Top teams compete successfully: Karl Platt and Stefan Sahm from
Team Bulls have won the first stage of the CRAFT BIKE TRANS GERMANY.
Both Bikers made it from St. Wendel to Neustadt a. d. Weinstrasse in
4:25:43 hours. Before, both had a hard duel with later on second placed
riders Frank Lehmann and Thomas Nicke from the Rothaus-Cube team
(4:26:56). After 123 kilometres and more than 2,750 metres of elevation
gain Johannes Sickmueller and Rene Birkenfeld from Stevens Racing Team
came in third (4:28:52).
The roadway arrangement caused the very close finish of all
three top teams within a little bit more than three minutes. The leg was
characterised by a lot of rhythm changes until the decision at the crest
to today’s highest hill, the Hellerhuette (490 metres), where the
winners set the decisive attack. “We were very patient until the last
hill. Until there, we only tried to open the peloton two times”, said
Karl Platt after the race. But, not only all other competitors had their
problems with the acceleration. Also his team mate “had problems to
follow his bike. I kind of had to crucify myself, said Stefan Sahm.
Thus, second ranked team Rothaus-Cube was satisfied with the result: “We
are very pleased. The stage race is long and Stefan had problems, too.”
In the mixed category, the title aspirants Carsten Bresser, who
enjoyed to finishing the day in his hometown, and Alison Sydor
celebrated victory, too. Team Rocky Mountain / Haywood needed 5:05:00
hours to win the race. More than one hour later, team Magura on board
crossed the finish line (6:12:48) ahead of Bobteam.info (6:13:50).
In the women classification, the estimated duel is looming. Kerstin
Brachtendorf and Daniθle Troesch from team Fiat-Rotwild relegated twins
Sandra and Peggy Klose to the second. The German-French team needed
5:30:08 and thus has now 2.5 minutes advantage on team Zwillingscraft
(5:32:43). The bikers from team Cube Wls came in third (5:49:23).
In the Master category (both riders older than 80 years), a team
from Saxony took over the lead: Sachsenteam leads the standings with
4:50:57 hours. Scott Racing Team Heilenmann sits on the second spot
(4:57:24) ahead of van Otten Marathon team (5:15:48).
The Grand Master category (both older than 100 years) was won by
Taunusgazellen 106 (5:46:32). Team Sherpa came in second (5:52:54). Ca &
Friends Racing team took home the third spot (5:54:08).
