July 20, 2004 – Stage 1: The 7th adidas BIKE Transalp Challenge started in Imst on July 17. HSV cult massager Herrmann Rieger and Konrad Delius fired the starting shot at noon. About 1,000 starters followed Biathlon Word Cup winner Martina Glagow and mayor of Mittenwald Herrmann Salminger during the neutralized beginning phase through Mittenwald. The numerous spectators at the course were astounded. “I’m so proud to fire the starting shot here in my hometown,” said the popular Mittenwalder Herrmann Rieger. “Unfortunately, for the last seven years I was constantly busy with the HSV so I hadn’t the opportunity to enjoy this till now.”

This stage is more or less a “warm up” for the trained competitors at 79.74K, at an altitude of 2,398 metres. What for most mountain bikers seems simply impossible, is quite normal here -in fact every day is at this level of difficulty or harder.

Day of the dutch: Past winner Bart Brentjens and his Dutch team mate Gerben de Knegt rushed over the finishing line in an amazing time of 3 hours and 22 seconds. They triumphed by the narrow margin of two seconds ahead of Karl Platt and Mannie Heymans. The Czech-Austrian team Rock Machine Cyklo-Max finished the race five minutes behind in third. The best team in the Masters category was the Austrian power-pack Martin Hornegger and Adi Harrer with 3:39 in front of Walter Platzgummer and Hansi Grasegger. Last year’s winners Lesley Tomlinson and Gretchen Reeves confirmed their ambitions to win and triumphed ahead of the German riders Kathrin Schwing and Regina Marunde. Martina Deubler and Markus Stock won the Mixed category in a great fight against Anna Baylis and Jörg Scheiderbauer. On the second stage in Tirol from Imst to the Austrian skiing paradise Ischgl a steep and hard 1,200 altitude meters climb to the Venetalm awaited the bikers during the 73.31K-long stage.

Apart from fastidious singletrack, rapid down hill passages, and steep rises, the competitors got to ride through otherwise off-limits nature preserves and breathtaking alpine panoramas. The highest pass (2,738 m) and the longest stage in the history of the Transalp, at an awesome 123.67K, will demand everything the bikers have. On the arrival at Riva del Garda the competitors will have left behind them one week with one-of-a-kind nature experiences and above all the fulfillment of an athlete’s dream – to cross the Alps on a bike.

Stage 2:

“It was so hard,” was the comment of world ranking leader Bart Brentjens after winning the stage with teammate Gerben de Knegt who had to slow down the fast Brentjens in order not to be left behind. The two dutchmen powered through the course in an unbelievable time of 3:40:49 and could extend their leadership in the overall rankings. Marathon specialists Mannie Heymans and Karl Platt finished second by a small margin of 13 seconds. They were followed by the Team Rock Machine Cyklo Max with Martin Horak and Robert Novotny (3:42:09).

In a thrilling final, Hans Lienhart and Heinz Zörweg (Team Scott) showed great form and sprinted to victory in the Masters category. Only 1/10 second later Tinker Juarez and Werner Wagner crossed the finish line in 3:56:41 in spite of the American’s occasional cramps. The adidas Scott team Naturns with Hansi Grasegger and Walter Platzgummer placed third, eight minutes behind.

Australian champion Anna Baylis and her Austrian boyfriend Jörg Scheiderbauer cruised easily to the win on the very technical course in the Mixed category. With a time of 4:16:12, they had a lead of two minutes over XC World Champion Sabine Spitz and her husband Ralf Schäuble. Martina Deubler and Markus Stock were in third place with a time of 4:24:56. The women’s category is dominated by Gretchen Reeves and Lesley Tomlinson who finished with a 10-minute lead in 4:50:22. The two were enthusiastic: “It’s so nice to meet people from so many different disciplines of mountain biking. Even Frischknecht and Brentjens have come,” said Tomlinson who is convinced that “the Transalp is one of the best events in the world.” The second place was grabbed by Regina Marunde and Kathrin Schwing.

The next stage from Ischgl in the Swiss town of Scuol is a hard line up. The Idjoch must be crested with a gruelling 17-20 percent gradient uphill that will demand everything competitors have. The total distance is 73.78K at an altitude of 2,619m.

Stage 3:

Regina Marunde and Kathrin Schwing had no mercy for their opponents today. The two German national team members outpaced the overall leaders Lesley Tomlinson and Gretchen Reeves, finishing with a great time of 4:03.51. Nine minutes later the Canadians/Americans duo saw the finish line ahead of Reeves’ countrymen Josie Beggs and Kele Hulser (4:31.50)

In the Masters category the fight for a place on the podium was hot. The adidas-Scott.Team Naturns with Walter Platzgummer and Hansi Grasegger powered through the course and won with a lead of 2.57 minutes over second place finishers Hans Lienhart and Heinz Zörweg. Tinker Juarez and Werner Wagner crossed the finish with them in 3:26.10. The two teams will surely try to attack the winners on the difficult stage tomorrow.

A heated battle of the top favorites was fought in the Mens category. Stefan Sahm and Jochen Käss could triumph on the last meters of the home stretch in the alleys of Scuol and enjoyed their first stage win with a time of 3:22.07, ahead of Andi Strobel and Silvio Wieltschnig. Third place went to Frank Lehmann and Tim Böhme (3:22.08).

A beautiful view on the Ortler awaits the bikers for Stage Four from Scuol to Naturns. Since this stage is the second hardest (with 118.55K, climbing 3,366 m) it promises to be a long and hard day for the competitors.