The Tour of the Alps (18.4 – 22.4) is once again a meeting place for the world leaders in international cycling: Mikel Landa and Pello Bilbao (Bahrain), Chris Froome (Israel Premier Tech), Migel Angel Lopez (Astana) or Tao Geoghegan Hart and Richie Porte (Ineo). No less than 10 WorldTour and 7 ProContinental teams will start in Cles on April 18th.
Among them also the Tirol KTM Cycling, which is the only Continental team and pure U23 team with a wild card. In the encounter with the absolute world elite, the Tirol KTM team has always presented itself well and aggressively since the first event in 2017. Felix Engelhardt, for example, was able to show off last year by winning the red sprint jersey and Florian Lipowitz with an 18th place overall and third place in the junior ranking.
This year’s squad includes these seven drivers with an average age of 20: Felix Engelhard, 21 / GER: “I would like to test my skills as a GC driver and make the leap into groups again”. Florian Lipowitz, 21 / GER: “I’d like to repeat last year’s performance”. / Karel Vacek, 21 / CZE: “I’m very happy and grateful for the opportunity to take part in a race like this”. Logan Mclain, 20 / USA: “I want to go into breakaway groups and I’m happy to be able to race against the best in the world.” Linus Rosner, 20 / GER: “I want to return to racing well after my Covid illness and the chance for a Use a breakaway”. Emanuel Zangerle, 21 / AUT: “I would like to use my second participation in the Tour of the Alps for a top group”. Moritz Hörandtner, 18 / AUT: “I just want to gain a lot of experience in cycling for the coming years “.
On the five stages, the young Tirol KTM riders will also meet former teammates such as Patrick Gamper (BORA hansgrohe) and Georg Steinhauser (EF) as well as Felix Gall (AG2R) from East Tirol, who recently showed himself to be in great form at the Basque Country Tour.
Speaking of East Tyrol. Tourism chairman and bike impressario Franz Theurl brought the Tour of the Alps to East Tyrol for the two final stages. The Tirol KTM Team will use this small home advantage and set up a two-day training camp in Lienz before the start in Cles.
The Tour of the Alps emerged from the legendary Giro del Trentino and is largely supported by the European region of Tyrol, South Tyrol and Trentino and their tourism organizations.
Photo: Emanuel Zangerle with Chris Froome at TotA 2022
Credit: Sports Photo Andre