On the third day of the MAXXIS BIKE Transalp 2022, St Peter was once again merciful and accompanied the participants with sunshine and pleasant temperatures - despite the unsettled weather forecast. While the relatively short stage was certainly not inconvenient for some after the challenging opening stage and yesterday's rainy day, there was a relentless battle for seconds among the top riders.
The third stage once again played with the possibilities offered by Kronplatz. So for the second time it was time to climb up to the summit. After all, this was the longest ascent of today's stage and so the hardest part was over after this climb. At the top, you could normally visit the Mountain Museum of mountaineering legend Reinhold Messner and the very contemporary Lumen Museum for mountain photography - but the participants of the MAXXIS BIKE Transalp didn't have time to linger. Instead of taking a cultural look at the museums, the bikers plunged down the Gassl Trail, which is even longer than the Herrnsteig and which unfortunately remained hidden from some of the participants yesterday. Today's downhill was not too technically demanding and was therefore fun enough for everyone. Those who weren't too fast were able to enjoy the panoramic landscape before the trail crossed the Furkelpass road and the ascent to this pass began - this time, however, via different paths. This final climb was followed by a speedy descent on forest tracks and small roads to the finish in St. Vigil.
For the fastest riders of the day, this relatively short stage offered no room to catch their breath. On the contrary: on such a short stage, the riders had to go full throttle from the start, as former pro Karl Platt explained at the finish. "As the stage was so short, the pace was very high from the start," explained the BULLS rider. Irina Krenn and Martina Deubler, the two women in the leader's jersey, also admitted that today's stage was by no means relaxing. They crossed the finish line in St. Vigil one minute after today's winners, but are still pleased to have defended the leader's jersey. Carlos Arroyo Herrera and Luis Sanchez Mejia from the 7C-ECONOMY-WILIER team continue to dominate the men's teams. They can also be celebrated as unbeaten winners after today.
The fastest of the day
Men's teams:
- Carlos Arroyo Herrera and Luis Sanchez Mejia (7C-ECONOMY-WILIER) | Time: 2:02.30,4h
- Michael Wohlgemuth and Philip Handl (Texpa Simplon/ MC Racing by Casa) | Time: 2:04.07,2h
- Teus Ruijter and Tim Smeenge (KMC) | Time: 2:08.42,0h
Women's teams:
- Lorenza Menapace and Evelyn Sulzer (Team Val di Sole Bike Land) | Time: 2:50.41,1h
- Irina Krenn and Martina Deubler (Bikeworld Bad Goisern / Salzkammergut) | Time: 2:51.28,6h
- Theresa Gassner and Lea Kremsreiter (SRT Protective Factoryteam Women) | Time: 2:53.33.5h
Mixed teams:
- Böttger and Andrea Böttger (r2-bike.com MTN CREW) | Time: 2:36.25,7h
- Alexander Stöckl and Claudia Vötter (Team Intersport Patrick 1) | Time: 2:40.51.9h
- Skrajnar Spela - Dogsa Iztok (GANESHA TEAM) | Time: 2:44.46,8h
Master teams:
- Jonathan Ramirez Carballo and Dax Arce Jaikel (7C-WILIER) | Time: 2:16.11,0h
- Michael Anthes and Karl Platt (BULLS) | Time: 2:17.43,9h
- Francesco Grandelis and Michele Purlan Festini (Semplicemente Inseguendo un Sogno) | Time: 2:28.50,1h
Perhaps a bit of a gentle pace wouldn't have gone amiss today, because what follows tomorrow is certainly no walk in the park. 109 kilometres and 3,120 metres in altitude await the participants on the stage from St. Vigil to Kaltern.
The beverage sponsor provides isotonic refreshment Bitburger with a delicious 0.0%.
All information about the race and the detailed route description including elevation profiles can be found at https://bike-transalp.de/
