Source: press release
Italian Champion Eva Lechner lifted her pace considerably on the last lap and broke away from Poland's Maja Wloszczowska and Swiss rider Kathrin Leumann to secure her second World Cup victory.
Swiss talent Jolanda Neff was the leading rider on the first lap, but then Eva Lechner took the lead, followed closely by Kathrin Leumann. Lechner and Leumann took turns in the lead. Some seconds behind them Maja Wloszczowska managed to push Sweden's Alexandra Engen from third into fourth on lap three, whereas Slovenia's Tanja Zakelj also closed the gap to Engen and finally passed her to take fourth place.
Time intervals between the five top-contenders were very close with Lechner, Leumann and Wloszczowska set to fight for the top three. Halfway through the last lap when rain had begun to make the course slippery, Eva Lechner had generated a small lead in the downhills. She then lifted her pace considerably and escaped. In the end Lechner secured her second World Cup win eight seconds ahead of Maja Wloszczowska. Both Kathrin Leumann (3.) and Alexandra Engen (5.) were very happy to secure the first World Cup spots on the podium for their Ghost Racing Team.
Eva Lechner (1st): I'm really happy with the victory. Last year wasn't as good as the years before. I knew I could be fast again. I had a good start and was always in the leading group. I was very concentrated. I felt really strong in the last laps - so I tried it, I got it and I'm happy about it. I like this location very much, there were lots of people and there was a great atmosphere. The course was very nice, with short uphills, technical downhills - I loved it.
Maja Wloszczowska (2nd): A tough job has been rewarded. I had a hard winter, I was injured. and now I'm happy to be back. I had a bad start position, being in the third row, it was a big battle for me, there weren't many opportunities for me to overtake. After reaching third position, my legs were getting tired, so I pushed hard in the 5th lap, especially in the donwhills. I did my best, and I'm happy with the second place.
Katrin Leumann (3rd): "It was great to be in the front. I knew, I am in a good shape, but I didn’t expect myself that strong. There are days when everything goes well, like today. I hope this will be the same next week in Nove Mesto."
Result:
1 Lechner Eva - Italy - Colnago Pro Cycling team 1:33:52
2 Wloszczowska Maja - Poland - Giant Pro Xc Team +8"
3 Leumann Katrin - Switzerland - Ghost Factory Racing Team +16"
4 Zakelj Tanja - Slovenia - Unior Tools Team +25"
5 Engen Alexandra - Sweden - Ghost Factory Racing Team +59"
6 Batty Emily - Canada - Trek Factory Racing +1'39"
7 Kalentieva Irina - Russia - Topeak Ergon Racing Team +1'50"
8 Neff Jolanda - Switzerland - Giant Pro Xc Team +2'18"
9 Morath Adelheid - Germany - Sabine Spitz Haibike Pro Team +2'39"
10 Nash Katerina - Rep. Ceca - Luna Pro Team +2'40"
