Masters racers Mathias Nothegger and Hans Peter Obwaller have also been the measure of all things on the second day of the 14th TOUR Transalp powered by Sigma.

The Austrian teammates of www.nom-training.com are not only leading the category for the men teams with a combined age of 80+ in dominant fashion but also posted the best time of 4:47.22,0 again, after 110.84 km and 3,059 metres of climbing with three saddles (Passo Sella, Passo Pordoi and Passo Campolongo) to be conquered.

4.26 minutes behind of the so far commanding amateur cyclists it were Daniel Pechtl and Martin Ludwiczek of Imst Tourismus 1 to claim the runnerup position coming out successful of the photo finish against Daniel Eisele and Christian Stoerzer of Team Strassacker meets BIEHLER (+0,6) as well as Belgian team ERTL/RENZ – Velomotion 1 with Michael Minnaert and Juergen Moreels (+0,9).

However, the two Tyroleans riding for their home region missed taking over the lead in the men's category as Florian Vrecko and Nils Kessler of Team Strassacker / Garmin rolled in as fourth men team (3:52.03,3) and almost 3.20 minutes ahead of so far leading racers Michael Markolf and Andreas Schmoll (RSV Buehlertal Blackforest, 3:55.22,5).

Vrecko and Kessler will wear the Yellow Jerseys tomorrow having a tiny lead of 8,4 seconds on team Imst Tourismus 1. It should be an exciting third stage leading over 131.72 km and 2,697 metres of climbing to Sillian, and back to Austria tomorrow.

While it's currently a close battle in the men's category, things do already look pretty comfortable for the overall leaders Nothegger and Obwaller as their main pursuers of Ail Trentino lost some precious time today due to a flat at Massimo Debertolis back wheel.

Nevertheless: “I guess we are the strongest team at the moment,” explained Hans Peter Obwaller after another great day on the road.

“We actually try to race our own pace. Today went pretty smooth again, especially as the incredible scenery did compensate all the hard work at Passo Pordoi,” said the Salzburg resident who did suffer a lot on this stage back in 2014.

“It's great to win this stage which is the most beautiful one of the race week.”

Obwaller and his team partner Nothegger are now more than ten minutes in front of Debertolis and Pallhuber in the masters category while leading more than seven minutes in the overall classifier over all categories.

Meyer and Ilmer again fastes women

On the women's side of things, it seems that Janine Meyer and Marina Ilmer justifiably have a claim on the title celebrating a back-to-back win today.

Team LeXXi Smartsuits /ARSV Vinschgau clocked in the best time again (4:32.33,4) being more than 14 minutes faster than overall second women of MONTURA GARDA TRENTINO (Marcellina Dossi and Letizia Grottoli, 4:46.43,1) who are now more than 25 minutes behind in the ranking.

Silke Keinath and Monika Dietl of Scott Contessa cemented their third overall ranking by rounding out the women's podium as third today (4:55.18,3).

Just like yesterday, Austrians Daniela Pintarelli and Andreas Traxl of Team MosserWirt St. Anton am Arlberg (4:04.58,7) as well as Harry Nussbaumer and Stefan Maag of Swiss team RTU-Gubi's Bikeshop-alfa.ch (4:10.04,4) triumphed in the respective mixed and grand masters category.

All results can be viewed online.