Three time German Champion Jochen Kaess has clinched the third stage of the 2013 BIKE Four Peaks. The 32-years-old Centurion-Vaude racer crowned his long solo ride on the 82.12 km and 2,440 metres in elevation from Kirchberg to Kaprun in 3:33:15.1 hours, but missed to improve to the top-3 in the overall ranking by just 2.4 seconds as team colleague Markus Kaufmann (GER) took fourth today.
Swiss bearer of the Yellow Jersey Christoph Sauser of Specialized finished as runner-up (3:36:57.6) with Alban Lakata (AUT) of Topeak Ergon coming in third (3:37:20.0).
The Austrian racer also took over the lead in the best climber classifier for the “Green Jersey of the Bayerischen Staatsforsten powered by fi'zi:k” again having accumulated 61 points by now.
Prior to the start, no one out of the star-studded field would have guessed that Kaess would be able to attack the top-3 today.
Everyone underestimated the fifth ranked racer of the 2011 World Championships who was seethed with anger after he had not only taken a detour yesterday but also lost some more precious time due to a flat tyre.
As a result, the Ofterdingen resident attacked in the first climb to Stangenjoch and managed to break away before some snow fields forced everyone to walk the last metres in elevation up to the Zweitausender.
Even the more than 20 km long bike path through the Pinzgau valley didn't bring Kaess down; in contrary, he managed to improve his lead from feed zone one to two by two minutes to 5:20 minutes.
When he arrived on the last peak at the best climber classifier on Maiskogel, still blessed with a comfortable advantage on his pursuers, everything was set for his first stage win.
“Yesterday, I was very frustrated. So I tried to reduce the deficit again. That worked out fine. I was a little bit afraid of the flat section but managed to keep my own pace. I'm very pleased with the outcome,” said Kaess who received some prominent compliments for his today's performance.
“Jochen was ridning super strong today”, said overall leader Christoph Sauser. “I mean, we worked well together in the chasing group. But my main focus was on the ranking. I prefered to take second and extend the lead on Alban (Lakata) than going all or nothing on the stage win.”
Prior to tomorrow's final stage of the BIKE Four Peaks leading from Kaprun to Neukirchen am Grossvenediger, the 2011 World Champion from Switzerland has a lead of 1:50 minutes on his biggest rival for the title Lakata. “It's about controlling the race from the front,” explained Sauser his tactic for the last leg.
Loevset takes third stage win
On the women's side, Borghild Loevset is almost through after claiming her third consecutive stage win in 4:22:47.5 hours. The Norwegian Viking has already a lead of some 39 minutes over second ranked and today's runner-up Anja Gradl (GER, 4:38:16.6) of Team Bulls.
However, the bearer of the Pink Jersey, who seemed to be very exhausted today, won't take it easy: “It was very tough. I lost my group in the first downhill and was all alone in the flat which isn't my terrain at all. I hope that I can rejuvenate. If not, my lead has to be big enough.”
Bettina Uhlig (GER) of Wheeler iXS finished in third position (3:55:08.4) thus bettering her chances for a top-3 result in the women's category.
Source: press release
Results, MEN:
1. Käss Jochen, 1981, Rangendingen 3:33.15
2. Sauser Christoph, 1976, CH-Sigriswil 3:36.57
3. Lakata Alban, 1979, A-Lienz 3:37.20
Results, WOMEN:
1. Loevset Borghild, 1980, N-Boersa 4:22.47
2. Gradl Anja, 1986, Haselmühl 4:38.16
3. Uhlig Bettina, 1987, Freiburg 4:45.09