BULLS and RDR Italy Leynicese Racing overtake in Andorra. | Competitions

After starting the Andorra MTB Classic-Pyrénées with stage victories in the Prologue, the day before, Team BULLS and RDR Italy Leynicese Racing doubled on the first day of the marathon.

The Germans and Italians thus extended their lead in the general classification, ahead of the longest stage of the race on Friday.

Stage 1 of the Andorra MTB Classic-Pyrénées 2021 was won by Team BULLS and RDR Italy Leynicese Racing Team; in La Massana on Thursday July 1; both men’s and women’s stage winners had won the prologue the day before. The results mean Martin Frey and Simon Schneller lead the men’s race with just 33 seconds. While Sandra Mairhofer and Costanza Fasolis lead the women’s race by a significant gain of 11 minutes and 33 seconds.

The first marathon stage of the Andorra MTB Classic-Pyrénées was only 42 kilometers long. It did, however, include a massive drop in elevation of 1,550 meters and reached a maximum elevation of 2,120 meters above sea level. The route included sections of the famous Vallnord Bike Park and offered an exciting but challenging ride, practically everything during.

The combination of singletracks and tough climbs turned out to be the perfect terrain for a back-to-back battle for men’s race honors. The BUFF Scott MTB Team, made up of Hans Becking and Francesc Guerra Carretero, excelled in the long climbs, on their SCOTT Scale hardtail. “I felt better today, especially on the two very long climbs,†says Becking, explaining the course of the stage. “We attacked on the second climb and got away with a little gap. But on the long descent from the Commençal, Team BULLS almost flew over us, on one of the springboards. We have done our best and the gaps are still very small. Tomorrow is a longer stage, which I think suits us better, so we’ll try again and aim for more.

The time differences between the best teams are indeed very small. That day Becking and Guerra Carretero crossed the finish line just 24 seconds after stage winners Team BULLS. “It was another super tough day at altitude,” said stage winner Schneller. “Until Vallnord Bike Park we felt pretty good and could control the race, but after that it became very difficult to breathe in the high mountains. But we managed the effects of the altitude as well as possible and we were super strong on the descents. Our advantage there helped us achieve the stage victory.

BULLS and BUFF Scott MTB Team were joined on the podium by Jakub Zamroźniak and Krzysztof Åukasik from JBG2 CryoSpace. The result allows the Polish combination to move up to fourth place in the general classification. Marco Rebagliati and Nicola Taffarel, from Wilier 7c Force 2, move up to third place in the overall standings, ahead of their teammates from Wilier 7c Force 1. Frey and Schneller lead the standings after two stage wins. Becking and Guerra Carretero are second, ready to strike in Stage 2.

On the women’s side, Mairhofer and Fasolis also claimed their second consecutive stage victory. Their margin of victory was counted in minutes rather than seconds, as they put 9 minutes and 39 seconds on MTB Pro Merchandising’s Alice Pirard and Greete Steinburg. “Today was great fun,†said Steinburg enthusiastically. “We really enjoyed the climbing. There were a lot of them, but it wasn’t too hard. The descents, however… they were worth every meter we climbed.

For rivals Pirard and Steinburg, and stage winners, the fun also turned out to be quick. “We had a lot of fun,†smiles Mairhofer. “Costanza [Fasolis] absolutely flew downhill and I just had to try and stick with it.

Such was the domination of the couple the day they were able to admire the Andorran landscape as well. “I love the mountains, so Andorra is exceptionally beautiful in my eyes,†said Fasolis. “The scenery was spectacular today, but not only the natural surroundings, we passed through some small villages which were also very pretty.â€

After two days of the Andorra MTB Classic-Pyrénées, the RDR Italy Leynicese Racing Team is well seated in the women’s leader’s jerseys. Their 11-minute and 33-second advantage over Pirard and Seinburg, of MTB Pro Merchandising, should provide a practical insurance policy against unexpected wasted time that can lurk around any return on an Epic Series stage course.

Orbea Factory Team Women will need their rivals to endure mechanical misadventures in order to move up to the overall women’s standings. After finishing third twice, Ariane Lüthi and Sandra Jordá are 39 minutes and 23 seconds behind Mairhofer and Fasolis. Lüthi, despite his fame in the Epic Series, success already seems extremely unlikely to add the Andorra MTB Classic-Pyrenees title to his palmares.

One of the most famous faces in the race is that of MotoGP star Aleix Espargaro. The Spanish rider races with Oliver Avilés and wears the number 41 on his mountain bike in honor of the race number of his motorcycle. “Driving in Andorra is very explosive, which may not be the best for me, but I really enjoy it†smiles the pilot Aprillia. “The trails are difficult here in Andorra because they are constantly going up or down. But, like I said, we are taking advantage of it and looking forward to the rest of the race.

For mountain biking fans, who also enjoy the Andorra MTB Classic-Pyrénées, it is possible to follow the race on www.andorraclassicmtb.com. Alternatively, one can download the Epic Series mobile app, from Google Play or the App Store, for race updates and to watch videos of the day’s highlights.

Results: 2021 Andorra MTB Classic-Pyrenees

Step 1 | Elite Men:

1. BULLS Team: Martin Frey & Simon Schneller (1:59:48)
2. BUFF Scott MTB Team: Hans Becking & Francesc Guerra Carretero (2:00:12 | +00: 24)
3. JBG2 CryoSpace: Jakub Zamroźniak & Krzysztof Åukasik (2:00:36 | +00: 48)
4. Wilier 7c Force 2: Marco Rebagliati & Nicola Taffarel (2:02:06 | +02: 18)
5. Wilier 7C Force 1: Johnny Cattaneo & Martino Tronconi (2:07:24 | +07: 36)

Step 1 | Elite Women:

1. RDR Italy Leynicese Racing Team: Sandra Mairhofer & Costanza Fasolis (2:28:05)
2. MTB Pro Merchandising: Alice Pirard & Greete Steinburg (2:37:44 | +09: 39)
3. Orbea Factory Team Women: Ariane Lüthi & Sandra Jordá (3:04:12 | +36: 07)

General classification after stage 1 | Elite Men:

1. BULLS Team: Martin Frey & Simon Schneller (2:17:40)
2. BUFF Scott MTB Team: Hans Becking & Francesc Guerra Carretero (2:18:13 | +00: 33)
3. Wilier 7c Force 2: Marco Rebagliati & Nicola Taffarel (2:20:24 | +02: 44)
4. JBG2 CryoSpace: Jakub Zamroźniak & Krzysztof Åukasik (2:21:52 | +04: 12
5. Wilier 7C Force 1: Johnny Cattaneo & Martino Tronconi (2:25:25 | +07: 45)

General classification after stage 1 | Elite Women:

1. RDR Italy Leynicese Racing Team: Sandra Mairhofer & Costanza Fasolis (2:49:53)
2. MTB Pro Merchandising: Alice Pirard & Greete Steinburg (3:01:26 | +11: 33)
3. Orbea Factory Team Women: Ariane Lüthi & Sandra Jordá (3:29:16 | +39: 23)