In the continuation of the Transalp, the classification leaders Manuel Pliem and David Schöggl (Pure Humanpower) remain a size too big for the KMC duo Smeenge and Verhoeven. On the way to Aprica, in the third stage, they lose a lot of time but still manage to finish second. The fourth stage is for Steffen Thum and Rob van den Haesenvelde who do not ride for the general classification but go for the stage victories. On day five with the finish in Molveno it is again tense between the KMC and Pure Humanpower duo, but in the end Smeenge and Verhoeven still fall short for the victory.
Marcus Greber Maxxis BIKE Transalp
4.7.21-10-7-21
Stage 3
Nauders-Livigno“During the third stage it was suddenly very hot and that doesn’t suit me very well and in the fourth stage to Pellizzano I had a hard crash and I was happy I could continue cycling. All in all, it were not my two days, but luckily it went a lot better today on the way to Molveno.’, says Verhoeven.
Smeenge got through the three stages a bit better than his teammate and is already looking ahead to the remaining stages. “Today it has been exciting for a long time for the win and we still have two stages to go. We will do everything we can to win at least one more stage.”, says Smeenge.