ENDURA Alpen-Traum
Italians Clinch One-Two Road Cycling Victory At 2nd ENDURA Alpen-Traum
News Release / 16.09.2014
The top dozen riders would have tried all on the 252 kilometer course but to no avail. Roberto Cunico and Enrico Zen (both Team BERALDO GREENPAPER EUROPA OVINI) proved to be larger-than-life in Saturday's ENDURA Alpen-Traum, an end-of-season road cycle race traversing the Eastern Alps by way of six mountain passes. The two victorious Italians squelched any attack mounted on them with seeming ease finishing in 8:31:11.47 hours (incl. a positive vertical gain of 6,048 meters). Cunico and Zen passed the finish line together with a lead of over 5 minutes on Jörg Ludewig (8:36:51,53 hours, Team ALPECIN) – last year's runner-up. For the dominating Roberto Cunico winning the ENDURA Alpen-Traum was the second notable victory after his recent triumph at the Ötztaler two weeks ago.
”This was more difficult today than [racing] the 'Ötztaler'. And I find the course to be even a bit more scenic” shared Cunico, currently the pre-eminent athlete of marathon events after reflecting on his success at this year's ENDURA Alpen-Traum. Defending champion Stefan Kirchmair (8:53:52,34 hours) had to be satisfied with 8th place, whereas ENDURA Net-App pro rider Andreas Schillinger rode to sixth position (8:47:00,08 hours). Among the Women, Austrian Nadja Prieling was first to arrive in Solda, Italy, after 10:21:23,63 hours on the 252-km course.
Fastest on the alternative short (146-km) course between Landeck (AUT) and Solda (ITA) were Swiss Rico Elmer (5:31:32,92 hours) among the Men, and Marina Ilmer of Italy (6:01:55,25 hours) among the Women.
Defending champion Stefan Kirchmair was noticeably disappointed when arriving at the finish in Solda 22 minutes after the victorious Italians. “The first half of the course went reasonably well but I seemed to lack the necessary energy already before Passo di Resia”. Twenty-six year-old Kirchmair had claimed coveted third position in this year's Ötztaler 'Rad-Marathon' but - by his own admission - two weeks had not allowed for sufficient recovery. “There may be a few riders out there who can recuperate [within that timeframe] but normal mortals like me can not”.
In contrast, Jörg Ludewig, a former pro with TELEKOM, was clearly savoring third position which he had fought hard for repeatedly over the course the day. For the thirty-nine year-old, third place brings some form of closure to his successful career. “This was my last major marathon race. I will turn forty soon and become a parent on top of that – time for change. I'm savouring third place because I managed to pace myself well this year – unlike last year when I caved in late in the race”. By his own admission, Ludewig owed much to pro Andreas Schillinger who had assisted him tremendously with pacing on the climbs to Passo Umbrail and Stelvio, respectively – thereby forfeiting any chance for a podium position of his own.
Victory in the Master Category (252 km) went to UCI world champion Bernd Hornetz who openly rejoiced over riding to 4th position overall. “Coming in fourth [position] is even more valuable to me than 1st place among the Masters”. Alessandro Bertuola – yet another Beraldo rider - cemented the superior performance of the Italian Beraldo-Equipe with his arrival in 5th place. Following him were Andreas Schillinger (ENDURA Net-App) in 6th place, Roman Herrmann in 7th place (3rd in 2013) and Stefan Kirchmair in 8th position.
For Roberto Cunico's Venetian team the race went clearly to plan. The Italians with World champion Bernd Hornetz surprised the competition with a pro-style race tactic when Alessandro Bertuola all of a sudden took off on the climb to the Oberjoch. His ensuing lead of nearly 5 minutes forced other top favorites like Stefan Kirchmair and Andreas Schillinger to compromise some of their reserves early on.
Conditions on the course also wouldn't have made the chase any easier. When Sonthofen's mayor sent the athletes on their way at dawn, the Alpen may have lived up to reputation but the weather was anything but a 'Traum' (dream). Soaking rain, temperatures around 5°C down low and the first couple of mountain passes soaring nearly a full kilometer above valley elevation couldn't possibly have boosted the morale of the racers. Indeed, the Hahntennjoch shrouded in dense fog at temperatures close to the freezing point offered up perilously slippery tarmac which was good for a first cull in the peleton. By the time the racers reached Pillerhoehe [Pass] – with the tough passes all still ahead - the field had already pulled apart. Only a small group of eight elite riders decided to give chase to renegade Bertuola. Of them, Andreas Schillinger went for a desparate dash on the flat sec0tion up Passo di Resia, which neither Kirchmair nor Hermann were able to p0arry. It was the climb up Passo Umbrail (2,501 m), however, that brought th0e foreboding judgment.
Cunico and Zen demonstrated their prowess on the relentless and steep climb passing Ludewig and Schillinger fleet-of-foot with Hornetz and Bertuola already as a backdrop.
Cunico, who impressed by riding out-of-saddle most of the time during the course's succession of six climbs proved predominant on the penultimate climb to Passo dello Stelvio (2,757 m) affording him the leisure of waiting atop for team colleague Zen. The two Italians mastered the ensuing 48 switchbacks on the descent with the same authority with their lead not once being called into question after that point.
Andreas Schillinger - on the other hand- felt little pressure to go all out during his first marathon race and was happy to fall back some. “Passo dello Stelvio was great fun – an altogher different experience from a little farther back” shared Schillinger, who had raced at this year's Tour de France only six weeks ago.
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