21st BIKE Transalp powered by Sigma kicks off soon

The starting gun for the 21st BIKE Transalp powered by Sigma will be fired off this Sunday at 9:00 with the start taking place on the sport area Glenthof in Imst, Austria. 750 mountain bikers will take on the challenge of crossing the Alps in seven stages mastering a total distance of more than 500 kilometres and over 18,000 metres of climbing to Arco, Italy from 15 to 21 July, 2018. The first leg of the Alps classic for teams of two leads the riders over 90 kilometres and some 3,000 metres of climbing via Pillerhoehe and Pfundser Tschey as well as a short sortie to Switzerland to Nauders.

It's a hard opening to the race week which participants from 35 nations are facing. The most of them do come from Germany (170) with Belgium (50), Holland (45) and Switzerland (31) also being well-represented. Sportspeople from Ecuador, Columbia, South Africa, USA, Costa Rica, Malaysia, Thailand or Yemen, however, had to undertake the longest arrival to make it to the start line. No wonder, as the route runs deep into the impressive alpine world between the groups of Ortler and Adamello.

It's a massive ride into the Central Alps which racers will tackle on old smuggler and less frequented alpine paths as well as panorama-soaked mountain passes. The event's legend status is also underlined by smooth freeride passages in some of the Alps most famous mountain bike destinations like the Livigno Bikepark, memorable times in the Valmora valley or by pedalling the historic Alta Via Camuna which leads high above the timber line into the di Sole valley and to Tonale Pass. The field is led by several of the world's best marathon squads which all do hope to secure the precious title. But as Centurion Vaude has been dominating the BIKE Transalp over the past five years, the combinations of Team Bulls, Wilier Force 7C or Buff Scott MTB Team have to give it all they have to break the winning streak of the Ravensburg based team Centurion Vaude. 

The circle of title aspirants at this year's BIKE Transalp powered by Sigma has been extended by another strong pairing. Francesc Guerra Carettero (ESP) and Luis Leao Pinto (POR) have teamed up to give it a shot at the world's oldest team stage race for mountain bikers. The duo from the Iberian peninsula is tackling the crossing of the main ridge of the Alps with a lot of self-confidence having missed a spot on the overall podium of this year's Cape Epic just by inches placing fourth. In addition, Guerra Carretero has had some very good results last year. The 28-year-old came out victorious of the La Rioja Bike Race and the Catalunya Bike Race whilst also finishing fourth in the Swiss Epic. His ten year older compatriot Leao Pinto, who just got signed by BUFF SCOTT MTB Team this year, is also looking back on a great career so far. The ten-time Portuguese champion has not only successfully participated in the famous La Ruta de los Conquistadores but also triumphed in the Titan Desert and Brasil Ride. In 2018, the duo is aiming for the next real big-time. If they are achieving their goals at the seven-day stage race and do place on the podium of the overall ranking can be followed from 15 July on when the 21st BIKE Transalp powered by Sigma kicks off in Imst, Austria.

For more detailed information on the route click here.