Once over the Alps: TOUR accompanies five teams on their TOUR Transalp premiere

Until a few minutes ago, things couldn't have gone better for Johannes Miggenrieder and his father Hans: In the Team ranking they are in third place, and the recent high school graduate is wearing the jersey of the best U23 rider. All the more larger is the Shock: At the finish of stage 3 in Livigno, their bag of cycling shoes is suddenly gone and they don't have any spare shoes with them. Is the dream of a joint stage race now over? The team from Poing near Munich had been looking forward to and preparing for this father-son experience for two years: "We designed our own jersey back then", Hans recalls her plan to take part in the 2021 Transalp, which was thwarted by the corona-related cancellation.

Three days earlier 312 team drivers and 213 individual starters in the starting blocks in Graun on Lake Reschen, just a stone's throw away from the sunken church of the village of Altgraun, whose tower rises out of the blue-green water of the reservoir. Also taking part alongside the Miggenrieders: the married couple Laura and Philipp Tibitanzl as Team greybee and Clemens and Felix Knapp as Team Father and Son: "Spending time together at the TOUR-Transalp is the greatest thing", says father Clemens. Kerstin Kaiser, 34, and Luisa Zimmermann, 31, have no family ties, but are also starting out into the unknown: Although they have known each other for some time through their club, RSV Heidelberg, they don't know how they will function as Team Kartoffelclub when racing over the mountains. Finally, friends Reimo Richarz and Christian Junghans are deeply relaxed: "We have been cycling together since our school days in Prien am Chiemsee." As Bavarian Beer Bombers, the 33-year-old and the 34-year-old definitely want to have fun during the seven days.

What all five teams have in common despite their differences: It is her premiere at the TOUR-Transalpwhich took place for the first time in 2003 and this year, after the Corona break, will return for its 18th edition experienced.

Cranking in unison?

On the morning of the fourth stage, father and son Miggenrieder are in good spirits again: They were able to buy replacements for their missing cycling shoes in Livigno the previous evening, so their onward journey is assured. However, the challenge of the day makes the laughter lines disappear: The Passo Mortirolo builds up in front of the handlebars, 1,300 metres in altitude in one go, an average gradient of over 10.5 percent and peaks of 20 percent. What's more, it starts to rain and gets very chilly. But the father-son team cranks on in the Consonance uphill. Father Miggenrieder is 35 years older, but can keep up with his 17-year-old son's youthful pace thanks to decades of training.

The second father-son team shows that you can compensate for differences in performance: 28-year-old Felix is bursting with strength, and on a 10 per cent incline he passes some of it on to his 58-year-old father by pushing him with one arm. "I was still pedalling at over 200 watts, but that's already making a difference", says Clemens gratefully. Mr and Mrs Tibitanzl - she is 37, he is 43 - are equally fit. They enjoy the "coolest stage so far". They are just like the Bavarian boys who enjoy "pushing and shooting" and racing up the mountain together: "We like long and tough routes." Only the potato club is travelling separately on the route: Kerstin rides according to her feelings and mood, while Luisa is focussed on her Wattage values and therefore follows out of sight.

Organise your strength for the next TOUR Transalp stage

Controlled division of forces - that is the key to a Stage race more important than a one-day Cycling marathon. The very next day, it's finally time to digest the next chunk: 2720 metres in altitude are served up. After rain and cold the day before, the sun shines again over the Transalp peloton. At the finish line, salt marks on the clothes show that a lot of sweat has flowed. Nobody is overconfident now: The collective effort makes everyone humble.

On the morning of the sixth day, faces are a little more tense than usual. The Queen's stage is coming up, with 3200 metres of elevation gain over 120 kilometres. The numbers give it away: It's going to be steep. Hans and his son Johannes have decided to start very defensively - a plan that the greybees, Father and Son and the beer bombers are also pursuing. Luisa's thoughts are only focussed on getting there. She has had a cold for a day, and her respect for the stage is huge, after she had been in the Online tour portal Komoot I think I have discovered gradients of 20 per cent on the route.

Queen's stage of the TOUR Transalp

After the start, there are two initial climbs, followed by a long descent - and after 36 kilometres, things get serious: 1600 metres of climbing in one go on an increasingly narrow road over the Passo di Croce Domini to the Goletto di Cadino must be mastered. The road winds its way up the mountain in steep ramps and tears the field of riders apart. In the rear third, the riders are visibly suffering: time and again, cyclists move from left to right - others stand at the side of the road to catch their breath. While Kerstin from the potato club is already at the refreshment station below the top of the pass, Luisa is still suffering hundreds of metres lower down. The cold has clearly weakened her. Thoughts of giving up are circling in her head. "If I stop now, it's over", she says, struggles on, pulls out her smartphone and sends Kerstin a voice message: "You don't need to wait for me - just keep going and we'll meet at the finish line."

Practical course in cornering

The Mr and Mrs Tibitanzl is already on the descent at this point. They drive very carefully down the three metre wide road: "Several old-timers came towards us and showed us no consideration." Even the beer bombers have respect for the narrow road, preferring to shoot uphill rather than downhill. Because the TOUR-Transalp There are no closed roads, defensive riding downhill is the best way to protect yourself. In the Father and Son team, the distribution of roles is clear: Clemens sets the line thanks to years of racing experience, his son follows. For Felix, it is his first kilometres of racing in the Alps - a practical course in cornering under competitive conditions.

Laura and Philipp Tibitanzl take the Speed from the descent onto the flat. Seduced by a fast group, they pedalled more watts in the final kilometres than on the climb and crossed the finish line so quickly that they took third place in the mixed classification. Kerstin, on the other hand, stands at the finish line and becomes increasingly nervous: "I'm very worried about Luisa, who is still travelling." It takes another 30 minutes for her team partner to cross the finish line completely exhausted. "I was really close to getting into the broom wagon," says Luisa, looking exhausted. She had set herself a mental hurdle: The suspected 20 per cent uphill didn't actually exist - the Elevation profile from Komoot had deceived them. After a little rest in the shade, her strength and anticipation for the final stage slowly return: "A relaxed ride out tomorrow will also work now." After six stages, many participants are feeling the strain: "My legs are starting to get heavy," says Felix.

After the stage is before the stage - regeneration

The most important recovery tips after the exertions of the day: relax on the bike, put on compression socks, drink a recovery shake. The beer bombers vary the list and dangle their legs in the cool waters of Lago di Roncone, a stone's throw from the finish line. In keeping with the team name, there is no shortage of indulgence in the evening: a few glasses of wheat beer from a local brewery boost the good mood. But even they have to smile at Johannes Miggenrieder's celebratory action: a party at home during the stage race. But what should you do when the graduation party in Poing is scheduled during the TOUR-Transalp? Johannes and his father decide to go anyway. Immediately after the queen's stage, they set off in his mother's car, doze off on the journey, celebrate until half past two in the morning - and after an almost five-hour drive with his aunt, he is at the start of the last stage on Saturday morning, right on time.

Satisfied faces

Despite the energy-sapping party ride, father and son Miggenrieder defend third place in the men's team classification and Johannes his U23 jersey. In the mixed classification, the Tibitanzl couple also finished the race in third place. third place. Laura already has a successful career as a rowing athlete behind her - but finishing on the podium at the TOUR-Transalp still means a lot to her. At the festive podium ceremony, they receive just as much applause as the potato club, which was able to maintain its lead in the women's teams despite Luisa's collapse on the queen's stage.

"I am proud that I made it", says Luisa and immediately receives praise from her partner. Neither of them would have thought Transalp premiere to finish so far ahead. Satisfied faces also among the Bavarian Beer Bombers, who worked their way up to 12th place and once again "really fun" had. With a cool beer in hand, they watch the award ceremony and chat to new friends. "That was a great team performance", comments Clemens from Father and Son on his 17th place in the Masters classification.

But the joy of the harmonious week as a team of two is even greater. That's why one thing is already clear: "Next year, we'll definitely do something together on the road bike again." If Johannes and Hans Miggenrieder have similar plans, their racing bike equipment now has reserves: The missing bag has turned up again; carers from another team had packed it by mistake. So the two are travelling home with two pairs of cycling shoes each.

Registration for TOUR Transalp 2023 started

In 2023, the TOUR Transalp will begin on 18 June. The TOUR Transalp is starting its 19th edition. In seven sporty and challenging stages, racing cyclists can once again expect fantastic panoramas and breathtaking views in the middle of the highest mountains in Europe. Route planning is in full swing and the 2023 Transalp route will be presented in November. But one thing is already certain: it will once again be an attractive route with many new features and exciting highlights.

All early birds can still benefit from the Early Bird discount until 29 November 2022 and save 150 euros on registration. If you register during the Early Bird phase, your starting place will cost just €1149 instead of €1299.

You can find more information on the Event website.