourth
consecutive stage win of the strong young guns of Centurion Vaude 2.
“That's a bummer for sure! And a good proof on how quickly such a race
can change. But we never wanted to end the title battle this way. We do
hope that Kristian [Hynek] isn't injured too bad and that he will be able to
continue the race,” stated Hermann Pernsteiner.
Today's respective second and third rank went to Johnny Cattaneo (ITA)
and Tony Longo (ITA) of Wilier Force 1 (3:54.52,1; +2.42,3) as well as
defending champions Markus Kaufmann (GER) and Jochen Kaess (GER)
of Centurion Vaude 1 (3:54.52,6; 2.42,8).
Overall third ranked duo Karl Platt (GER) and Urs Huber (SUI) of Team
Bulls 1 lost some more time in the title battle finishing the stage as today's
fourth best men pair (3:59.01,1; +6.51,3).
Women leaders clinch photo finish
Sarah Reiners (GER) and Cemile Trommer (GER) of Team Nutrixxion
Focus RAPIRO have once again underlined their downhill skills today.
After the leading women pair had already lost more than four minutes at the
intermediate staged at the second climb both caught up metre by metre
again on Alta Via Camuta and the following decent to Passo Tonale finally
clinching the photo finish with only 0,1 second ahead of Swiss Sabrina
Compassi and Melanie Alexander (5:34.49,0).
However, the pair racing for Cyclopedia-DANiSchnider Radsport had a
good reason to be pleased with the result, too, as they climbed from third to
second in the overall ranking (+9.03 min).
Grand master leaders strike back
Thanks to an outstanding performance today Hansjuerg Gerber (SUI) and
Daniel Annaheim (SUI) were able to bring home their second stage win
therefore finally extending their lead again.
Team baumat/bikeholiday.ch mastered the leg to Mezzana in 4:45.51,4
hours and now has an advantage of more than 13 minutes on today's third
ranked Thomas Damm (GER) and Peter Vesel (SLO) of Scott
Fahrradladen Gudensberg (4:58.30,8) with only two more stages to come.
Mixed leaders beaten for first time
While Massimo Debertolis (ITA) and Andreas Laner (ITA) of Wilier Force 2
were able to keep a clean sheet clinching the queen's stage of the 19th
Transalp edition in the master classifier in 4:17.10,6 hours Sally Bigham
(GBR) and Ben Thomas (GBR) missed to pull of this feat in the mixed
category.
Topeak Ergon Racing 3 came in as second best mixed pair (4:34.02,9) with
a deficit of only 0,4 seconds on defending champions and overall second
ranked Team Herzlichst Zypern I (4:34.02,5) with Sascha Schwindling
(GER) and Silke Ulrich (GER).
Stage 6
Tomorrow's stage from Mezzana to Trento might only bring one real climb
up to Passo le Fraine but also a total of 88.24 km and 2,364 metres of
climbing.
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 five, which will be constantly updated
throughout the day, online.
Photos
Find free of charge photos of today's fifth 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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For further information contact:
kraus PR, Oliver Kraus, +49 178 1321656, Email: o.kraus@kraus-pr.de
Alberto Penasa - Azienda Turismo Val di Sole
Viale Marconi, 7 - 3827 - Malè - (TN)
Tel. +39.0463.900863 - Fax +39.0463.901563
www.valdisole.net - penasa.a@valdisole.net
