The Czech festival continues at the 14th Alpentour Trophy in Schladming. Today yesterday’s stage winner Kristian Hynek claims also the second stage, a 16 kilometre time trial with 1,000 meters of elevation up to the Schafalm.
It seems this year no rider is able to compete with Hynek, who finished as fourth in his first Alpentour Trophy last year. After 30 second intervals the top five riders in each elite category where sent out on track with one-minute gaps. In today’s time trial Hynek, who lives near Prague, not only caught up to Urs Huber who had started ahead of him, but also to the Austrian World Champion Alban Lakata, who finished in seventh place today.
Kristian Hynek wears the chocolate jersey, and extends his lead. Photo: Regina Stanger
The Swiss rider Lukas Buchli finished in second place with a gap of about a minute to the winner Hynek.
“Just like yesterday, I had a really good second stage. I mainly focused on Huber and Lakata and managed to expand my lead on them. I’m familiar with tomorrow’s stage from last year and feel very confident. I will concentrate on the general classification from now on rather than stage wins. I want to defend my leader’s jersey until Sunday”, said Hynek in drizzling rain and cool temperatures on top of the Planai.
Lakata: “That was a tough ride.“
The rider from Lienz came across the finish line of today’s second Alpentour Trophy stage shaking his head. “I was quite happy with my performance. However, I am a bit upset about my gap of two minutes to Kristian. The time trial was extremely difficult. The track was soaked from all the rain and really tough to ride.” With his seventh place from today Lakata was still able to keep his third place in the general classification behind Hynek and Urs Huber.
Uber Huber catches Thomas Dietsch, near the top of the Hill Climb TT. Photo: Regina Stanger
In the Master category the Dutch Olympic Champion and silver medal winner from Athens Bart Brentjens lost his leader’s jersey to the German rider Max Friedrich, who claimed the top podium spot with 58:47 minutes ahead of the Czech racer Robert Novotny. Brentjens came in as third with 59:46. The Austrian Max Koch slipped down one spot in the general classification to third place.
In the Elite Women’s field the British rider Sally Bigham rode in a class on her own once again today with a time of 1:04:30. She dominated the Elite Women’s category and was able to remarkably extend her lead in the general classification.
Tomorrow the third Dachstein-stage will have racers cover 73 kilometres and 2800 metres of elevation via the Türlwand Hut and the Brandalm back to the WM-Stadium Planai.
Result 2nd Stage Elite Men:
1. Kristian Hynek / CZE / Specialized MTB Team / 50:26 Min.
2. Lukas Buchli / SUI / BiXS-iXS Pro Team / 51:35 Min.
3. Urs Huber / SUI / STÖCKLI PRO TEAM / 51:43
Overall Classification Elite Men after 2 stages:
1. Kristian Hynek / CZE / Specialized MTB Team / 50:26 Min.
2. Urs Huber / SUI / STÖCKLI PRO TEAM / + 5:12 Min.
3. Alban Lakata / AUT/ Topeak Ergon Racing Team / + 6:08 Min.
Overall Classification Elite Master after 2 stages:
1. Max Friedrich / GER / Ergon 24h Racing Team
2. Bart Brentjens / NED / Milka-Superior mountainbike racing team / +7 Sek.
3. Georg Koch / AUT / Zweirad Janger Simplon /+ 3:17
Overall Classification Elite Women after 2 stages:
1. Sally Bigham / GBR / Topeak Ergon Racing Team
2. Vera Andreeva / RUS / TEAM PROTEK / + 36:20 Min.
3. Monique Zeldenrust (434) / NED / Giant / + 40:54 Min.