July 22, 2008 (Livigno, Italy) – Greetings from the (Italian) alps! Today’s 4th stage took us 77km from Switzerland to Livigno, Italy. I’ve been to Livigno twice before – at the 2004 World Cup finals and 2005 World Champs, but never in the Trans Alps. I must say I had been looking forward to this stage as I’m a bit familiar with the region from racing and training in the past and knew we’d see some great scenery during this high alpine stage – and the stage did not disappoint.

Today’s profile was quite lumpy, no monster mountain, but four good length climbs for us to work our way up. The weather once again was not all that great looking at the start and it turned out to be mostly a gray day. It was good in a way that we were riding at such high elevation because when the showers hit there were just a few snow flakes to brush off, so we pretty much stayed dry all day.

After a long climb (22km) up a valley to wake our legs up, we were continuously up and down all day. The downs today were pretty spectacular. Some were a bit dangerous with high speeds and loose gravel, but there was also quite a bit of trail and twice we were on narrow trails with incredible views down to the raging rivers below. I looked down a few times, I just had to, but otherwise it was crucial to pay attention to the narrow track as the consequences of a fall were pretty serious.

We were on Day 4 today and usually at these epic stage races the teams begin getting a bit uneven as the weaker partner starts getting much more tired than the stronger one. We watched behind us up the first climb and the other women’s teams were now riding with the stronger rider occasionally pushing her more tired teammate. On the other hand Pia and I were riding nice and even today – that’s the best way of course. Most efficient and most fun for both.

Basically we just had to ride our pace today. There was not much group riding going on as the track was not condusive to it. The only time we tried to hook up with a group was at the top of the second climb for the downhill. that was good for our speed and also good fun too – flying down an easy single track downhill with a nice train of guys. We rode smooth, safe had fun and gained some good time on our lead today. A perfect day!

Today’s stage took us through the fourth country we’ve been to in the race thus far and in terms of the teams here it’s also quite a diverse international group. I think there are just over 550 2-person teams from 46 different countries. A pretty impressive sign of how international the sport of mountain biking has become. Not sure exactly how many Canucks are here, but there are quite a few as I’ve already met many of them.

Certainly the maple leaf is well represented here at the Trans Alp challenge and its amazing how many Rocky Mountain bikes are being ridden here as well. In case anyone happened to miss the Canucks or the Rocky bikes, it would be impossible to miss the German Rocky Mountain distributor’s motorhome. It’s more of a truck it’s so big and red and white and covered in maple leafs. So the Canadian presence here can’t be missed. I just hope that nobody thinks that somehow we ordered the snow that’s fallen on us during the last two stages to make us feel more at home!

Canadian MTB legend and Pedal columnist, Alison Sydor (Rocky Mountain), is competing at the 8-day 2008 Trans Alps, June 19-26, with her partner Pia Sundstedt (Fin), Marathon World Cup winner. Sydor and Sundstedt won the Absa Cape Epic event earlier this year and have teamed up for the 11th annual Jeantex Trans Alp race featuring 550 teams and 1,100 riders. Ali will be sending us daily reports from the front lines as conditions allow for an inside look at this epic endurance race.

For full results, click here.

Results

Men
1. Karl Platt (Ger)/Stefan Sahm (Ger) Team Bulls 3:20.14
2. Martin Kraler (Aut)/Heinz Verbnjak (Aut) Craft and Friends 3:21.34
3. Frank Lehmann (Ger)/Hardter Uwe (Ger) Team Cube 3:24.07

28. Lloyd Thomas (Can)/Dwayne Kress (Can) Team Craft/Hayes Brake/Mongoose 4:03.24

Women
1. Alison Sydor (Can)/Pia Sundstedt (Fin) Team Rocky Mountain 3:53.15
2. Peggy Klose (Ger)/Sandra Klose (Ger) Zwillingscraft-Ideal 3:39.31
3. Katrin Schwing (Ger)/Fabienne Heinzmann (Sui) Dolphin-Trek 3:39.35

16. Karin Welsh (Can)/Karen Rowsell (Can) Uxbridge 9:00.00

Mixed
1. Werner Fischer (Sui)/Milena Landtwing (Sui) Institut Ftan/Velo Franz Univega 3:54.20
2. Anita Steiner (Sui)/Cornel Bamert (Sui) Team Stöckli Wädenswil 3:54.41
3. Claudia Till (Ger)/Franz Trattler (Ger) Zwillingscraft-Ideal-Mixed 4:05.23

Marisa Tosi (Can)/Roy Costodio (Can) RAM2 5:48.17
68. Clive Burke (Can)/Colleen Ast (Can) Trans Rockies Warriors 9:00.00


Master
1. Ekkehard Dörschlag (Aut)/Heinz Zörweg (Aut) Team KTM 3:27.26
2. Walter Platzgummer (Ita)/Johann Grasegger (Ger) Scott-adidas-Naturns 3:31.47
3. Team Generali (Aut) 3:31.54

Senior Master
1. Ferdinand Ganser (Ger)/Georg Niggl (Ger) Ept Connect 3:53.16
2. Walter Ehrler (Sui)/Marcel Arnold (Sui) Giant Swiss D’Ãœrner Oldies 3:58.34
3. Maghagati (Ita) 3:59.51