The second duo to reach the finish line on Lake Garda were Martin Kraler and Heinz Verbnjak from Craft and Friends / mountainbiker.at, who came second overall (2:35:04.5). In a sprint, Alexander Pscheidl and Christian Schneidawind from Team Texpa-Simplon secured third place (2:37:38.1). Andreas Strobel and Markus Kaufmann from Team Vaude-Simplon 1 came third overall in this year's Transalp, finishing twelfth today.

As was the case four times this week, Team Bulls were also alone at the end of their fifth stage win - thanks to their outstanding skills on the descent. But actually "we didn't want to attack, but then Karl was angry because the pace was so slow", Stefan Sahm explained the change of heart on the way. "We are really happy. Winning the final day as the overall winner is a great feeling. Stage races are our thing," said Sahm.

The 31-year-old Sahm continued: "It was a dream stage. But the last descent was really hard again. My arms cramped up at times." His teammate Karl Platt, who secured his fifth Transalp victory in a row today, could only agree: "I was really looking forward to the last descent, but at times I could hardly hold on to the handlebars. You had to keep changing your fingers when braking."

The successful defending champions also received recognition from the losing Craft and Friends / mountainbiker.at team. "We had a lot of bad luck with tire and chain problems, but they were simply better," said Martin Kraler. "Next year we will try to out-crank them." His partner Heinz Verbnjak agreed: "We'll be on the attack next year!"

Team KTM achieves the hat-trick in the masters
After 2006 and 2007, Ekkehard Dörschlag and Heinz Zörweg are once again at the top of the Masters podium of the Transalp Challenge in 2008, which according to Dörschlag "was an optimal Transalp for us". Team KTM also secured the stage win today (2:37:43.7) and thus kept a clean slate with eight out of eight stage wins. They were followed by Walter Platzgummer and Johann Grasegger from Scott-adidas-Naturns (2:43:19.2) and Team Generali with Siegfried Hochenwarter and Georg Koch (2:43:33.8), as in the overall standings.

And the duos in the masters class can also dress warmly for 2009, because "I will definitely attack again next year with a partner like that", as Heinz Zörweg said.

Rocky Mountain victorious in the women's classification
Alison Sydor and Pia Sundstedt are the 2008 Transalp queens. After 2:59:16.4 hours, the top female bikers from Rocky Mountain crossed the finish line on foot, having descended shortly beforehand. No wonder, as the two world-class athletes had already opened up a nine-minute gap on their pursuers at the feed station, meaning that yesterday's fast finishers Anna-Sofie and Kristine Norgaard were unable to prevent the Canadian-Finnish duo from taking their seventh win of the day.

However, the Danish sisters finished second overall (3:09:37.1). The Giant Swiss Ladies Barbara Merkofer and Margrit Jörg achieved their first podium finish today (3:17:57.3).

"It was the perfect finish today," said Alison Sydor. "It was a long and hard week, during which we had some ups and downs. But we rode very well together and were able to pull out a lead almost every day. I'm very happy," said the 1996 Olympic silver medalist.

Milena Landtwing and Werner Fischer best mixed pair
As in all other categories, the leaders of the mixed classification also secured victory in the final stage. The Institut Ftan/Velo Franz Univega duo reached Riva del Garda after 2:54:32.3 hours. Second place went to Team Stöckli with Anita Steiner and Cornel Bamert (3:00:30.5), who had managed to snatch at least one stage win from Fischer/Landtwing. The third team in the day's classification and in the overall ranking behind the two Swiss formations were the New Zealanders Jon Richardson and Sara MacDonald from R&R Sport (3:06:26.5).

"It was a tough week. I'm pretty knackered but also very happy," said Milena Landtwing after crossing the finish line. Her partner Werner Fischer added: "There's nothing better. It was simply a brilliant week."

Eight stage wins for the green jersey
Ferdinand Ganser and Georg Niggl also dominated the Senior Master category on the final day of the Transalp Challenge. After 2:57:43.3 hours, ept connect crossed the finish line in Riva. "It was a fantastic week. Apart from a few defects, almost everything went perfectly for us. We risked everything and won everything," said Ferdinand Ganser, who had to cover a large part of the route from Andalo to Lake Garda without a front brake, "I can only recommend everyone to ride this route with a GPS device."

Behind the two series winners, Canadians Bill Benson and Don Sissons from Team Syngenta Prairie Boys (3:02:05.4) and Giant Swiss D'Ürner oldies Walter Ehrler and Marcel Arnold (3:02:39.9) took the other two podium places on the day.

Ranking list Transalp Challenge 2008:

Men's category
1st Team Bulls (1) 2:30.03,8
2nd Craft and Friends / mountainbiker.at (300) 2:35.04,5
3rd Team TEXPA-Simplon (21) 2:37.38,1

Women's category
1st Team Rocky Mountain (3) 2:59.16,4
2nd Team Cube 5 (11) 3:09.37,1
3rd Giant Swiss Ladies (373) 3:17.57,3

Mixed category
1st Institut Ftan/Velo Franz Univega (25) 2:54.32,3
2nd Team Stöckli Wädenswil (239) 3:00.30,5
3rd R & R Sport (91) 3:06.26,5

Master category
1st Team KTM (10) 2:37.43,7
2nd Scott-adidas-Naturns (24) 2:43.19,2
3rd Team Generali (89) 2:43.33,8

Senior Master category
1. ept connect (26) 2:57.43,4
2nd Team Syngenta Prairie Boys (48) 3:02.05,4
3rd Giant Swiss D'Ürner Oldies (18) 3:02.39,9

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