August 8, 2002 – The TransAlp Challenge is touted as “The World’s ToughestRace”! covering three countries, eight stages, 569 kilometers and 19,700 metersin elevation gain. The Adidas BIKE TransAlp Challenge is renowned amongstmany as the race that brings together heaven and hell. This year’s eventwas bigger and tougher than ever with 749 competitors taking on what hasbeen billed, “the world’s toughest race”.
Rocky Mountain German marathon specialist Karl Platt andCarsten Bresser, one of Germany’s best mountain bikers and a former GermanChampion, (TransAlp team Xenofit – Rocky Mountain/ T-Mobile) put on theyellow leader jersey on the first day and did not take it off until thefinish. With a total time of 26:30.27,9 hours, they won the 5th annualAdidas BIKE TransAlp Challenge superior over 22 minutes ahead of the secondplace finishers to take the prestigious title.
Rocky Mountain also had the fastest Women of the event,Cross Country pros Lesley Tomlinson from Canada and Gretchen Reeves from theUSA (Rocky Mountain/ Marzocchi). With an outstanding riding performance,they reached the finish 23 minutes prior to wearers of the blue leaderjersey, the Germans Karen Eller and Nicole Heine to become the Adidas BIKETransAlp 2002 Champions. For 35:32.54,8 hours, the two women fought hard ontheir mountain bikes over the incredibly demanding course. After being sickfor first few days, they finally found their strength and won the last fourstages, struggling for every additional minute in the overall time tofinally win on the last day of the race. “It is so great, I am so happy!This was such a tough race! We gave everything, fought hard until the verylast minute. And we were getting better every day.” Lesley Tomlinsonexplained after the race. “We are glad that we could win. This event waswonderful – the people, the organization, everything was just perfect.”
Lesley and Gretchen were both riding the new ETSX bikeplatform from Rocky Mountain, which is specifically designed for longdistance rides like the TransAlp Challenge. The patented new design issuper efficient on climbs actually helping to drive the rider forward overrough terrain. The men’s team of Karl Platt and Carsten Bresser were ridingRocky Mountain Element TSC and Vertex TSC bikes respectively.