In 2003, the most fascinating amateur road bike stage race in Europe had its premiere. In 2017, the 15th Tour Transalp once again inspired ambitious and passionate cyclists from all over the world. This once again excellently prepared and competently organized special sporting challenge was certainly an absolute highlight for every hobby racing cyclist, including the Corratec team.
The Corratec team has so far achieved two great overall victories and one victory in the Masters category in 2 team starts - in 2013 and 2014. The claim in this well-prepared project: the best possible support for the event and all participants on the one hand and top sporting results in the race on the other. This new, special and exciting challenge, which the entire corratec team took up with motivation in the project, was tackled with commitment, passion and success. According to their responsibility, everyone gave everything that these successes could be realized as Official Main Sponsor and racing team. And the Tour Transalp 2017 developed into the Tour Transalp Extreme - a special challenge for "man and machine".
The 7 tough stages with 18 passes, with legendary ascents of the "honorary category" such as Timmelsjoch or Stilfserjoch and the 2017 partly borderline weather conditions must have been experienced and all of this had to be mastered by everyone. 7 stages with "only" 2 sunny days and 5 very fresh rainy days, sometimes with wind, fog, snow or hail in between, have never existed in the Tour Transalp history. The "queen's stage" from Bormio via the Umbrail, Ofen and Bernina passes, the Froca di Livigno to Livigno, had to be canceled on the descent from Umbrial to Switzerland due to the weather. The following stage from Livigno to Aprica with the legendary Giro di Italia climb Mortirolo was not even started due to the critical weather. The remaining 5 stages with at least 637 km, 13.376 vertical meters and 14 passes did not make the tour "easier" by any means. And on Saturday at the sunny finish in Arco on Lake Garda, everyone was somehow equally satisfied. Participants, teams, organizers, sponsors, media, everyone had achieved something special in 2017. Everyone was satisfied with their commitment, their results and achievements, with themselves and with the Tour Transalp adventure. And rightly so!!
And how did the Corratec team and its 3 teams of two fare?
3 teams in 3 different categories were entered for the race
Team corratec 1 – Masters category: Bart Bury & Stefan Oettl
Team corratec 2 – category men: Michael Markolf & Martin Reisner
Team corratec 3 – Grandmaster category: Bernd Hornetz & Erwin Hickl
The high sporting goals: Top placings in the overall ranking across all teams of two and podium places in the categories and at every stage finish.
The facts and figures at the end of the Tour Transalp
3 times 1st place and 7 times 2nd place in the categories on the different stages
1st place and green leader jersey for the Corratec 3 team with Bernd Hornetz & Erwin Hickl
2nd place for the Corratec 1 team with Bart Bury & Stefan Oettl
3rd place for the Master Team Corratec and 7th place for the Grand Master Team Corratec.
And how did the strong pairing Michael Markolf & Martin Reisner fare in their category men, after both were more than convincing at the Tour of Sardinia in April with places 3 and 8? After a committed start with strong first stages, Michael Markolf got pains in his knee, which made it impossible to continue with commitment in the 4th stage. After this stage was canceled, everyone in the team hoped for improvement after the weather-related rest day and many treatments. At the beginning of the 6th stage, Michael Markolf was still able to drive in the lead, but then had to give up with severe pain. His team partner Martin Reisner then continued as a "noble helper" for the 2 remaining top-placed corratec teams with Hornetz & Erwin Hickl and Bart Bury & Stefan Oettl. And Martin Reisner achieved a strong 2nd place overall in the special classification for individual finishers – drivers who had “lost” their partner and were able to continue driving themselves.
And what did Corratec do in association with Team Corratec as Official Main Sponsor?
A good and well-recognized contribution to the success of the Tour Transalp could certainly be made, for the event and the participants. Whether with the extensive material service (repairs, replacement material, corratec replacement wheels or replacement wheels...) before and after the stages until late in the evening by the two highly committed corratec employees Hannes Noller and Rasmus Lang. Or with the mobile track service during the stages by the Corratec Staff team with 2 vehicles with additional food (drinks, energy bars, gels), replacement material (corratec replacement racers, wheels, replacement material or even feasible repairs). Everything that was feasible was done while supplies, capacity and time lasted. Corratec & Team Corratec say a heartfelt THANK YOU for the always positive feedback whenever Corratec was able to do something and help in any way.
All's well that ends well. The Tour Transalp Extreme demanded a lot from everyone. Efforts, commitment and effort have been made. Everyone is "healthily tired" and satisfied with what could be achieved individually and collectively. It was a unique, special challenge for man, machine and material, team and team spirit, for everyone, everyone and everything. Everyone had to, could and was allowed to achieve, experience, experience or learn a lot. After the tour is before the tour: to the Tour Transalp 2018 – as “Tour Transalp normal”.
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