By winning the final stage of the 2016 TOUR Transalp powered by Sigma from Levico Terme to Riva del Garda (95.58 km, 2,506 m) Massimo Debertolis and Johann Pallhuber have impressively underlined that they are the well-deserved champions of the 14th race edition.

The two Italians crossed the timing line, which was set at Bolognano, some 10 km ahead of the actual finish line, after 3:06.31,5 hours and therefore secured the masters as well as overall title.

The two 40+ racers of Ail Trentino sat 27:58.58,0 hours in the saddle to master the total distance of 901.79 kilometres (19,521 m) from Imst, Austria to Lake Garda becoming the only team of two to clock in a time less than 28 hours.

"Of course I'm happy that I won my first TOUR Transalp, but I will now focus on mountain biking again," said Massimo Debertolis, the 2004 MTB marathon world champion who will compete in the BIKE Transalp in two weeks together with Johann Pallhuber again aiming for the three-peat in the masters category.

Today's respective second and third best teams were Christian Dengler and Maximilian Hornung of Hermann Radteam 2 (3:09.12,6) as well as Daniel Eisele and Christian Stoerzer ofTeam Strassacker meets BIEHLER(3:11.22,4).

However, the win in the men's category went to Belgians Michel Minneart and Jurgen Moreels of ERTL/RENZ – Velomotion 1 (28:13.44,4) who finished today's stage across Pathes of Kaiserjaeger (1,255 m), Passo della Fricca (1,132 m), Passo Bordala (1,235 m) and Passo Santa Barbara (1,165 m) in the pouring rain as fifth best team overall (3:11.57,0).

"It was tough again. We lost some time due to a crash ahead of us. But that was OK. Our plan was to keep the gap as small as possible and to defend the Yellow Jersey," said Minneart in the finish area.

His teammate Moreels, who just had joined the team a few days prior to the TOUR Transalp start added:

"We didn't know what to expect. It was hard; you have to be good everyday. It's nice that it's over and that we go home with the title. We never expected anything like this."

Leaders bring home titles

In the women's category, leading racers Janine Meyer and Marina Ilmer of German-Italian pairing LeXXi SmartSuits/ARSV Vinschgau rolled in as first in Riva del Garda (3:43.38,6) to celebrate the title unbeaten in a time of 32:30.55,0.

"We didn't expect this. You never know how strong the others are when you enter a race like this. We just cycled our own pace, and that was OK," explained Meyer.

In the mixed category, Austrians Daniela Pintarelli and Andreas Traxl of today's best ranked Team MooserWirt St. Anton am Arlberg (3:22.45,6) earned their well-deserved title after 30:02.53,9 hours in the saddle.

Harry Nussbaumer and Stefan Maag ofRTU-Gubi's Bikeshop-alfa.ch came out victorious in the grand masters category after seven long and hard days in the Alps (30:08.06,0).

However, the two Swiss athletes wrapped up things as third ranked duo of the final stage rounding out the podium next to Rolando Bortolotti and Piergiorgio Dellagiacoma of Valsugana(3:23.39,2) as well as Klaus Elsner and Markus Rieber of Team Continental Thai Do (3:24.28,5).

All results can be viewed online.