MTB cycling: Since 2001, Karl Platt has been inextricably linked to the Transalp. Seven titles and a total of 37 stage victories go to the MTB veteran, who is therefore rightly called Mr. Transalp. But after 17 years it's over for the time being: Karl Platt will not be at the start of the oldest mountain bike stage race this year.
Team Bulls from Cologne has been the hot favorite for the Transalp for many years. Karl Platt is almost a guarantee for the success of the professional team in the oldest stage race for mountain bikers. But in the last two years things have not gone as planned for the forty-year-old thoroughbred racing driver. For the first time since 2001, Karl Platt will surprisingly not start at the Transalp this year. The Team Bulls drivers, who are accustomed to success, are aiming for races in Canada and Colombia this summer.
“The BIKE Transalp is still a super awesome race. This race gave me a lot, but I need a break. I'd like to drive something different." - Karl Platt
The Cologne-based professional racing team therefore had to reorganize its team for the Transalp taking place next July. The multiple Swiss champion Urs Huber has a very strong co-partner in the slightly younger Simon Stiebjahn. Urs Huber already triumphed at the Transalp in 2011 and has climbed the podium four times in the last six years. Simon Stiebjahn is also considered a strong stage rider. Two years ago, the now 28-year-old from Baden-Württemberg triumphed at the last edition of the Four Peaks in Austria.
For the second duo, Team Bulls relies on the young talents Martin Frey (24) and Simon Schneller (21). While Team Bulls 1 is one of the top favorites for the title in Imst, Team Bulls 2 should be a promise for the future of MTB marathon sport. The two young riders already gave a taste of their skills at the Cape Epic in spring with 14th place in the overall ranking.