The first stage was immediately the longest in the Transalp and Roel Verhoeven and Tim Smeenge immediately took a podium place in Livigno despite a crash from Verhoeven. The Austrian duo Manuel Pliem and David Schöggl were a size too big and came in first after 97 kilometers.
“This stage from Austria through Switzerland to Italy was incredibly beautiful but also quite tough. There were two long climbs of around 900 altimeters and one of them was right after the start. It was my first race of the season as well. It’s nice to start straight away with a podium finish.’, says Verhoeven.