I did not tell anyone about those doubts, especially not my partner Geert. I didn't wanted to cause any panic ;-)
Schwalbe Tour Transalp = altitude meters
Stage 1: 2279 Sonthofen - Sankt Anton
Stage 2: cancelled Sankt-Anton - Imst
Stage 3: 2474 Imst - Zernez
Stage 4: 3994 Zernez - Livigno
Stage 5: 2878 Livigno - Aprica
Stage 6: 2890 Aprica - Kaltern
Stage 7: 1625 Kaltern - Arco
Stages 1 and 3 were very fast at the beginning, although there were several altitude meters. This resulted in rather lousy legs at the end of the day. If this went on and on, I did not expect to finish in Arco.
But all this changed in stage 4: the legs were not super on the Stelvio climb, and certainly not at the following Foscagno and Passo d'Eira. But we did a very good job in the ranking: we did climb to position 4 Herren and 6 overall. Turning point was stage 5, on Mortirolo climb (one of my favorites, next to Timmelsjoch and Galibier). This stage, I had my best day in months!! and this resulted in a 3th place Herren and 4th place overall.
But all this changed in stage 4: the legs were not super on the Stelvio climb, and certainly not at the following Foscagno and Passo d'Eira. But we did a very good job in the ranking: we did climb to position 4 Herren and 6 overall. Turning point was stage 5, on Mortirolo climb (one of my favorites, next to Timmelsjoch and Galibier). This stage, I had my best day in months!! and this resulted in a 3th place Herren and 4th place overall.
 |
| Foto: Wolfgang Tilch |
Unfortunately our team and partnership ended in the descend towards Brezer Joch, not far after Rumco. Geert could not avoid a rider in front of him and fell on the ground: his bike was damaged and Geert his hip was injured. Geert had to abandon and so ended our Transalp as ETIXX-WILIER & CR BY FORCHHEIM a few days earlier then expected.
But we reached what we did not expected at all: next to the great performances, a "climb" on the podium in one of the King stages.
 |
| Foto: Wolfgang Tilch |
I'm (hopefully) back on the track for the rest of 2013 GF season.
Many thanks to several people to keep on supporting during past weeks and months where I was looking for solutions to get myself in a better shape:
 |
| Foto: Wolfgang Tilch |
- Etixx Sports Nutrition: the support for a well being body during such a intensive 7 day experience
- Wilier: getting the best Zero 7 bike for a rider in all circumstances
- Energy Lab for training advice and to adjust position
- Chiropractor Alliet to adjust my body to get the right feeling again
- Team Forchheim and Gobbi-LGL for all the support and good care on our way (Steffen, Ludwig, Jurgen, Filip,...)
 |
| Foto: Wolfgang Tilch |
