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The Tour Transalp 2024 is done and dusted. It was harder than expected. So it was a real good feeling reaching the finish line. This time, I took part with my partner Jörg as a team of two in the Team Grand Masters category. We ended up in an unexpected 11th place out of 22 participating teams.
The Tour Transalp 2024 started on 16.06.2024 in Lienz in Austria. The 2024 route led in seven stages over the Dolomites to Riva de Garda. I really enjoyed the 2024 edition. There was a significant improvement compared to my first start at the Tour Transalp in 2022. The route was excellently secured. And there was also a finisher event in Riva. Located even right on the shores of Lake Garda. Our enthusiasm was still great and so we took the opportunity to agree alreade to start at the 2025 edition of the Tour Transalp.
The official start of the Tour Transalp 2024 was the kick-off event in the Dolomitenhalle in Lienz. The first stage was presented over a plate of pasta and non-alcoholic beer. I had no idea how difficult the first stage would actually be.
Oh dear, what a start
Already the first 25 kilometers demanded a lot. We cycled at more than 40 km/h along the Drau and then back again. When the first climb was finally reached, most of my energy was already used up. My priority was simply to get my heart rate back under control.
The idea was to settle up a good rhythm. But it was a real steep uphill. Steep as a hammer. Whenever it flattened out, it immediately became steep again. I had no view of the panoramic road at all. It went uphill again and again. Then two more times just before the end of the stage: it became really steep again. Only quite short. But: I almost pushed the bike. Somehow I made it to the end of the time trial. However, I didn’t see the finish line on the first day as I crossed it in the ambulance.
Was this supposed to go on for another six days? I could hardly imagine that at the time. At least the weather was not an issue. No rain. And it was only going to get better and warmer over the week.
The daily routine
The luggage always had to be at the reception of the respective hotel by 6:3o am. It was then collected and taken to the next overnight stay. A daypack could be left in the start area up to half an hour before the start. This was then also available in the finish area immediately after arrival.
The start was always at nine. My riding times were between 3:30 and 6:30, so the stages weren’t too long. There was enough time after each stage to enjoy the finish area and regenerate for the next stage without rushing.
During the stages, the same glasses and helmets were seen again and again. And also at the start and finish area you met the same people. It’s cycling in a big group with people of a similar mindset. Sometimes one was feeling better, then the other.
People got together and exchanged experiences. All in all, almost everyone was quite fit and well prepared. No one really needed to worry about whether they would reach the finish line in Riva.
Fortunately, my disaster of the first stage was not repeated. Until halfway through the second stage, I was still unsure if the first stage would have an impact. From then on, I gained confidence and things got better practically every day. You always get used to the strain quite quickly and we were able to finish the Tour Transalp 2024 without any major difficulties.
It was a fantastic tour
The Tour Transalp 2024 was once again not a crossing of the Alps as the name suggests. The Tour Transalp 2024 was simply a journey within the Alps. Every day in a different place and in a different region.
And it really was always different somehow. Every route anyway. Sometimes the hotel was pleasant and met the expectations, then it was disappointing with only one mattress for two. It was quite fresh in the higher places, but in the valleys it didn’t really cool down in the evening. Sometimes the food was a pleasant surprise, on other days it was simply filling.
The Tour Transalp 2024 was more than just a cycling event. It was not only the challenge of the week-long tour. It was also the fascination of the constantly changing landscapes and conditions together with the management of the own body.
Our result
We steadily worked our way up the Grand Masters team rankings. After 15th place at the end of the first stage, we finished in an unexpected 11th place out of 22 participating teams. We were 1:15 hours behind 10th place but also 1:05 hour behind 12th place.
The flair, the changes, the challenges, the climbs: that’s what made the Tour Transalp 2024 so special. The route was very well secured. We were almost secured and guarded when we were crossing junctions. Even at the end of the field. It was a great experience and a lot of fun.
We’ll be back in 2025!
The figures of the Tour Transalp 2024
| start | finish | length | climbs | |
| First stage | Lienz | Sillian | 68 km | 2.055 hm |
| Second stage | Sillian | Moena | 123 km | 2.355 hm |
| Third stage | Moena | San Martino | 100 km | 2.704 hm |
| Fourth stage | San Martino | San Zenone | 137 km | 3.113 hm |
| Fifth stage | San Zenone | Lavarone | 106 km | 2.264 hm |
| Sixth stage | Lavarone | Kaltern | 142 km | 2.527 hm |
| Seventh stage | Kaltern | Riva del Garda | 102 km | 1.478 hm |
| Total | 778 km | 16.496 hm |
