choice:
Stage 1 |
Stage 2 |
Stage 3 |
Stage 4
Stage 5 |
Stage 6 |
Stage 7 |
Stage 8
Andalo (I) – Riva del Garda (I)
Buchli/Stoll clinch Transalp title / Genze/Kugler victorious on
final stage / Landtwing/Noorgard fastest women pairing
Lukas Buchli and Thomas Stoll have won the 2009 JEANTEX BIKE TRANSALP
powered by NISSAN. Although the two BiXS iXS Pro Team riders lost about
11.6 seconds on the winners of the last stage from Andalo to Riva del Garda,
Hannes Genze and Andreas Kugler (SUI) from Multivan Merida Biking Team,
who had needed 2:33:10.1 hours for the 60.60 kilometres and 1,451 metres
of elevation gain, the bearers of the Yellow Jerseys 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. Thomas Dietsch (FRA) and
Tim Boehme from Team Bulls 2 rounded out the overall podium as third after
they had finished today’s stage as fifth behind of the duos from Full Dynamixs
and Vaude Simplon.
In contrary to cycling stage races, where normally no one attacks the leader
jerseys on the last race day anymore, Lukas Buchli and Thomas Stoll had to
fight hard on the last kilometres of an exhausting race week. Their main
contenders for the title didn’t leave out any chance to start some powerful
attacks.
Thus, the 2008 Swiss National Champion and the 2006 European Champion
had to let go in the climb up to the last saddle of the week, the Passo San
Giovanni. “We went full speed in the climb and broke of pretty quickly. But
unfortunately I couldn’t hold the pace throughout the whole ascent” Multivan
Merida pilot Hannes Genze said.
Tough battle pays off
According to this, the two Swiss riders – who both had painted their helmets
yellow so they fit the leader jerseys – were more than just glad. “They tried
everything”, Lukas Buchli said. “It was brutal. I’m so happy that it worked
out. It’s a fantastic feeling.” His team mate Stoll added: “We fought tooth and
nail. I haven’t realised yet that we really did it. I guess I have to calm down
my emotions a little bit.”
Rothaus-Cube secures ladies’ title
With their seventh consecutive stage win Milena Landtwing (SUI) and Kristine
Noorgard (DAN) have impressively underlined their outstanding role in the
ladies’ competition. The Rothaus-Cube duo crossed the finish line at Lake
Garda after 3:11:27.0 hours, about twelve minutes ahead of overall third
ranked team Fi´Zi:k Ti:m consisting of Susann Oehring and Katrin Neumann
(3:23:05.8). Today’s third Kerstin Brachtendorf and Daničle Troesch from Fiat
Rotwild (3:26:10.7) placed second in the overall ladies’ ranking.
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!”
Team KTM clinches four-peat in the master category
Ekkehard Doerschlag and Heinz Zoerweg have secured their fourth
consecutive Transalp title in the master category. Austria’s Team KTM, which
rolled across the finish line as third today (2:46:13.1) thus claiming the title
ahead of today’s stage winners from Scott-Adidas (2:46:06.6) Walter
Platzgummer (ITA) and Johann Grasegger as well as today’s runner-ups from
Italy Silvano Janes and Stephan Unterthurner who represent Petrovilla
Bergner Bau RTTR (2:46:09.4)
“Our consistency was the key to success this year. We rode in a steady pace
and never had a weak day” Ekkehard Doerschlag said pretty exhausted. He
also added: “This victory is something very special as I never had to fight that
much before. I never suffered that much.”
Rocky Mountain wins mixed title
With a lead of 1.5 hours over the second ranked mixed duo in the table,
Rocky Mountain riders Alison Sydor (CAN) and Daniel Gathof claimed their
first joint title. Also both didn’t secure their seventh stage win in a row at the
2009 JEANTEX BIKE TRANSALP due to a deficit of 15 seconds (3:11:30.6)
both were all smiles.
“It’s a great feeling to ride in as champions. In order to make this happen we
aimed for security today. We didn’t take a risk at all and pedalled absolutely
focused. We wanted to bring home this title” Daniel Gathof said right after the
final stage which was won by Daniela Storch and Alexander Stark from Scott
Genius-Generation (3:11:15.0). The two German young guns who celebrated
their first Transalp stage win also jumped on the overall podium as third –
right behind of runner-ups from Switzerland Margrit Joerg and Roland
Abaecherli from Giant-Swiss (3:18:27.2) who came in third today.
Senior Masters defend their title
Ferdinand Ganser and Georg Niggl kept hold on their 2008 title in an
outstanding way. The two riders from Jeantex RSC Logwin Kempten grabbed
victory on each stage needing only 3:08:06.8 hours for the last one. The
bearers of the Green Jerseys were followed today by Per Kristian Greve and
Bjarne Lien from Norway’s Team Replica (3:14:47.6). Ueli Schuermann and
Hanspeter Hunziker from Long Time Bikers V-Sport.ch rounded out the
podium (3:21:12.9). The two Swiss oldies also placed third in the senior
master category behind of Australia’s Craig Peacock and Hans Dielacher from
Merida Flight Centre.
“This year’s title was definitely harder to achieve although the competition
was not as strong as in 2008” explained Georg Niggl. “But the 2008 title is the
more precious one as it was the first time ever we won at the Transalp.”
But those who would have thought that today would bring an easy ride to
glory for the two riders from Germany were mistaken. “On the downhill from
Passo San Giovanni the quick release opened and I lost my back wheel.
Luckily we gained so much lead already throughout the whole week that we
were relaxed enough to fix the problem. If it would have been a closer thing I
bet we would have been frantic” Ferdinand Ganser pointed out.
| Andalo - Riva |
 |
|
|
1. Men
 23:42.28,6
BiXS iXS PRO Team
5-1 Buchli Lukas
5-2 Stoll Thomas
1. Women
 29:58.14,5
Rothaus-Cube
13-1 Landtwing Milena
13-2 Noorgard Kristin
1. Mixed
 28:43.17,7
Rocky Mountain
20-1 Gathof Daniel
20-2 Sydor Alison
1. Master
 25:26.49,0
Team KTM
11-1 E. Dörschlag
11-2 Heinz Zörweg
1. Senior Master
 29:15.22,8
Jeantex Rsc Logwin Kempten
25-1 Niggl Georg
25-2 Ganser Ferdinand |
|
Review 2009
