Transalp 06 info has been posted

Short Comparison

I've done both and I have to say that I like the TR for all the fun singletrack but I like the TA because I prefer to climb.

TA VS TR

TA has more climbing (about 60,000 vs 40,000) than the TR.

TA has one more day of racing than the TR.

There are over 500 teams at the TA and less than 200 at the TR.

TA is a little bit better organized than the TR. The TA has more staff and they'll bendover backwards to help you out with what ever you need. Not to say that the TR staff isn't good, there just aren't as many.

TR has alot more single track than the TA.

TR racers are much better technical riders than TA racers. My Canadian friends went nuts when they couldn't ride the singletrack sections because the Euros were all walking it.

TA you definitely have to worry about getting your bike stolen in Italy. Not so at the TR.

TA is much more competitive than the TR (Racing in Europe is a whole different level--go out hard then go harder)

TR has much better food at the camp than the TA. But there are plenty of places to eat in the small European towns.

TA end of race party is better than the TR party.

TA route book is very detailed and accurate compared to the TR route book.

TA daily awards ceremony can be very very long, TR is usully shorter.

You get to know alot of people at the TR.

There are more support bike shops and mechanics at the TA so fixes are fast.

It's possible that you and your teammate will be riding alone for long sections at the TR whereas at the TA you are hardly ever alone.

It's more fun to hang out in the little towns after the race at the TA. At the TR you're not always in a town.

There's no one at the TA riding around on a motorcycle with a big gun whose responsibility is to scare off bears.

Hope it helps. I'll be able to compare both to the Cape Epic after April.

Does registration start at 12 noon or 12 a.m.?

I'm unclear from the Trans Alp website if the registration starts at 12 noon or 12 a.m. Does anyone know what time it started last year?

At the top of the Trans Alp site it says:

"Start Tuesday, 10th of January 2006 at 12 a.m. MEZ"

A few paragraphs down, it says:

"High Noon is on the 10th of January 2006! Starting at 12.00 noon our official homepage will be awaiting your online registration."

Also, if I don't know who my teammate will be yet, should I just make up a name and info for the teammate in order to complete the entry form, and then change it when I get a teammate?