Craft Bike Trans Germany
Lakata Comes Back to Win Stage 3
News Release / 03.06.2011
On the 83.40 kilometers and 1,881 meters in elevation from Lermoos (Austria) to Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Germany), the reigning World Champion successfully competed against the bearer of the Yellow Leader’s Jersey Christoph Sauser (SUI). The Topeak Ergon Racing rider reached the finish after 2:44:36.3 hours, only six tenths before his rival of Specialized Factory Racing (2:44:36.9).
Team Bulls racer Tim Böhme was the fastest of the chasing group sprinting for third place (2:47:24.1). While the German celebrated his first 2011 Trans Germany podium, Markus Kaufmann, the leading man in the best climber classifier, secured his third place in the overall ranking by finishing fourth today (2:47:25.0).
In the long, tough ascent to Ehrwalder Alm and further on to the transition to Gaistal, Alban Lakata attacked the man in the Yellow Jersey and the defending champion had to lose contact. “I temporarily lost control of the race. I couldn’t keep up with the pace at the end of the climb�, Sauser recalled. “On the flat, he (Alban Lakata) always had a lead of 15, 20 seconds. And as he is strong on the flat, I saw my lead shrinking.�
But a small gradient after Gaistalalm brought the Bronze medalist of the 2000 Olympics back into the game. “I was able to catch up again at this kicker. But I definitely had to fight hard today.�
While the Swiss from Sigriswil is still favourite to keep of the Trans Germany title with only one stage to go tomorrow, Lakata was also all smiles about his race – despite the attack which wasn’t crowned with success.
“I tried to break away. But on the flat part I had too much headwind to deal with. So I decided to save some energy and go for the stage win as this is always a goal of mine�, the Austrian Champion of the last consecutive three years said. However, the 31-year-old from East Tyrol, who still has a deficit of more than 1:20 minutes to cope with added with regards to tomorrow’s final stage: “It’s a new game, so let’s wait and see.�
<b>Sundstedt lays foundation to first Trans Germany title</b>
With her third consecutive stage win the Finnish top racer of Team CRAFT – Rocky Mountain has impressively underlined her claim to bring home the women’s title. The 36-years-old put her main rivals for the Trans Germany crown in their place once again when crossing the finish line after 3:06:24.3 hours.
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