Craft Bike Trans Germany
Sauser claims Second Stage Win
News Release / 04.06.2010
Alban Lakata (AUT) from Topeak Ergon Racing, who was sitting in second of the table right behind of Sauser, came in as runner-up in this first sunshine stage of the race (2:06:15.3). Defending champion Thomas Dietsch from Team Bulls (FRA, 2:08:11.8), who jumped on the podium the first time in 2010, came third, climbing up one spot to fourth in the men’s table. Due to his strong performance he also increased the pressure on third ranked Christian Schneidawind by making up one minute on the German from Team Texpa Simplon, who finished as fourth today fighting numerous cramp attacks.
<b>Last climb decides the race</b>
The stage win was decided in the last five kilometre long climb up to Strausbergalpe and the subsequent wave profile of the routing. “I had decided this morning to run an attack in this ascent and pushed it after one kilometre�, explained the former Overall World Cup winner.
He gained 30 seconds on Austria’s Lakata, a strong performance which Lakata ungrudgingly appreciated. “I tried to stay with him but it was impossible. Today, it wasn’t really my day.� Nevertheless, the 30-years-old remains combative: “Tomorrow is another day. I will give everything. Then, we will see what comes out.�
<b>Söllner’s win overshadowed by crash of Sundstedt</b>
On the ladies’ side, the classification got massively shaken up. However, it was not because Team Firebike-Dössinger racer Birgit Söllner brought home her first stage win at this year’s CRAFT BIKE TRANS GERMANY powered by NISSAN in 2:33:40.6 hours.
It was because of Pia Sundstedt’s (FIN) crash, when sat in second of the ladies’ ranking, which tempered the delight about the success of the former road bike cyclist.
Sundstedt was fast in the first downhill passage down to Schnitzlertal when a rider in front of her lost control and went down. The Craft-Rocky-Mountain biker didn’t have a chance to avoid running into him and crashed into a wire-netting fence suffering a 15 centimetres long lacerated wound – ending her Trans Germany ride.
Elisabeth Brandau, leader of the ladies’ category, was also involved in this crash but didn’t get injured as badly. Just a few bruises are the witness to it. “We took care of Pia until someone from the recue team was there. I noticed that the other girls passed by but I didn’t care about results at this point�, said Brandau who finally came in as third (2:37:03.7).
On contrary, Birgit Söllner didn’t see her contender lying on the ground and was surprised when she crossed the finish line as first. “I thought Pia was in front of me. Winning like this is not nice.â€? Milena Landtwing (SUI, Rothaus-Cube) was today’s runner-up in 2:34:16.1 hours.
<b>Christian Pösl finally wins a stage in the master class</b>
Last day’s jinx Christian Pösl from team Tiroler Zugspitz Arena was the fastest master racer today. Bavaria’s champion, who was put back on both stages by a crash and several technical defects, secured his triumph in 2:19:27.0 hours. The bearer of the Blue Jersey, Johann Grasegger from team Garmisch-Partenkirchen (2:18:19.8), was the runner up relegating Heinz Zörweg from Austria to third (2:20:05.5).
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