July 25, 2003 – The Trans Alp Challenge this year started in Mittenwald Germany at the Northern point of the Alps and runs from July 19-26. The race turns East through Austria, then across the Dolomites into Italy. The race is 651 kms with 21,489 meters of climbing after eight days in Riva Del Garda Italy.
This year is the 6th anniveersary of the race, and the popularity has grown to as many as 8,000 competitors vying for a spot. The organization has allowed 950 competitors to start. These are chosen by race resume for the top riders, and then by application for the recreational category. Racers ride as a team of two. This is considered for safety reasons as there are times that the competitors are far from medical controls if there is a problem. Teams must race together through the checkpoints and finish together each of the eight stages. As with any other stage race, each day is a race in itself. There is a winner for every day and the lowest cumulative time for the stages will determine the overall Trans Alp Winners.
This year favourite for the win is Team T Mobile consisting of Olympic and World Champion Bart Brentjens of Holland and German Olympian Carsten Bresser.They are challenged by Rocky Mountain Crystal Decisions rider and 2002 Trans Alp Champion, Karl Platt of Germany, with his teammate Sydney Olympian Mannie Heymans of Namibia.
On the women's side, returning to defend their Championship from 2002 are 2-Time Olympian from Canada Lesley Tomlinson and Rocky Mountain Crystal Decisions teammate Gretchen Reeves of the USA.
The start in the Bavarian town of Mittenwald rolled out to a crowd in the 10s of thousands. The group of close to a thousand racers did a parade lap of the town before the official start of the 82.67km stage from Mittenwald to Reith. Temperatures are well into the 30 degree celcius. Over two passes accounting for 2,000 meters of climbing and ending in a 20 km downhill, both races were fairly tight. T Mobile won the mens stage in 3:08:41 with Rocky Mountain Crystal Decisions/Focus second in 3:10:59. On the women's side Team Rocky Mountain Crystal Decisions won the stage, 4:02 5 minutes ahead of second place.
Over the next two days, both T Mobile on the mens side, and RMCD for the womens side have retained the leaders jerseys T Mobile has a 10 minute lead over Rocky Mountain Crystal Decisions/ Focus. The womens lead of Lesley Tomlinson and Gretchen Reeves is 22:32 after the third stage.
Stage 2 – 85.84km and 3,225 meters of climbing, Reith to Kirchberg, T Mobile 3:54:25 and Rocky Mountain Crystal decisions/Focus second in 4:01
Stage 3 – 51.6km and 2,547meters of climbing, Kirchberg to Neukirchen, T Mobile 2:59:30 and Rocky Mountain Crystal Decisions 3:00:05