Saturday, July 18, 2009

First Stage of TRANSALP CHALLENGE Cancelled


A reminder of the weather that may be encountered in the Alps, even in summer:


For the first time in the history of the JEANTEX BIKE TRANSALP a stage of the world’s hardest mountain bike stage race had to be cancelled. Due to the bad weather conditions with heavy rainfall in the start town Mittenwald and partly snowfall in higher altitudes with already 0°C at the Karwendelhaus a safe run of the course to Reith im Alpbachtal could not be guaranteed.


As a changing of the weather wasn’t to expect throughout the day making a postponement of the race start impossible, the organisers decided at 8:45 AM to cancel the first leg. “It would have been too dangerous to run this stage. We didn’t want to take a risk” Heinrich Albrecht said, CEO of the organising event company PLAN B.


“Of course it is pitiful to take this decision. But the participant’s health is the most important thing. It would have been to dangerous to let them ride downhill being all wet and highly reserved.”


For all 550 participating teams, a shuttle service to Reith im Alpbachtal will be organised. Thus, the official race start of the twelfth JEANTEX BIKE TRANSALP will be in Austria tomorrow. “We are looking forward that this will be possible as the weather forecasts look better.”


More about the TRANSALP CHALLENGE:
http://italiancyclingjournal.blogspot.com/2009/07/transalp-challenge.html


More about the proper clothing to pack for riding in the mountains:
http://italiancyclingjournal.blogspot.com/2009/06/proper-clothing-for-riding-in-mountains.html

Stories, including cycling trip stories, for the Italian Cycling Journal welcome; contact veronaman@gmail.com

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