Bike TransAlp 2021

by Robert Thorpe

BIKE TRANSALP 2021

This year is year 1 – the first year after global pandemic that has wrought so much tragedy across the world. It’s a time in all of our lives to focus on living, being healthy and making the most of every day. Cycling and the outdoors has been key to peoples mental well-being.

During the Covid pandemic, sales of bikes have risen exponentially, with more and more people seeking the freedom and adventure that cycling brings. Riding our bikes takes us back to days of childhood, gives us the opportunity to explore new challenges and new places. And, if you’re looking for real adventure in spectacular surroundings in the future, then there’s only 1 Trans Alp race.

Trans Alp mountain bike stage race in now in its 23rd year, and the 2021 event is the most important race yet – it’s an event that will show all of us that there is a new normal post-pandemic. With spectacular mountain bike trails, wonderful panorama, stunning mountain passes, and some truly beautiful stage locations, this is the best way to explore the Alps on a mountain bike – with a little bit of competition thrown in. The race attracts riders from over 40 countries, making this event a unique and unforgettable experience for all. This cross country peloton will ride around 500 kilometres and climb more than 18.000 altitude meters over the 7 stages of trail riding.

The race starts in the Austrian mountain resort of Nauders on the 4th of July, when approximately 1000 riders will seek their own independence day in the mountains, taking on the most well-known mountain bike stage race in the world. This year, we’ve decided to write all about this awesome event; and not only to write, but to race Trans Alp in order to bring you the true feeling of the race and the mountains. Leading the way for us and riding in the mixed pairs will be Larisa Chinces, partnered by former Helvelyn Mountain Triathlon winner, Beau Smith, our nutritional advisor from Voom Nutrition. With Larisa’s experience of mtb racing in the Carpathian Mountains, this awesome pairing will no doubt create an adventure worth reading after every stage.

In the solo event, we’ve tasked mountain bike adventure writer, Rich Duckworth with telling you all about the daily challenges and epic trails. Rich comes from a background of UK Enduro racing, where he’s a familiar face on the podiums at the PMBA race series.

Yes, we want to write the very best accounts of the Trans Alp each and every day, as we follow the 7 stages all the way to Riva Del Garda in Italy; but we believe, unlike other publications, that the best way to explain how great the race is, will be to sweat and toil across the amazing mountain passes with the other riders Larisa and the team will be riding and breaking bread with the other competitors, talking to them and sharing meals and laughs as they form that bond in the mountains, in the search for adventure on the trails

Bike Trans Alp is the longest and toughest amateur mountain bike stage race in Europe and we’ll be bringing you lots more information about each of the stage towns and the mountains over the next few months, as we lead up to July and race time. All that you have to do is to clean off the cobwebs on your bike, click the link below this article and take a look for yourself at Bike Trans Alp – because adventure time begins again in 2021.