Trans Alpine Run - Stage 5

By design, the uphill sprint to Motta Naluns above Scuol, Switzerland, is meant to serve as a ‘restful’ interlude halfway through one of the toughest trail-running races out there. In comparison with any other stage this week, the course indeed is relatively benign maintaining a steady gradient and ascending ‘only’ 936 m over a distance of 6.19 kilometers. Yet, the racers tend to give it all on this occasion and hope to make up for lost time - in a hurry.
Michael Fischer of Northern Italy grabbed the opportunity at hand and was rewarded with first place in today’s ranking of individual runners for his record-busting time of 00:39:55.9 hours. As if this wasn’t enough in and by itself, the 29-year-old managed yet another upset with his teammate Roland Osele (00:42:33.8 hours): ‘Telmekom Team Südtirol’ was able to displace the hitherto unbeatable British team ‘Saab Salomon Outdoor’ from the top of the podium. Their former’s cumulative team time of 01:22:29.7 hours provided them with a narrow but decisive lead of 10 seconds over Andrew Symonds and Tom Owens (01:22:40.0 hours) who had to be content with an unfamiliar second place in today’s team ranking. Spaniards Fabian Roncero Dominguez and Jose Antonio De Pablo Mozo of ‘Runnersworld/GORE-TEX® Spain’ also set a blistering pace today which earned a first podium position in this race with the third best team time of 01:28:40.9 hours.
In the ranking of individual runners, Tom Owens (GBR) trailed Stephan Tassani-Prell (GER, 00:41:07.0 hours) by just three seconds which earned the former second place and the latter the remaining podium position.

Grand overture for Fischer
Michael Fischer’s record time of less than 40 minutes on the uphill sprint came as a surprise given the soaring midday temperatures in Scuol. Second-placing Stephan Tassani-Prell of ‘Tassani-Team-Salomon’ started late in the morning as temperatures soared on the south-facing slopes of the course. Upon arriving at Motta Naluns, the 39-year-old commented that “it was already pretty hard and exhausting for me. Any runners yet to start or still on the trail will face increasingly more difficult conditions”’. Little did Tassani-Prell know that his exceptional sprint would only serve as motivation to Michael Fischer, the day’s fastest, record-busting racer. “We had heard about the time to beat when we got to the start. I took this as the yardstick to run by and came all out attacking. But I would have never guessed to come in under 40 minutes” Fischer joyfully shared after his sensational sprint to Motta Naluns (2,136m asl). His already spectacular success became even more exhilarating as teammate Roland Osele ran in step boosting their cumulative efforts to the position at the very top of the podium. As opposed to some other teams, the Italians had not considered today’s sprint race as the time to let their guards down: “We’re here at the Transalpine Run – you just have to keep attacking. There will be enough rest days as of next week.”

First stage victory for ‘Team Sexten Salomon’
Just as in the Men’s category, the hitherto leading ladies’ team had to admit defeat for the first time. Martina Pfeifhofer and Elisabeth Egarter claimed today’s victory after clocking in with a cumulative time of 01:45:57.5 hours - almost five minutes ahead of ‘Team Latsch’ (01:50:55.5 hours). Yet, Egarter/Pfeifhofer managed to gain a 02:30 minute lead over the race leaders since on today’s stage the slower time of the two runners counted towards the overall ranking. Regine Schlump and Carmen Schindler of ‘Intersport-Salomon Womenice’ (01:52:45.2 hours) establish a regular presence on the podium as today’s third.
Today‘s victor of the Women’s category, Elisabeth Egarter, commented on her successful sprint strategy. “We tried to kick up the pace a notch today but wouldn’t have thought it to be enough. But it all went smoothly and it is wonderful to have won at least once at this point.” Despite their topnotch performance today, the 30-year-old has little hope that ‚Team Sexten Salomon’ could still claim an overall victory. Egarter, who already placed second with Pfeifhofer in the 2008 GORE-TEX® Transalpine-Run, believes that “’Team Latsch’ is too far ahead. But we’re fine with that.”

No upsets in the Mixed category
Angela Mudge and Ben Bardsley are staying well ahead of everybody else as ‘Saab Salomon Outdoor’s Mixed team claimed yet again a fresh set of their leader jerseys (01:27:46.7). After missing a podium position yesterday, Gaby Steigmeier (SUI) and Seppi Neuhauser (AUT) of ‘Team Salomon’ came in second today reclaiming lost ground (01:35:57.0). Annemarie and Ulrich Gross of ‘Telmekom Team Südtirol’ rounded out the podium with a time of 01:38:29.2 hours.

Master-Leaders stay well ahead of the pack
Anton Philipp and Dr. Thomas Miksch of ‘BLT Laufsport Saukel Haglöfs’ could have kicked back a little today on account of a huge lead but are unwilling to yield any space ahead of pack as the Master duo secured their fifth stage victory (01:31:19.3). Marcus Biehl and Stefan Frommer of ‘Team Gore-Running Wear’ (01:33:27.7) stepped on the podium behind them, while Uwe Richlik and Markus Mühlbeyer (‚Team Magig- Sportfood.de’, 01:36:26.1) were excited about their third place.

Preview Stage 6 - Scuol (SUI) to Mals (ITA)
Tomorrow’s course may offer a bit of a reprieve with only 1,332 m of vertical gain but still will be a lengthy affair with its 37.02 kilometers. A highlight will be d’Unina Canyon with a gallery trail blasted high up sheer rock walls – nothing for the faint of heart although well secured with fixed steel cables. By crossing Schlinigpass (2261m) and Plantapatsch (2,108m) superb panorama views can be enjoyed before dropping into the cool forests of Val Venosta. Yet, the descent will be tedious as it is continuous and stretches out over nearly half of the stage distance. Yikes!

For more information please vist www.transalpine-run.com