After seven days of mountain biking from Nauders in Austria to Riva in Italy, Tim Smeenge and Teus Ruijter finished third in the last stage and the final classification of the Bike Transalp on Saturday. The Swiss Urs Huber and his German teammate Simon Schneller took the overall victory ahead of the Belgian-Austrian duo Frans Claes and Manuel Pliem who won the final stage.
“Third place was really our place in this edition because, except for the second stage, it was all third places that we achieved. In that second stage we lost the sprint for victory in Livigno to Huber and Schneller. A stage victory would of course have been nice, but it was no longer possible after that, partly because the queen’s stage from Bormio to Malé was unfortunately canceled due to heavy rain and thunderstorms,’ said Smeenge.
“The route was very challenging again this year and the first stage immediately had some technical descents around the Reschensee. The remainder of the race was also a nice variety of single tracks, gravel paths, Alpine meadows, loose stones and medieval tracks. Now it’s time for some rest and then the World Marathon Championships in Glasgow will be on the program for Tim and me at the beginning of August.’, says Ruijter.