Transalp Finish Celebrations Highlight Competitive and Community Spirit

Arrival and Celebrations at the End of the Transalp

Over six hundred kilometers of grueling climbs, devastating falls, broken chains, flat tires, and curses shouted to the sky. All forgotten in an instant, when yesterday the competitors entered the area near the former bus station, where the eighth and final checkpoint of the third Transalp awaited them, the toughest crossing of the Alps on two wheels.

Waiting for these muddy and battered heroes were televisions, photographers, and two wings of cheering spectators. In terms of competitive results, it is certainly worth noting the excellent performances of the two “homegrown” pairs, the debutants from Arcense Lorenzo Tognoni and Davide Tosi and the “veterans” from Riva, Claudio Semeraro and Franco Bresciani, who finished just behind the professional mountain bikers: 23rd place for the first pair and 34th for the latter.

Considering that at the start in Mittenwald, Bavaria, there were as many as 350 pairs from across the Old Continent, the satisfaction of the Garda athletes can only be justified.

Preparations and Atmosphere of the Event

The celebration of the two wheels had already begun early in the morning, when the members of the “caravan” of the Transalp started arriving at the large area a few meters from the lake, pioneers among the competitors. Then, gradually, hundreds of enthusiasts, relatives, friends, and simply curious spectators arrived, drawn by the amplified voice of the announcer and loud music.

Then, the waiting for the competitors began. They had started just a few hours earlier from the Folgaria high plain, beginning their approach to the “Busa,” climbing (still on gravel roads) from Isera to Bordala, passing through Santa Barbara, the terraces of Nago, Bolognano, and finally reaching the finish line of what the Transalp organization called the European Eldorado for bikers: Riva del Garda.

All around, meanwhile, the real celebration continued into late afternoon, with the bicycle as the undisputed protagonist. Grandparents and grandchildren, professionals and amateurs, experts and beginners: all wandering delightedly among the numerous stalls set up in the square, admiring futuristic mountain bike models on display, discussing gears, saddles, forks, and shock absorbers. But above all, making friends over glasses of beer and hot dog sandwiches.