Wild and adventurous
After a break in 2020, the BIKE Transalp will enter its 23rd round from July 4 to 10, 2021. The spectacular mountain bike stage race for everyone leads in seven stages from Nauders to Riva del Garda. The famous Alpine crossing covers 577 kilometres and 18,875 metres of climbing, to be mastered in teams or solo. In order to get the maximum of adventure and at the same time safety for all participants, there will be new concepts for 2021, which are constantly adapted to the current conditions of the pandemic. In addition, the cancellation rules have been changed with regard to Covid- 19, so a free cancellation is possible until 15 May 2021
At the BIKE Tansalp, up to 1000 mountain bikers from 35 nations experience an unforgettable adventure in a breathtaking mountain landscape. In order to ensure a safe and adventurous race for all participants and visitors as well as exhibitors, sponsors and helpers, the organizers are working on an extensive concept.
“One thing is clear: We all experience that regulations and rules for dealing with the pandemic can change at short notice,” emphasizes project manager Jan Leschinski.
“That’s why we are constantly updating all measures in compliance with the legal requirements and in close coordination with the local authorities.” The new cancellation rules offer participants more flexibility. Until May 15, you can cancel free of charge without giving a reason. Those who cannot participate due to Covid-19 or pandemic effects can receive their entry fee back even beyond this deadline.
The first BIKE Transalp in 1998 was a discovery tour, a journey into the unknown. 23 years later, it is difficult to find less frequented routes – but not impossible. “The 2021 route is one of the wildest and most original in the BIKE Transalp history,” announces race director Marc Schneider, who revised the route originally planned for 2020. The result: the route is even a little bit wilder. The new course shows how big the Alps are and how many little trodden paths can still be found.
At the same time, it proves how many trails specially designed for bikers already exist in the mountains. Like in Nauders where the first day already takes you on the finest bike trails across to Italy. Also in Livigno, the mountain bike hotspot, the course leads again over freeride lines alongside downhill bikers,before it crawls into the wild country south of the Ortler and explores rough trails that were built long before there were freeride routes, let alone mountain bikes.
In front of the scenery of mighty, glacier-covered mountain giants, the Transalp winds its way over remote passes like the Passo di Verva and adventurous crossings like the Forcella di Montozzo (2613 m).
From Bormio to Aprica, the third day takes a completely new route through the Valtellina. “5 Crazy Down” – under this name, the region promotes a handful of wild descents from both sides of the valley. These are mountain paths and cart tracks that have not been soothed meter by meter for bikers. This is where the original Transalp feeling comes in.
And even when the route gets closer to the mountain bike Mecca around Lake Garda, there is still plenty to discover on the following stages via Peio, Molveno and Valle del Chiese. The connection from Val di Sole to Val di Non to Andalo and Molveno is just as wild and pristine as the trails that lead to Valle di Chiese on the shores of Lake Idro.
The last stage shows how close the known and the unknown are in the mountains. The crowning of the BIKE Transalp runs over the Lake Garda classic from Tremalzo over the Passo Rocchetta, Pregasina and the old Ponale road down to Riva. However, the equally fascinating route from behind, from Lake Idro to Tremalzo, hardly anyone knows. Marc Schneider: “The Transalp spirit of discovery is far from being dead, there are still so many untraveled paths.”
The entry fee for the race, organized by the BIKE Magazine and Delius Klasing, is 899 euros. Professional timekeeping, rescue team, catering, luggage and bike service, finisher’s jersey and much more are included in this starter package. U23-riders pay only 699 euros.
More information on the race and the route, including altitude profiles, is available at https://bike-transalp.de/
