Maxxis BIKE Transalp 2024: These pro teams will be battling for the leader's jersey in 2024
Gitta Beimfohr
· 23.05.2024
Singapore, Canada, South Africa, Russia, India, Colombia - the participants of the this year's BIKE Transalp are once again travelling from all over the world. A total of 31 nations will be represented at the start in Ehrwald. Of course, you simply have to be there for the mother of all stage races. Especially as the Transalp leads through the most beautiful and varied scenery of all comparable events around the globe. This naturally attracts internationally renowned World Cup racers, European and world champions such as Urs Huber, Alban Lakata, Andreas Seewald, Marc Stutzmann and Martin Stošek. Almost all of them have already made it onto the podium, but this year they will have to battle it out with the national champions from Belgium, Colombia, Costa Rica and the top riders from the Netherlands for the yellow leader's jersey. It will be extremely exciting this year, as the BIKE Transalp is not just about fast legs, but also about team tactics, which have to work over seven long stage days. Not only the weather, but also material problems and even your own team partner can ruin any pre-planning. And here is a brief portrait of the professional teams that will be competing against each other this year:
KMC Racing Team: the Oranjes
Tim Smeenge (29)
The Dutch champion is currently ranked 48th in the world. He and his team partner Teus are still young, but were able to gain a lot of experience at the last BIKE Transalp (3rd place). With a sharpened tactical plan, they aim to climb at least one step higher this year. His partner will certainly not slow him down:
Teus Ruijter (25)
Currently ranked 50th in the world rankings, Teus proved just how fit he is this year at the BIKE Marathon in Willingen in May. Over the long distance with 3,300 metres of elevation gain on a gruelling muddy course, he crossed the finish line in second place behind Urs Huber - just one minute behind.
Human PWR KTM: the all-in team
Manuel Pliem (39)
The Altaussee native has already taken overall victory at the BIKE Transalp 2021 and second place last year with team partner Frans. They have already agreed on their tactics. This year, they don't want to use the scalpel, but the bread knife: "For us, there's only one thing to do: seven days at full throttle and see what comes out in the end."
Frans Claes (40)
Currently ranked 25th in the world, he rode to a decent 29th place at the Cape Epic in South Africa at the beginning of the year. So his legs are used to multi-day races. However, at the BIKE Transalp he will of course have to deal with much longer climbs. That is why the Belgian champion will not be gaining the necessary training metres in the flatlands of his home country, but will be travelling to the Swiss mountains especially for this purpose.
7C Economy Lacoinex: South America I and II
Luis Mejia (38)
Luis is a multiple Colombian champion and, together with Costa Rican Carlos Herrera, already forms a well-rehearsed race team: the two elite riders have already won the BIKE Transalp in 2022 and they have no intention of flying back across the pond empty-handed this year either.
Carlos Herrera (43)
Carlos was already national champion in cross country and marathon in Costa Rica. Last May, his fitness was still good enough for the runner-up title. He is perfectly prepared for the Transalp and knows how to convert his many years of racing experience into propulsion.
Alpízar Rodolfo Villalobos (31)
The Costa Rican just became national champion in the marathon in May. Highly motivated, he should already be on the plane across the Atlantic. He is not yet familiar with the Transalp, but the team leader of the two overseas pairings is none other than Dax Jaikel, who has already won the Transalp with a prosthetic leg. He will push his teams accordingly. Rider number 2 from Team 2:
Keiron Solis
He is hard on himself and can handle long climbs and thinning air with ease. He already proved this in January of this year with a podium finish in the multi-day Trans-Anden Challenge. If he can maintain this altitude training for the Transalp, he and his partner Rodolfo will definitely be among the front runners.
Canyon Sidi: the all-star team
Marc Stutzman / Stefanie Walter / Andreas Seewald / Martin Stošek
... or to put it another way: Swiss champion, 4 Islands winner, world champion, Czech champion - the Canyon Sidi Team is set up like FC Bayern. But here too is the luxury problem for team boss Kristian Hynek: how do you tactically mix these four winners into teams of two so that they can each win a medal at the BIKE Transalp 2024? The final pairings have not yet been finalised. But we're already celebrating: Hooray, this team has a woman on it!
Singer Racing: the good-humoured team
Simon Stiebjahn
What makes the 34-year-old so successful is probably his sense of humour, with which he tackles pretty much every race. He originally wanted to become a footballer, but then discovered his passion for Black Forest single trails. In 2010, he completed his A-levels as an amateur rider and was called up to the national team in the same year. His greatest success: U23 European champion (2012). Last year he won the Marathon World Cup in Snowshoe and took the bronze medal at the Brasil Ride. His last BIKE Transalp was six years ago. Back then, he started together with Urs Huber, won 5 daily stages and seemed to be the sure overall winner. But a defect put paid to that dream. In the end, it was only enough for second place, so it's clear that Stiebi still has a score to settle...
Martin Frey
Together with Stiebi, the man from Freiburg by choice has formed a well-oiled team for years. They have already celebrated stage victories at the Cape Epic, Swiss Epic and Andalucia Bike Race, and in 2024 they are finally aiming for an overall victory in a major race.
Team Ischgl-Simplon: the Young Guns
Marek Sülzle (26)
In 2021, the now 26-year-old competed in the BIKE Transalp as a solo rider and went on to win in this category. But Marek also knows that the true spirit of the race only unfolds when you compete as part of a team. That's why this year he's rolling up to the starting line in Ehrwald with his long-time friend and team colleague Michael Wohlgemuth. What he expects from the Transalp race:
Hopefully great weather, cool trails, long climbs and relaxed get-togethers before and after the individual stages. A podium finish would of course be very pleasing ;) - Marek Sülzle
Michael Wohlgemuth
Unlike his partner Marek this year, Michael already knows the inspiring team feeling of the Transalp. He started together with Philip Handl in 2022 and finished in third place. Just crossing the finish line together is unforgettable. But pushing each other during the seven stages is also priceless. Especially when one of those never-ending Alpine climbs threatens to pull the plug on you again. That's when motivating words like "Tough it out, you bastard!" can have a refreshing effect. Important for the competition to know: Extra-long climbs are a speciality of the Texpa Simplon team Sülzle/Wohlgemuth!
Bulls Racing Teams I and II: the experts
Bulls Team I: Karl Platt
The veteran: Karl will be at the start of the Transalp for the 20th time this year. He has only missed the podium twice in all these years. What fascinates him most about this race is the uncertainty: since his first participation in 2001, he has known that anything can happen during these seven days over the Alps: There's a new route every year and the weather can play nasty tricks on you! In theory, anyway. Because Karl himself has always been lucky with the weather: "My long-time team partner Carsten Bresser and I even found a synonym for "Kaiser weather": We just called it "Transalp weather" from then on. Karl only had to abandon the race prematurely once - due to an injury.
Team I: Calle Friberg
Stockholm's Calle Friberg will attack alongside Karl. The former and multiple Swedish cross-country and cyclo-cross champion is used to ramped terrain and enjoys technical descents. It remains to be seen whether the climbs and descents in XXL Alpine format will suit him as well. But together with the experienced Karl, he is definitely one of the favourites in the Masters category!
Bulls Team II: Alban Lakata
The "Albanator" from Lienz in Austria is a three-time marathon world champion. His thighs, his acceleration and his wattage still scare other pros. In 2012 he won the BIKE Transalp with team partner Robert Mennen and in the same year the legendary Leadville 100 race in the USA. Now, at the age of 44, the reigning Austrian national champion is aiming for the Transalp crown once again. This year, he has chosen none other than Swiss training animal Urs Huber as his team partner.
Bulls Team II: Urs Huber
Mister "Grand Raid" and 2008 marathon world champion also knows no pain on the mountain and has already won various multi-day races. After his injury phase in 2018/2019, when he had to fight his way back from a broken collarbone, the 38-year-old Swiss rider is highly motivated again. Whoever starts with him has a good chance of winning: The trophies from the BIKE Transalp, Cape Epic, Crocodile Trophy and Andalucia Bike Race are already in his locker.
The list of pros for the BIKE Transalp 2024 is not yet complete. Some pro teams have not yet announced the names of their riders. As soon as the names of the other pro racers flutter in, we will add them here on an ongoing basis.
Not professionals, but also involved: Mona Schick and Philipp Weiß - the Diasporal Alpen Challenge team.
Gitta Beimfohr
Editor
