On Course for the Podium at 2017 BIKE Transalp
The newly assembled Topeak-Ergon Racing Team is still performing amazingly in the 20th edition of the Bike Transalp and successfully defends its place on the podium. With one day to go, Kristian Hynek and Jeremiah Bishop are third overall.
The second place success at the start last Sunday in Bressanone was not a stroke of luck. Jeremiah Bishop, who replaces world champion Alban Lakata in the first squad of the Koblenz Racing Team due to his rib injury, continues to do an excellent job.
However on monday, Kristian Hynek and JB had bad luck with a technical defect, and its repair cost them a few minutes. But because Alban Lakata came on the scene in the backup team and put himself in the service of his comrades, the setback in St. Vigil was not too severe. As a result, the duo fell back to third place, but they defended it with class.
On the fifth stage on Thursday from Caldo to Trento, the two Topeak-Ergon riders made a great effort for the yellow jersey, and just missed their first stage victory in Trento in a photo finish. In the sprint they were beaten by Daniel Geismayr and Hermann Pernsteiner by only one tenth of a second.
The previous years winners, as well as their team colleagues Jochen Käß and Markus Kaufmann, are ahead of Kristian and Jeremiah, but the rest of the competition is firmly under control. “The last three years I was in the backup team. Its an honor for me to ride on the first team,” says JB, who is more than just a substitute. “It surprises me how good it has been going. The teamwork with Kristian Hynek also works very well.”
For Alban Lakata, JB’s strong performance is not at all surprising. “He is a tough guy and has a good attitude“, says the Austrian, who is still in good shape with Erik Kleinhans at sixth place despite his handicap. Tomorrow it will be the last stage of the BIKE Transalp 2017 with 80 kilometers and 2,117 meters of altitude from Lavarone to Riva del Garda.
More information about the Topeak-Ergon Racing Team can be found at www.topeak-ergon-racing.com and at www.ergonbike.com
