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<p>The TransAlp MTB challenge is the toughest mountain bike endurance race in Europe and will require 7-10 hours pedalling for 8 consecutive days - climbing 21,000m in total !</p>
<p>Surely hours of "ding dong"s in the saddle is worth a few pounds sponsorship ??!! <!--[if gte mso 10]> <mce:style><! /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} > <! [endif] ></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;" _mce_style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #ff00ff;" _mce_style="color: #ff00ff;"><strong><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Verdana;" _mce_style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Verdana;" lang="EN-GB">The Bikedock Belles, a Belfast based all female cycling team</span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Verdana;" _mce_style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Verdana;" lang="EN-GB"> accepts the challenge of crossing the Alps at the 2011 C</span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Verdana;" _mce_style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Verdana;" lang="EN-GB">RAFT BIKE TRANSALP powered by NISSAN. </span></strong></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #ff00ff;" _mce_style="font-size: 10pt; color: #ff00ff;" lang="EN-GB">From July 16<sup>th</sup> till 23<sup>rd</sup>, 2011, the 14<sup>th</sup> edition of the world’s most famous mountain bike stage race, the CRAFT BIKE TRANSALP powered by NISSAN, will take place. 550 teams are keen to tackle the more than 650 kilometres and about 20,000 metres in altitude. Among the numerous amateurs and international pros are also the Bikedock Belles Julie Mc Corry Holywood, Cathy Thompson, Hillsborough, Taryn Mc Coy, Belfast and Andrea Harrower, Dromara.</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #ff00ff;" _mce_style="font-size: 10pt; color: #ff00ff;" lang="EN-GB">The shared participation at this tradition-rich event is a dream come true for the girls who formed in 2009 to enter the Race Around Ireland which is one of the toughest road endurance cycling events in the world. The girls come from a mixed background, adventure racing, mountain biking, triathlon and just about any other sport they can fit into their busy lives. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #ff00ff;" _mce_style="font-size: 10pt; color: #ff00ff;" lang="EN-GB">In total, the racers have to face a total of about 20 alpine saddles on their way from Mittenwald in Germany to the traditional finish town Riva del Garda in Italy. Before reaching Lake Garda the Transalp circus stops over in the Austrian towns ?? and Mayrhofen as well as Brixen, St. Vigil, Alleghe, San Martino di Castrozza and Trento in Italy. The reward for all the stresses and strains along the route is a breathtaking nature experience.</span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #ff00ff;" _mce_style="font-size: 10pt; color: #ff00ff;" lang="EN-GB">In order to be fit enough for this challenge, the mountain bikers, who will start in the womens category,. “The four of us tend to not look at our preparation as training,” says Julie, we all love getting out and riding our bikes hard, hitting the trails, pushing ourselves to the limit and most of all, enjoying the beautiful countryside. </span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="color: #ff00ff;" _mce_style="color: #ff00ff;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" lang="EN-GB">In</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;" _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" lang="EN-GB"> addition the girls work very hard to help others to set their own personal goals and have already helped and encouraged various women achieve this over the last 12-18 months. We are very proud to have a huge following of female cyclists who are now competing and taking part in various cycling and cycling related activities 'says Andrea'.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="color: #ff00ff;" _mce_style="color: #ff00ff;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" lang="EN-GB"> Further information about the CRAFT BIKE TRANSALP 2010 powered by NISSAN, the 2011 routing as well as the results of team Bikedock Belles can be found on </span><a href="http://www.bike-transalp.de/" _mce_href="http://www.bike-transalp.de/">www.bike-transalp.de</a><span style="font-size: 10pt;" _mce_style="font-size: 10pt;" lang="EN-GB">. Alternatively to keep an eye on the progress of the belles please check in to their website www.bikedockbelles.com</span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff00ff;" _mce_style="color: #ff00ff;">The girls are fundraising for the Ulster Cancer Foundation's Think Pink! Breast Cancer Awareness Appeal. They have been working very hard in the lead up to their challenge and have already raised £3870 with the support of Bikedock through various events including their Young Guns MTB fun day in Omeau Park, the Re-Cycle Project and a Triathlon. They would like to thank those of you who have supported them soo far and for taking the time to visit their JustGiving page. Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff00ff;" _mce_style="color: #ff00ff;">Ding Dongxx</span><--></p>