20 years of TOUR Transalp
Every racing cyclist is probably familiar with the excitement before the start: you stand in the starting block and look around furtively. The many tanned calves, slim waists and lean bodies in skin-tight jerseys are frightening. In his mind, the elevation profile of the upcoming stage consists only of steep peaks, and everything boils down to one question: Have I trained enough? Peter Sandmann's doubts are manageable; with around 6000 kilometres of training under his belt, the 60-year-old is well prepared.
He also has the maximum possible Transalp experience: He has ridden all 19 editions of the TOUR Transalp since its premiere in 2003. That's a Transalp record. Julian Zimatschek's situation is completely different: There's no way he's trained enough. You hardly dare mention the number: The 18-year-old hasn't even completed 500 kilometres on his racing bike in preparation - which is probably also a record in Transalp history. Nevertheless, looking at the altitude profile of the first stage leaves him cold - he simply has no idea whether 2600 metres of altitude is a lot or a little.
At the start of the first stage in Lienz, the two are just a few metres apart at the back of the starting block. Seven mountainous stages lie ahead of them: 18709 metres in altitude over 848 kilometres. Here is the Transalp veteran and a few metres further on the youngest participant in the field. Will they both make it to the finish in Arco? Zimatschek starts the first stage with a great deal of respect. He is briefly nervous that everyone is sprinting away, but then he sticks to his plan: start slowly and ride carefully. In the summer heat, the field of riders is led into the Defereggen Valley - around 1250 metres in altitude to the Staller Sattel, from where the route continues into the Puster Valley and to Sillian.
Julian is happy to be riding in the race group, which is shielded from traffic. The applause from the spectators brings a smile to his face. Peter Sandmann reaches the finish line after 4 hours and 49 minutes, around 40 minutes earlier than Zimatschek - who now knows roughly what to expect on the next stages. The veteran, on the other hand, liked the fact that the route was largely free of traffic - a reminder of the early years of the TOUR Transalp, when there was noticeably less traffic.
At the premiere in 2003, "the traffic issue was not yet so big," says Transalp inventor Ulrich Stanciu. He invented the Transalp for mountain bikers in 1998 and then transferred the concept to road bikes. "Back then, the Transalp was the only major stage race and we had a good relationship with the police chief in Riva. The roads were patrolled by an Italian motorbike squad consisting of twelve riders. The route was completely closed for the first three quarters of an hour."
The motorbike squadron no longer exists - now only individual sections are closed and others are secured by marshals. Increased costs and complex authorisation procedures have taken their toll. Even though details of the process and organisation have changed time and again over the years, the basic concept of the Transalp has remained unchanged since 2003 - with one exception: since 2019, individual starters have also been permitted in the stage race for teams of two.
Sandmann has been competing in the solo category ever since this became possible. "I've worn out all my team partners over the years," he says with a laugh. In the end, there was no one left who had the time and stamina for seven days of stage racing. Since 2003, he has firmly planned the TOUR Transalp every year in June. His years of experience simplify the preparation: he knows exactly how many bars, gels, cycling shorts and jerseys he needs to pack in his Transalp bag.
Zimatschek's case is completely different: he only borrowed a racing bike with disc brakes and electric gears shortly before the start. He had previously covered the first kilometres of his life on his dad's old aluminium bike. He acquired his racing bike knowledge via YouTube videos and the Netflix documentary on the Tour de France. His borrowed bike is top-notch, but improvisation still dominates: the pump is attached to the top tube with duct tape, his mobile phone is perched on a clunky holder on the handlebars in the wind. His cycling gloves are almost falling apart and he got his jerseys from his dad: Finisher jerseys from previous years.
Because it wasn't entirely by chance that Julian came up with the spontaneous idea of taking part in the Transalp. His father, Sebastian Zimatschek, has been leading the TOUR Transalp Rescue Team since 2003. The finisher jerseys are souvenirs of his work in previous years. Julian has strength and stamina from winter ski tours and his job as a ski instructor. His experience on the bike is minimal - a mountain bike tour from Munich to Venice was his only major project. He only discovered the racing bike a few weeks before the start of the Transalp.
His thoughts were simple: "I've just finished my A-levels, I've got time and I'm full of energy. Now is the chance to go on the trip if my father is also there. Who knows if I'll have time next year." A stage race with only 500 training kilometres? Father Zimatschek was downright shocked at first: "I tried to dissuade him." After all, nobody knows better than him what the Transalp means. Since the first edition, safety has been a top priority, with a team of emergency paramedics on motorbikes and in ambulances accompanying the race under his direction.
Nevertheless, he has experienced many serious accidents since 2003. But his son was not dissuaded from the idea: "When that didn't work, I made it clear to him what to expect. He had to promise me that he would drive carefully on the descents," says Zimatschek senior. Julian had to complete two special training rides before the start: On one, an experienced cyclist taught him how to behave in bike races, and on a second ride he practised specific descents.
TOUR Transalp - Carefully downhill
Of course, the special constellation of father and son Zimatschek does not go unnoticed during the Transalp. Peter Sandmann has also heard about the wild story of the first-time racing cyclist and observed him on the road: "He rode very sensibly. No cutting corners, no risky actions." However, the ride over the Italian mountains did not go entirely smoothly. Julian had stomach problems from day one. He suspects the food he ate the day before the Transalp - but perhaps it's also the mixture of excitement, exertion, unfamiliar gels and carbohydrate drinks.
This year, the sun is shining brightly over the TOUR Transalp - the temperature is almost always in the region of 30 degrees. "Julian was lucky and caught an easy Transalp," comments Sandmann. The multiple starter remembers several stages in the rain and cold. The 2017 event was particularly affected by the weather, with the third stage already causing the cyclists' bodies to shiver with rain at five degrees. Things got even worse the next day: the stage over the Stelvio Pass had to be cancelled after the rain turned to snow.
Hundreds of hypothermic cyclists took refuge in pubs and tried to warm themselves with rescue blankets. The participants were later driven to the finish by bus. Because it was also very cold and wet the next day, the stage was cancelled. "That was the only time in all those years that I completed an entire stage by bus," recalls Sandmann.
Snow and cold are not to be feared this time - summer heat is also on the cards for the fourth day. The profile of the fourth stage is insidious. There appears to be only one long climb, but the numbers are a warning: 2672 metres of altitude are spread over the day's 142 kilometres. Peter Sandmann's respect is great. He is also struggling with stomach problems today and can hardly get anything down at breakfast.
The first 50 kilometres of the day are at high speed around Monte Grappa, then the long climb up to the sparsely populated Sette Comuni plateau awaits. Around 900 metres of climbing in one go in the sweltering heat is torture for the weakened Sandmann. Once on the plateau, the undulating terrain only allows a brief respite. The thermometer shows over 30 degrees and Sandmann feels worse and worse. He has taken part in the TOUR Transalp 19 times and always crossed the finish line, but today he is beginning to have doubts. He now feels so sick that he has to stop and vomit at the side of the route.
The TOUR Transalp in June has been a firm favourite of mine for years (Peter Sandmann)
Since 2003, he has experienced some difficult moments at the Transalp, but he has never dropped out, nor has he crashed. Today he is riding his 129th Transalp stage. Is the first task now imminent? Sandmann gets back on his bike and continues slowly, but later admits: "If I had seen the broom wagon, I would probably have got on." Soup at the second refreshment point gives him new strength. "Almost everyone has a low point in seven stages. You just have to get through it," he says later. The winners of the various categories have already been at the finish line for two or three hours. Julian Zimatschek didn't have an easy day either - the efforts add up. When he learns the times of the fastest runners, he realises what a tremendous performance is on show here.
However, both are on the upswing again on the fifth and sixth stage. Sandmann has a stable stomach again, Zimatschek is feeling better and better: "I have the impression that my muscles have already adjusted to cycling." His catering has also become routine: His jersey pockets are stuffed with gels and bars. He continues to take a relaxed approach to the stages. When he sees his father standing at the side of the road on his rescue motorbike, he stops briefly and asks for a sip of Coke, and he even takes a photo at the top of the pass.
Sandmann doesn't feel any stress either. When the time is taken before the stage finish, he buys himself an ice cream or a Coke and waits for his colleague, who is also travelling solo. Everyone is united by the anticipation of the last stage and the finish in Arco on Lake Garda. Sandmann and Zimatschek work up quite a sweat on the challenging 2460 metre climb - but the finish is within reach.
TOUR Transalp - Big stage in Arco
A long finish channel, screened off with barriers, leads to the centre of Arco. For safety reasons, the time is taken 25 kilometres before the finish - the arrival is a spectacle. A large finish arch serves as a photo opportunity for the arriving men and women, the course speaker greets the cheering participants and the finisher jerseys are distributed on the stage to the left. Sandmann and Zimatschek cross the finish line a few minutes apart.
Sandmann was around an hour ahead of the rookie at the timekeeping on the Santa Barbara pass, but as in the days before, he took his time to roll calmly to the finish. In the end, he ends up in 121st place among the individual starters and has spent around 40 hours between the timing mats. Newcomer Zimatschek has nothing to hide: he finishes in 136th place. "It was a cool few days and it feels good to have made it," he says with a big grin to his girlfriend, his sister and his mum, who welcome him at the finish line. He proudly wears the finisher jersey - the first one he has earned himself.
Peter Sandmann is also pleased "that everything worked out again. Tomorrow on the bus I'll be sad that the Transalp is already over. But for the perennial starter, after the Transalp is also before the Transalp - he naturally wants to take part again in 2024. Zimatschek isn't thinking about this distant future just yet - for now, it's time to celebrate his graduation. "Luckily we haven't bought any trousers for it yet. His thighs have grown so much that they wouldn't fit anymore," his mum says with a laugh.
Kristian Bauer
Editor
