Trans Alpine Run - Stage 8

The two British racers Andrew Symonds and Tom Owens of Team ‘Saab Salomon Outdoor’ won today’s last stage of the GORE-TEX® Transalpine- Run 2009 from Schlanders to Latsch, Italy. As if victory wasn’t enough, they also set a new record on the 28.62 kilometer-long course in the mind-boggling time of 02:46:51.8 hours. The ‘British Blitz’ team also managed to beat the overall record for the entire course of almost 240 kilometers distance and a vertical gain of roughly 15,000 meters. In total, they spent 24:02:47.2 hours on the trails of the Western course through its eight stages.
Second place in the overall ranking went to Thomas Geisenberger and Michael Veit of ‘Team Dr. Steinbauer’ (03:02:26.8 hours; 25:57:59.4 hours) who came in fourth place. Third place in the overall ranking went to ‘Telmekom Team Südtirol’ around Michael Fischer and Roland Osele, who were deserving of finishing second in today’s stage with a time of 03:01.27.5 hours (26:21:10.4 hours in total). Notable mentions are also Bruno Jost and Urs Jenzer of ‘Pedal-Fast Switzerland’ (03:02:26.8 hours) who jumped on the podium for the first time as third .
Andrew Symonds and Tom Owens wrote history in the 5th GORE-TEX® Transalpine-Run by beating all previously established stage records – despite ending up second once in the uphill sprint race. “We’re pleased and very satisfied. It was a great week and a fabulous course” Tom Owens summarized at the finish in Latsch. Team partner Andrew Symonds added: “The course between the start in Oberstdorf right to the finish in Latsch was just brilliant. It was a marvelous week.” The two ‘über-runners’ were quick to point out, however, that they had benefited from excellent trail and weather conditions. Owens noted that “these circumstances made it possible to deliver a consistent performance.”

‘Team Dr. Steinbauer’ surprised by own performance While the repute of Team ‚Saab Salomon Outdoor’ preceded them, it was two Germans who surprised themselves by delivering consistently excellent stage results, eventually placing them on the second highest spot of the podium. Thomas Geisenbacher and Michael Veit‚ “would have never believed to run so far ahead of the pack. But we really jived. That was key to our success.” Veit, who crossed the finish line hand in hand with his race partner and their respective children, was stunned at his arrival: “I’m just speechless.”

‘Team Latsch’ cinches Women’s title upon arrival in home province
Today’s stage and the race overall also went extremely well for a triumphant Irene Senfter, champion in 2006 and 2007, and her new running partner Petra Theiner. The two took only 03:33:39.2 hours to cross today’s finish line thereby beating Senfter’s previous record by 20 minutes. Still, the 38-year-old Senfter was “surprised that we kept running such fast times. But that was essential; otherwise victory wouldn’t have been ours.”
Second and third in place – overall as well as in today’s stage – were once again two familiar teams. Fellow Italians Martina Pfeifhofer and Elisabeth Egarter of ‘Team Sexten Salomon’ (03:42:27.5; 32:50:29.5) who had stayed glued to the leading team’s heels throughout the race claimed the second place on the podium. Third across today’s finish line and also in the overall ranking were Regine Schlump and Carmen Schindler of ‘Intersport- Salomon Womenice’ (03:49:56.8 hours; 34:02:47.4 hours).

Dr. Miksch successfully defends Master title
In the category of teams with an added age of 80+ years, the stage and overall victory – as expected – was claimed by no other than the champion of 2008, Dr. Thomas Miksch and his new running partner Anton Philipp of Team ‘BLT Laufsport Saukel Haglöfs’ (03:07:08.0 hours; 26:45:58.5 hours). For Philipp this was “the realization of a dream. I wouldn’t have thought to come in first even though we were trying for somewhere among the top-three.” The Spanish ‘Team Elyos’ around Oscar Perez Lopez and Eladio Guiller Lantada Zarzosa (29:04:27.6 hours) arrived in third place today but managed to secure second place overall. Joseph Gallagher (USA) and Sven Buchheister (GER) of ‘Team Schwarzwald Express’ (03:23:56.0 hours, 30:16:32.2 hours) arrived second in Latsch rounding out the overall podium as third. Third today were Spain’s Chemari Bustillo Rodriguez and Checa Juanji Alonso (‘Team Buff’; 03:26:20.1 hours).

Saab Salomon Outdoor also victorious in the Mixed category
‘Saab Salomon Outdoor’ didn’t just provide the fastest Men’s team but also the victorious Mixed duo. Angela Mudge and Ben Bardsley, accustomed to stepping up to the podium, secured the last of eight consecutive stage victories in a time of 03:08:44.0 hours, which added to a total time of 27:26:24.4 hours on the trails. This made Mudge not just the fastest woman today but overall in the 2009 GORE-TEX® Transalpine-Run. Fellow British racers Iona Robertson and Casey Morgan of „TPC Freight Management“ (03:15:29.0 hours; 29:21:35.0 hours) placed second today and in the overall ranking. ‘Telmekom Team Südtirol’ around Annemarie and Ulrich Gross ran to third place in 03:25:28.8 hours (29:50:13.4).

The Victors of the GORE-TEX® Transalpine-Run 2009

Men:
1. Andrew Symonds/Tom Owen – „Saab Salomon Outdoor“ – 24:02:47.2
2. Thomas Geisenberger/Michael Veit – Team Dr. Steinbauer – 25:57:59.4
3. Roland Osele/Michael Fischer – „Telmekom Team Südtirol“ – 26:21:10.4

Women: 1. Irene Senfter/Petra Theiner – „Team Latsch“ – 32:10:21.6
2. Martina Pfeifhofer/Elisabeth Egarter – „Team Sexten Salomon“ – 32:50:29.5
3. Regine Schlump/Carmen Schnindler – „Intersport-Salomon Womenice“ – 34:02:47.4

Mixed:
1. Angela Mudge/Ben Bardsley – „Saab Salomon Outdoor“ – 27:26:24.4
2. Iona Robertson/Casey Morgan – „TPC Freight Management“ – 29:21:35.0
3. Annemarie Gross/Ulrich Gross – „Telmekom Team Südtirol“ – 29:50:13.4

Master:
1. Anton Philipp/Dr. Thomas Miksch – „BLT Laufsport Saukel Haglöfs“ – 26:45:58.5
2. Oscar Perez Lopez/Eladio Guiller Lantada Zarzosa – „Team Elyos“ – 29:04:27.6
3. Joseph Gallagher/Sven Buchheister – „Team Schwarzwald Express“ – 30:16:32.2

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