By winning also the second stage of the 2011 CRAFT BIKE TRANS GERMANY powered by NISSAN Christoph Sauser extended his lead in the overall ranking today and thus could only be knocked off the course to a successfully title defense by injury or technical defect on the two remaining stages. After his great victory on yesterday’s opener, the Swiss from Sigriswil mastered the 78 kilometers and 2,298 meters in elevation from Pfronten to Lermoos (Austria) in 3:06:30.2 hours. The Specialized Factory Racing biker brought home an additional advantage of 23.5 second over his main competitor and today’s runner-up Alban Lakata (AUT, 3:06:53.7) from Topeak Ergon Racing. Like yesterday, Markus Kaufmann of Centurion-Vaude rounded out the podium as third (3:07:59.8).
But unlike the day before, the decision wasn’t made in the last climb, where the so far dominating two men of this year’s Trans Germany were able to break away from the leading group of five. Sauser deprived the reigning World Champion from Austria in the hilly and extremely cross country like terrain thereafter.
“This is where I attacked, right on the undulating and uneven track. I went full speed, relaxed and went full speed again”, the 2000 Olympic Bronze medalist said. “It’s perfect that I was able to gain some more seconds on the last kilometers”, so Sauser further on, who know has to survive only two more days until he successfully kept hold to the Trans Germany title.
Regarding the Swiss athlete’s outstanding performance close to the finish line, also Alban Lakata, who had aimed for a nice attack himself, had to approvingly raise his hat to Sauser. “I was always balls to the walls but noticed that he (Sauser) was always able to keep up. I tried to step up pressure but he is definitely too strong at the moment”, the Austrian Champion stated.
Platt’s attack wasn’t crowned with success
However, for a long time it didn’t even look like a duel for victory. After a crash right in the beginning of the stage, Karl Platt had to change his back wheel thus pedaling in front of the field. After the change worked out fine and pretty fast, the 2007 Trans Germany decided to go for the holeshot.
“When I noticed that I’m still in front after the change I attacked and gave in everything I had”, the 33-years-old said. The Team Bulls pilot stayed in the wind for more than half of the race but was caught up again in the last ascent around Rinnen.
“Of course it’s a pity that it didn’t worked out with a podium spot”, the 2008 German Marathon Champion summed up.
It was Markus Kaufmann to claim the last top-3-finish, who is also still leading the best climber category with the maximum of 50 points.
“Now, I have to keep an eye on my competitors for the overall ranking podium. According to this, I won’t bend over backwards to secure the best climber classifier”, the 29-years-old bearer of the Green Jersey of the Bayerischen Staatsforsten said.
Pia Sundstedt again in front
On the women’s side, Pia Sundstedt also clinched her second day win in a row. The Finn of CRAFT – Rocky Mountain came in after 3:29:41.8 hours and thus was more than five minutes faster than runner-up Sally Bigham (GBR, 3:34:06.1) of Topeak Ergon Racing. Milena Landtwing (SUI, 3:40:20.6) of Centurion-Vaude finished third.
With this back-to-back-win in mind, the 36-years-old is optimistic for the last two days: “Also it was tough so far, it went pretty well for me. I hope that I will recover well and that I have a good group again tomorrow.”
Finish sprint for Master victory
In the category for the 40+ racers, Lars van der Sloot crossed the finish line after 3:22:56.1 hours and thus only 0.6 seconds ahead of the man in the Blue Jersey, Carsten Bresser (3:22:56.7) of CRAFT – Rocky Mountain.
Title defender Johann Grasegger of Team Garmisch-Partenkirchen came in as third (3:25:12.1), also with only three seconds advantage over fourth ranked Holger Sievers of Conway Racing Team.
Senior Master title defender fights back
Yesterday, Milan Spolc was part of the beaten ones in the field of the 50+ bikers placing third with a deficit of more than 8:30 minutes. But today was payback time as the winner of the last two Trans Germany editions impressively fought back.
The Czech rider of TBR-Bikes-JH Sachsen mastered the stage to Lermoos in 3:43:16.8 hours. As senior master leader Werner Höpperger (AUT, 3:45:22.5) followed as second, the Team Tiroler Zugspitz Arena athlete’s overall lead shrank by a bit more than two minutes. Olav Tronnes (NOR, 3:47:28.0) came in as third.
Preview Stage 3: Lermoos – Garmisch-Partenkirchen
After the stage warm-up over the Tuftlalm, it’s time to climb up to the Ehrwalder Alm, the highest peak of this year’s Trans Germany.
Thereafter, a long descent follows down Elmau. From there, the field pedals up to the Partnachalm, where the timing will terminate on top – but not the stage itself which has still the SCOTT finish sprint in Petto.