July 13, 2005 – The adidas BIKE Transalp Challenge from July, 16th to July, 23rd 522 couple teams enter 8th edition of the Transalp myth
1,044 athletic bike cyclists from 27 nations are going to cross the Eastern Alps from the start in Mittenwald to Jesolo within just eight days. For the first time, it is Jesolo, which is situated at the Italian Adriatic Coast, that builds the perfect finish of the world’s most challenging cycle race. The Challenge 2005 is completed by the almost legendary start in Mittenwald and the following stages Mayrhofen, Neukirchen, Lienz, Sexten, St. Vigil, Alleghe and Belluno. In 2005, the myth of the Transalp directs the participants for the first time across East Tyrol. The director of the course, Uli Stanciu created a completely new designed route in the eastern part of the Alps. This year, even the edge of 700 kilometres is passed over. At the distance of 724,39 kilometres and altitude metres of 22.293 in total, three
countries are crossed and 19 trails overcome. The average stage is about 90 kilometres long and has an altitude of 2,770 metres. This year, you can say, there are four king size stages, each of them with a different characteristic. The second stage from Mayrhofen to Neukirchen seems to be the toughest, as far as the altitude metres (3,427m) are concerned. The next stage across the Upper Tauern offers the maximum degree of difficulty . The king size stage in respect of scenic beauty is the sixth stage (St. Vigil – Alleghe) while the longest one is the route from Belluno to Jesolo along the Adriatic Coast (120,20 kilometres).
“New landscapes and single-trails, five new stages (Mayrhofen, Lienz, Sexten, Belluno, Jesolo) and a new final, situated next to the sea, will make bike cyclists happy”, says Uli Stanciu, director of the course. 953 male and 91 female pro- and amateur cyclists, of whom the oldest participant counts 66 years and the youngest just 18 years, will face this year the world’s unique mountain bike challenge. 303 men-teams (age group 1966 and younger), 147 Master Teams (1956 – 1965), 19 women teams and 53 mixed teams will enjoy the mountainous setting of Germany, Austria and Italy. International world class professionals will start in Mittenwald on July, 16th. A lot of the top teams will be present. Bart Brentjens, who is a big fan of the Transalp and won the UCI MTB Marathon World Cup in Riva del Garda this year, will take part with his Giant
Racing Team-mate Martin Kraler from Innsbruck. These two are going to be big competitors for Carsten Bresser, who has won the adidas BIKE Transalp Challenge already twice and will build a team with Karl Platt (Team Rocky Mountains Business Objects presented by Vittel).

This year, the two North Americans Gretchen Reeves and Lesley Tomlinson
from Team “Rocky Mountains Business Objects presented by Vittel” and winner of the Transalp 2002 and 2003, will try to get back in track to be successful again. They were defeated in 2004 by the strong team of Schwing / Marunde, who achieved at the end a superior victory. And there is no doubt about, that they are also going to be focused upon the victory again. Beside these strong four female bike cyclists, Anna Enocsson and Esther Süss from the “Ghost International Racing Team” will try to put themselves forward, too.

As far as the Mixed Category is concerned, it is going to be the just married couple Anna and Jörg Scheiderbauer from “Ghost International Racing Team” as well as Alison Syder (4th position at Athens 2004) and Andreas Hestler (winner of the Transrockies 2004) – both starting for the Rocky Mountains Business Objects presented by Vittel Team — that will cause sensations.

The first stage, 111,74 kilometres long, with an altitude of 2,178 metres, visits the Austrian Mayrhofen, located in Zillertal, across the most beautiful mountains of the Northern Alps, the Karwendel. Two passes will be waiting for the competitors, one of them will be the Hochalmssattel (altitude of 1,803 metres) and the Plumsjoch (altitude of 1,673 metres). The last 35 kilometres are quite plain.
The first 10 kilometres of the second stage will be pretty even. After that, the bike cyclists will have to face three boosts, of which the Wildkogel is the last, with an altitude of 2,094, and coevally the origin of the fantastic downhill part of this stage, leading the racers to Neukirchen at the mountain Großvenediger.

During the next stage on July, 18th, the 99,08 km will lead the participants to Lienz, Eastern Tyrol. For the first time the Upper Tauern will be crossed, that are known to be insuperable. The bikers will have to pass the Felberntauern boost, the toughest pass of the Transalp with an altitude of 2,485 metres and some parts at this course can not be ridden. However, this pass will be the only one at this day. Another highlight of this stage: the two recently built trails to the Wildkogel and to the Felberntauern by the government of Eastern Tyrol.

The endeavours won’t end when the competitors will face the fourth day: the stage’s 71,07 kilometres and an altitude of 3,684 metres to the Italian Sexten, South Tyrol will demand everything from the competitors. At this stage the participants overcome the most metres of altitude. Close to the finish, this year’s highest point of the Transalp, the Sillianer Cottage (2,501 metres of altitude) will be reached and a wonderful view above the Sextenian dolomite Alps will pay off definitely. For dinner, you will have the choice between grilled beef or pasta.
The distance of 93,64 kilometres and the altitude of 2,833 metres of the fifth stage from Sexten to St. Vigil will allow the bikers to relax and enjoy the fantastic view as far as the characteristic of the course is concerned.

On Thursday, July 21st the bike cyclists have to manage from St. Vigil two extreme boosts, the Limojoch ( 2,174 metres of altitude) and the Forcella Ambrizolla (2,277 metres of altitude). From the scenic part of view, it is the most beautiful stage. The Forcella Ambrizolla offers fantastic views above the Dolomites of Cortina. The last 10 kilometres across the Alleghe Trails are technically seen the most challenging. Altogether, it’s the most difficult downhill part of the adidas BIKE Transalp Challenge 2005. The stage before last goes from Alleghe to Belluno. The first part extends to three passes.

Afterwards it will be pretty plain on the second part. After 27 kilometres till the end (71,05), the course will be almost solely downhill. The stage leads across an area that is completely unknown for bikers. Amazing trails do wait between Civetta and Agordo. The last day is themed: “high speeding using slipstream”. But first of all a beautiful view above the North Italian plain waits after 25 kilometres. Thenceforward and especially after 35 kilometres, the course becomes less demanding and pretty even. Nevertheless, it is still a long way to go until the finish Jesolo at the Adriatic Coast is reached. A distance of a
little bit more than 120 kilometres and an altitude of 1,798 metres have to be managed at the final stage. Eight tough, but from a scenic point of view, beautiful and impressing days across Austria, Germany and Italy will then be done by the participants of the eighth edition of the adidas

BIKE Transalp Challenge

Stages:
1. Mittenwald – Mayrhofen, July, 16th 2005 111,74 km / 2,178 metres altitude
2. Mayrhofen – Neukirchen, July, 17th 2005 85,72 km / 3,427 metres altitude
3. Neukirchen – Lienz, July, 18th 2005 99,08 km / 2,825 metres altitude
4. Lienz – Sexten, July, 19th 2005 7107 km / 3,684 metres altitude
5. Sexten – St. Vigil, July, 20th 2005 93,64 km / 2,833 metres altitude
6. St. Vigil – Alleghe, July, 21st 2005 71,89 km / 2,805 metres altitude
7. Alleghe – Belluno, July, 22nd 2005 71,05 km / 2,724 metres altitude
8. Belluno – Jesolo, July, 23rd 2005 120,20 km / 1,798 metres altitude
Overall: 724.39 km, 22,293 metres altitude

The adidas BIKE Transalp Challenge is arranged by Europe’s greatest mountainbikemagazine,

The “BIKE” and by the Hamburg sport event agency Upsolut MV GmbH