20th BIKE Transalp – anniversary race kicks off in Mayrhofen this Sunday

The BIKE Transalp powered by Sigma celebrates a round birthday this coming Sunday when the 2017 race edition kicks off in Mayrhofen, Austria. The seven-day stage race across the main ridge of the Alps takes place for the 20th time already from July 16 to 22, 2017. There is no other classic for participating teams of two which has been sparking mountain bikers from all over the world for such a long time.

1,000 participants will line up in front of ErlebnisSennerrei Mayrhofen on July 16 to tackle this legendary adventure and its first stage. And things go straight to the nitty gritty as the first event day features nothing less than the queen's stage leading via 104.79 km and – due to the famous Pfitscherjoch and the Valser Joechl – over 3,119 metres of climbing to Brixen, Italy. In total, the field consisting of hundreds of amateurs and some of the world's finest marathon specialists will cover a total distance of 544.80 kilometres and crest 17,987 metres of climbing to finally make it to Riva del Garda, which has been part of the inaugural event back in 1998 just like the Pfitscherjoch.

Top favourites for the win are defending champions from Austria Daniel Geismayr and Hermann Pernsteiner as well as their fellow German Centurion Vaude team members Jochen Kaess and Markus Kaufmann who celebrated a Transalp title three-peat from 2013 to 2015. In addition, reigning MTB marathon world champion Alban Lakata (AUT) and his Czech Topeak Ergon Racing colleague Kristian Hynek are giving it another shot, too, while seven-time Transalp champion Karl Platt (GER) will start with Swiss Champion Urs Huber for Team Bulls again.

Diego Cargnelutti and Johnny Cattaneo who ride for the Italian squad Wilier Force Squadra Corse are also aiming for the podium as well as 7C athletes Luis Mejia (COL) and Joseph Chavarria (CRC) or Texpa-Simplon athletes Matthias Leisling (GER) and Christoph Soukup (AUT).

Over in the women's event, all eyes are on Cape Epic winners Esther Suess (SUI) and Jenny Stenerhag (SWE) of Meerendal CBC.

Big field

The most racers come from Germany (273). However, Italy (77), Switzerland (71), Belgium (69), Holland (64) and Austria (54) are also well-represented. Sportsmen from Australia, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, USA, Columbia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Nigeria, Bolivia or Peru had to travel the most in order to become part of the Transalp myth. The most teams of two will compete in the men and masters category (about 150 respectively), while 75 teams will enter the grand masters classifier, 50 the mixed event and 15 the women's race. 

Further information on the Transalp can be found on the event homepage.