Karerra and Reiter extend Trans Alp lead
Reiter and Karrera cross the line on stage 3
At stage three of the GORE-TEX® TRANSALPINE-RUN Iker Karrera and Philipp Reiter romped to a second consecutive stage win, and cemented their overall lead, beating the stage record set in 2010 by Tom Owens and Andy Symonds…
Plan B Event Release
The duo dominated the stage from the start finishing in 4.38.54. On their strategy for the next few stages, Reiter humbly replied to ‘just run!’ and maintain their position. The pair continued to show their class, especially on the technical downhill sections where they were able to extend their lead. The final steep descent into today’s stage town NeuKirchen was lined with inquisitive tourists to welcome the leaders.
The normally dramatic scenery afforded by the ridge between Schontaljoch and Wildkogelbahn upper station was unfortunately shrouded in fog, with the runners having to be vigilant for the Gore-Tex course markings rather than the usual breathtaking views across the Austrian Alps.
Team Gore Running Wear, of Florian Holzinger and Rolfes Volkmar from Germany were all smiles at the finish line coming in second place in 4.53.53. The duo were ecstatic with their placing, having met only shortly before the GORE-TEX® TRANSALPINE-RUN and with limited stage racing experience, the pair can rightly be pleased with today’s performance which ranks them third overall.
Stage one winners Billy Burns and Ben Abdelnoor of Team Inov-8 Gore-Tex Footwear came in third but retain their second placing overall in the GORE-TEX® TRANSALPINE-RUN. Billy commented that their pace was consistent and strong on the uphill’s however they lost ground on the technical downhill sections and finished today’s stage in 5.12.31.
Another impressive run by Gitti Schiebel and Ildikó Wermescher of Team Mountain Heroes, saw them leading from start to finish crossing the finish line into the picturesque Neukirchen in 5.58.47. This leaves them 43 minutes ahead of Elisabeth Egarter and Petra Theiner of Team Sexton Salomon who crossed the finish line second in 6.09.03 and lie second overall in the GORE-TEX® TRANSALPINE-RUN.
Stage 4 Snapshot – Neukirchen am Grosvenediger – Prettau in Ahrntal
Stage 4 see’s the runner’s cross into Italy and traverse a full marathon distance of 43.3km. Runners will reach the highest point of the GORE-TEX® TRANSALPINE-RUN at 2667m in the Tauern Alps. The stage involves only one major ascent but its length and altitude gain will test the runners to their limits who already have 130km in their legs already. The crossing from Austria to South Tyrol across some technical trail affords some of the most spectacular views of the Alpine landscape.
DID YOU KNOW: Neukirchen has been described as one of the ‘friendliest’ places in Austria and set in the Hohe Tauern National Park, which the runners get to experience with the pasta party setting at the top of the Wildkogelbahn.
Full results here, with additional stage 3 images added to the Trans Alp set here.
