Alban Lakata (AUT) has claimed victory on the 3rd stage of the 2011 CRAFT BIKE TRANS GERMANY powered by NISSAN and thus brought home another stage win after he had clinched one each in 2009 and 2010 already. 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 Jersey Christoph Sauser (SUI). The Topeak Ergon Racing rider reached the earlier end of the official timing on Partnachalm after 2:44:36.3 hours and thus only six tenth 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 the third rank (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 rank in the overall ranking by finishing fourth today (2:47:25.0).
Before, the course of the race didn’t seem to bring such a close finish sprint for victory but some serious problems for Sauser to defend his overall lead. In the long and tough ascent to Ehrwalder Alm and further on to the transition to Gaistal, Alban Lakata attacked the man in the Yellow Jersey.
With success; 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. “In the flat, he (Alban Lakata) always had a lead of 15, 20 seconds. And as he is strong in the flat, I saw my lead shrinking.”
But a small gradient after Gaistalalm brought the Bronze medalist of the 2000 Olympics back in 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 has all chances now to keep hold to his last year’s Trans Germany title with only one stage to go tomorrow, Lakata was also all smiles about his racing – despite the attack which wasn’t crowned with success.
“I tried to break away. But in 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-years-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.”
Sundstedt lays foundation to first Trans Germany title
With her third consecutive stage win the Finnish top racer of 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.
British Champion Sally Bigham of Topeak Ergon Racing came in three minutes later (3:09:23.9) and has now a gap of more than 15 minutes to catch up while being the classifier’s runner-up. Milena Landtwing (SUI, 3:10:22.6) of Centurion-Vaude rounded out the podium as third.
Grainau local wins master category
On the side of the master riders, last two year’s Trans Germany winner Johann Grasegger secured his first 2011 stage win. The Garmisch-Partenkirchen Team member rolled in as winner of the 40+ athletes after 2:53:21.0 hours and thus 0.5 seconds ahead of the bearer of the Blue Leader Jersey Carsten Bresser of CRAFT – Rocky Mountain (2:53:21.5).
According to this, the 45-years-old was pretty satisfied with the result: “Of course you are hoping for a win when the stages wraps up in your home town. I noticed in the first climb that it would be a good day, so I gave in all I had.”
However, he also admitted that there is no chance for him to go for the title hattrick: “Carsten (Bresser) is a bit stronger. So he deserves it.”
Tension is rising in the senior master category
Earning a back-to-back win, Milan Spolc put some more pressure on the current leader of the senior master classifier Werner Höpperger. While the Czech of TBR-Bikes-JH Sachsen came in after 3:06:47.9 hours, the lead of today’s third ranked Austrian starting for Team Tiroler Zugspitz Arena (3:10:34.2) shrank down another 3:46 minutes.
Nevertheless, Tyrol’s Senior Champion is still optimistic for tomorrow as he enters the final stage to Maurach/Achensee with a margin of 2:52 minutes. “I underestimated the first climb. But I’m pretty sure that I will bring home the title.”
Ferdinand Ganser finished second in the category for the older than 50 years old participants (3:09:41.2).
Preview Stage 4: Garmisch-Partenkirchen – Maurach/Achensee
The 5th CRAFT BIKE TRANS GERMANY powered by NISSAN concludes with a pretty mellow last stage. The final leg might be the longest one with a total of almost 100 km. But 1,630 meters in elevations is not as harsh as the days before.
Especially, as the race will be neutralized for some 40 kilometers after passing Wallgau. According to this, the first and the third section, starting in Kaiserwacht, are counting for the overall result while only the last part in Austria will be decisive for the stage win.
This stage profile can be seen here