Two-time World Champion Christoph Sauser (SUI) has also secured victory on the second stage of the BIKE Four Peaks which led from Lofer to Kirchberg today.
The leader of the men's classifier mastered the 75.35 km and 2,514 metres in elevation from the Salzburg country side to Tyrol in 3:11:01.3 hours thus extending his lead in the standings to some 1:30 minutes.
Alban Lakata, the Topeak Ergon racer ranked second in the men's classifier, came in as runner up (3:12:26.5) edging off reigning German Marathon Champion Markus Kaufmann to third (3:13:17.3). However, the Centurion-Vaude pilot also took over the third spot in the overall ranking as Tim Boehme (GER) finished 17th today.
The preliminary decision took place in the last climb of the day up to Ehrenbachhoehe when Kaufmann and Sauser were able to break away of the leading group. Even fancied 2010 World Champion Alban Lakata had to let go. In the downhill, it was the Swiss 2011 World Champion capitalizing from his cross country skills.
Sauser shook off his pursuers on the technical, 7.5 km long Fleckalm trail which descends over 1,000 metres down to Kirchberg and was build for the up-coming Marathon World Championships on June 29.
“It was obvious that the last climb would be decisive. I was in front after the climb and then benefitted from the downhill section. I tried to gain as much advantage as possible,” said the bearer of the Yellow Jersey, who didn't want to hear any comments on having the BIKE Four Peaks title to his belt already. “It's not clinched yet, there are still two tough days to come.”
And it's this second half of the four-day event, which proceeds with the queen stage from Kirchberg to Kaprun tomorrow (82.12 km, 2,440 m), local hero Alban Lakata is pinning his hopes on.
“I didn't felt so good,” explained the reigning European Marathon Champion, who suffered a lot today. “I lost contact in the climb already and tried to keep the deficit as small as possible. I managed to pass Kaufmann in the descent but Sauser was too far away.”
As a result of his nosedive in the ascent to Ehrenbachhoehe which the field tackled via the finish jump of the well-known Streif and the Hahnenkamm, Lakata lost his lead in the best climber classifier to Markus Kaufmann who is now leading the race for the “Green Jersey of the Bayerischen Staatsforsten powered by fi'zi:k” with 45 points ahead of Sauser and Lakata (40 points each).
The third rank of today's stage went to Hansjuerg Gerber from Switzerland (3:35:32.8).
Source: press release
Results, MEN:
1. Sauser Christoph, 1976, CH-Sigriswil 3:11.01
2. Lakata Alban, 1979, A-Lienz 3:12.26
3. Kaufmann Markus, 1981, Meckenbeuren 3:13.17
Results, WOMEN:
1. Loevset Borghild, 1980, N-Boersa 3:55.23
2. Gradl Anja, 1986, Haselmühl 4:07.42
3. Klein Isabelle, 1983, L-Waldbredimus 4:14.58