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Christoph Sauser claims 2010 CRAFT BIKE TRANS GERMANY

Press Release / 07.06.2010

Christoph Sauser (SUI) from Specialized Factory Racing has clinched the victory at the 2010 CRAFT BIKE TRANS GERMANY powered by NISSAN. The former Marathon World Champion indeed crossed the finish line as third today (2:23:37.1), right behind of Robert Mennen (GER, 2:23:34.8) and Alban Lakata (AUT, 2:23:35.8), who both celebrated a 1-2 punch for Topeak Ergon Racing on the leg from Sonthofen to Bregenz. But in the end, the lead of 1:50 minutes, which the Swiss rider had gained on Lakata over the last four days, was enough to hold back his strongest contender for the 2010 title. Lakata thus had to settle for second. Christian Schneidawind from Texpa Simplon, who came in as eighth (2:25:01.9) defended his third rank in the overall standings.

The decision about the win at the last 74.50 kilometres long stage and its 1,365 metres in altitude, which had an edgy and fidgety character, mainly leading downwards than upwards – despite the 15 kilometre climb to Riedbergpass – took place in the last third of the routing, right after the best climber classifier before Buch.

In the last part of the climb, the small group of Sauser, Lakata and Mennen broke away. An attack, which finally paid off. “I’m so stoked,� said Robert Mennen after his first Trans Germany stage win; especially as he had to burry all hopes for his set goal to finish in the top-5 of the overall ranking when an upset stomach made him suffer big times at the second stage. “That’s the reason why I definitely wanted to win a stage.�

Sauser a worthy champion

Due to the attack to bring home the stage win for Topeak Ergon Racing, the bearer of the Yellow Jersey had to find the right answer. So did Christoph Sauser: “I had to watch out the whole day as there also was the duel for the third overall rank between Christian (Schneidawind) and Thomas (Dietsch). And as Alban (Lakata) always held the pace I also had to do so.�

According to this, “Susi� was all smiles. “On the one hand as it was my first stage race win for a long time. And on the other hand as it was the first big triumph on a 29er bike. It was a lot of fun,� explained the 34-years-old from Sigriswil, who needed the total time of 10:23:38.4 hours for the four days of racing over 286.13 kilometres and 7,212 metres in altitude.

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