Genze and Kugler claim victory in final sprint

Hannes Genze and Andreas Kugler have won the first stage. The German-Swiss Multivan Merida Biking Team, which had aimed for a top-three result before the start, crossed the line in Rotholz after 55.4 kilometres and 2,094 metres of elevation gain as first after a sprint duel.

Genze/Kugler mastered the shortened route from Reith im Alpbachtal to Mayrhofen in 2:11:30. Switzerland's Lukas Buchli and Thomas Stoll from BiXS iXS Pro Team placed second with the tiny gap of only 1.5 seconds. The South African pairing MTN Energade 1 consisting of Kevin Evans and David George rounded out the podium as third (2:12:13).

It was a very special result for Hannes Genze as the two-times German Champion, who - together with his team mate and three other duos - broke away in the climb to Hochfuegen and further on to the Loassattel from the rest of the so far leading group including title defending Team Bulls with Karl Platt and Stefan Sahm, took over the Yellow Jersey at his first ever Transalp participation. "We were up to wait and see what will happen trying to stay within the top-3. Now, we for sure will try to defend the lead until Riva del Garda," the 2005 European Champion said.

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Danish-Swiss team top ladies' pairing

Despite the fact that they couldn't train together at all, Kristine Noorgard and Milena Landtwing brought home the win on day one. The Rothaus-Cube team needed 2:47:40 for the opening stage, which took place in Austria for the first time ever. "It's the first time we are racing together so we are very happy about the triumph," Landtwing said. Her partner from Denmark added, "Although we would like to bring the Red Jersey to Riva del Garda, we are looking for a great time this week."

Their main contenders for the Transalp title, Kerstin Brachtendorf and Danièle Troesch of Fiat-Rotwild, came in second. The German-French duo finished the stage in 2:49:53, about two minutes ahead of third ranked Susann Oehring and Katrin Neumann from fi´zi:k ti:m (2:51:40).

Team KTM fastest Masters

Just like the last three years, when Ekkehard Doerschlag and Heinz Zoerweg were able to celebrate the win, it seems that the two Austrians are once again the ones to beat in order to take over the Blue Jersey. The serial winners said, "We have a big advantage as we know each other for years now. In addition, we had so many training sessions that we are like a married couple."

Both also commented the shortened stage set-up: "For sure we would have loved to pedal across the Geiseljoch, but we can understand the decision that safety comes first."

Italy's Petrovilla Bergner Bau RTTR with Silvano Janes and Stephan Unterthurner came in second (2:22:06) having gained a lead of 2:30 over Walter Platzgummer and Johann Grasegger from third placed Scott-Adidas Team (2:24:37).

Sprint decision in Mixed classification

In a very close final of two mixed duos, Rocky Mountain's Alison Sydor and Daniel Gathof were the ones with a head ahead. The Canadian-German team crossed the finish in Rotholz after 2:35:42, only 0.3 seconds ahead of Anita Steiner and Sepp Fischli from Stoeckli Craft/Fischli Bikes from Switzerland.

Daniela Storch and Alexander Stark rounded out the podium as third in a time of 2:46:58.

Senior Master title defenders pedal again into Green Jersey

Ferdinand Ganser and Georg Niggl fulfilled the expectations in the Senior Master category. The mountain bikers of the RSC Logwin Kempten mastered today's challenge in 2:42:10, leaving Australia's pairing Merida Flight Centre with Craig Peacock and Hans Dielacher to the second (2:49:48).

Team Replica from Norway consisting of Per Kristian Greve and Bjarne Lien jumped on the podium of the teams with an overall age of more than 100 years as third (2:50:30).

Next stage preview: Mayrhofen (Austria) - Brixen (Italy)

The second day will start in Mayrhofen. After a neutral section through a tunnel, the racers will climb to the Pfitscherjoch on the well-known mountain bike path along the Schlegeisspeicher. Although the route to Brixen is pretty long with its 94.83 kilometres, it is - due to only one real peak and "only" 2,122 metres of altitude, rather pleasant. After the summit, the course goes down for 60 kilometres.

However, the downhill part from Aicha to Riggertal is tricky as loose ground demands some technical skills.