La Karwendelhaus (1771 m.) oggi, 18 luglio 2009
Per la prima volta nella storia del Transalp Challenge una tappa è stata annullata: la prima, quella che prevedeva l'attraversamento del Karwendel partendo da Mittenwald per arrivare a Reith im Alpbachtal (2080 metri di dislivello, 84,82 km)
Al passo presso il rifugio Karwendelhaus (1771 m.) nevica. I racer vengono ora trasportati a Reith con degli shuttle. Domani il tempo dovrebbe migliorare e da Reith la gara prosegue per Mayrhofen, per terminare 7 giorni più tardi a Riva del Garda.
Bad weather makes racing impossible
For the first time in the history of the JEANTEX BIKE TRANSALP powered by NISSAN, a stage of the worlds hardest mountain bike stage race had to be cancelled. Due to the bad weather conditions with heavy rainfall in the start town Mittenwald and partly snowfall in higher altitudes with already 0 °C at the Karwendelhaus a safe run of the course to Reith im Alpbachtal could not be guaranteed.
As a changing of the weather wasnt to expect throughout the day making a postponement of the race start impossible, the organisers decided at 8:45 AM to cancel the first leg. It would have been too dangerous to run this stage. We didnt want to take a risk Heinrich Albrecht said, CEO of the organising event company PLAN B.
Of course it is pitiful to take this decision. But the participants health is the most important thing. It would have been to dangerous to let them ride downhill being all wet and highly reserved.
For all 550 participating teams, a shuttle service to Reith im Alpbachtal will be organised. Thus, the official race start of the twelfth JEANTEX BIKE TRANSALP powered by NISSAN will be in Austria tomorrow. We are looking forward that this will be possible as the weather forecasts look better.
