Tour Transalp: Sprint victory at the start

After 1 km and 88,91 meters of altitude, the corratec 2300 team relegated last year's runners-up Daniel Pechtl and Thomas Gschnitzer from the Plasmatreat-Storck Bicycle 1 team (2:54.43,9) as well as the defending champions from Belgium Frederic Glorieux and Bob Michels from Tauris - Grinta! (2:54.44,9) placed second and third. It was a deserved victory for the Italian-German pairing, who played a leading role in the speed work of the top duos after the neutral initial phase. Already on the first steep climb from the Vilnößtal up to Gufidaun, the well-rehearsed pairing set the pace, which initially only Pechtl and Gschnitzer could keep up with.

Glorieux and Michels, still tired and scarred by yesterday's twelve-hour journey from home, had to stop, but were able to close the 30-second gap again on the subsequent high trail over the Etschtal to Ortisei. “That was extremely hard for us,” said Glorieux, summing up the shocking moment. “Team corratec really stepped on the gas. That was too hard for us. We then tried to go at our own pace. We are satisfied that we came close again and didn’t waste any time.”

After the two Italians Riccardo Zacchi and Carlo Muraro from Lightweight Squadra Corse had reconnected, the eight-man breakaway group worked their way, turn by turn, towards the Gardena Pass, one of the most famous Dolomite passes and the highlight of the first stage. While Zacchi and Muraro were on the descent were left behind again via Corvara and Abtei, a hot three-way battle for the stage win developed at the top. In the end, Michael Spögler and Michael Markolf confirmed their current strong form on the slightly rising final chord into the center of St. Vigil.

Spögler, who won the 25th Amadé cycling marathon as well as the Glocknerkönig in the last few days and also impressed with second place in the SuperGiroDolomiti, said after the successful journey into the yellow jersey: “Our goal was to be at the front. You don't know in advance whether it could be enough for yellow. Especially since the others were also extremely strong. But of course we are happy that it turned out this way."

However, the South Tyrolean also warned: “Today was an easy start. The next few days will be a lot tougher.” His teammate Markolf added: “We will now calm down and rest. Then this evening we'll discuss how we'll tackle it tomorrow." While the corratec 1 team will be the chasers in the men's category tomorrow, the two Dutch women Linda Stuurman and Carla Mellema from the Dutch Express (3:33.32,6) will be wearing the pink jerseys of the leaders the women's classification on the track.

At the Masters, Canadians Jamie Armstrong and Geoff Dyker from TNA - Method slipped into the blue jerseys after their victory today (3:11.10,9). The Green Leader Jerseys of the best Grand Masters were secured today by the Austrians Günter Baringer and Axel Strauss from Roadbiker.at & Bike city in 3:13.30,0 hours, while their compatriots Anna Kiesenhofer and Günther Flatscher from Team Bikeexpress triumphed in the mixed classification (3: 15.27,0).

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Tour Transalp: Sprint victory at the start

The 16th edition of the Tour Transalp started with a bang. On the first stage of the seven-day tour, today from Brixen to St. Vigil, Michael Spögler and Michael Markolf prevailed in a sprint decision.

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