The inaugural BIKE Four Peaks wrapped up with the third stage win taken by the dominating mountain biker of the past four days. Well deserved title winner Christoph Sauser (SUI) impressively underlined his strength mastering the due to the bad weather conditions over the past days adapted routing from Kaprun to Neukirchen (72.07 km, 1,804 m) in 2:46:15.6 hours.
In total, the two-time World Champion and 2000 Olympic Bronze medalist needed 12:14:36.7 hours to complete the distance of 298.22 km and 8,568 metres in elevation from Ruhpolding right to the foot of the Grossvenediger. As a result, the Swiss racer was more than happy to add another title to his belt.
“This is why we train so hard, to achieve something like this. The three stage wins as well as the title is a nice redemption for all the bad luck I had over the course of the last races I participated in,” explained the 37-years-old Specialized Racing athlete who had also won the last three editions of the Trans Germany, the forerunner event of the BIKE Four Peaks.
Winner of best climber category and overall third Markus Kaufmann (GER, 2:46:30.6) as well as team member Jochen Kaess (GER, 2:47:18.7) of the most successful squad in the team classifier Centurion-Vaude followed as second and third ranked racers of the day. Topeak Ergon Racing rider Alban Lakata (AUT), today’s fourth in 2:47:19.8 hours, secured the runner-up position in the final ranking of the four-day event.
The Austrian had been testing his rival’s shape in the uphill of the last climb to the Wildkogel middle station but had to accept that his own constitution wouldn’t help him in his fight for the best climber and overall classification.
“I tried everything but have to admit that upping the pace went to my cost. I lost a lot of power,” said the rider from East Tyrol who thus lost the “Green Jersey of the Bayerischen Staatsforsten powered by fi’zi:k” for the best climber to Kaufmann.
“But I’m pleased with my three podium finishes and the second position in the overall ranking. However, I surely want to win this event once.”
In contrary, Kaufmann, the reigning German Champion, was more than surprised about his outstanding performance at this year’s stage race: “I wasn’t expecting anything like this coming here in a bad shape. But then I noticed that I was getting into the right mood and went for it. It was a perfect race for me.”
Borghild Loevset drew a similar line when coming in second today right behind of stage winning overall second ranked woman Anja Gradl (GER, 3:19:34.5) of Team Bulls.
After 3:24:38.7 hours, the work day of the Norwegian was over and the title in the women category hers. “This win means a lot to me. This is why I wasn’t risking too much today,” said the bearer of the Pink Jersey who had won the first three stages before.
Today’s third rank went to Regina Ganser (GER, 3:27:14.7) of Craft-Rocky Mountain. Bettina Uhlig (GER) of Wheeler iXS who came in fifth behind of Isabelle Klein (LUX) today, rounded out the women’s overall podium as third.
Carsten Bresser (GER) of Rocky Mountain grabbed the title in the category for the 40+ racers relegating his fellow countryman Andreas Strobel of Centurion-Vaude to the second spot. However it was Strobel who rolled over the finish line just a few seconds ahead of the Blue Jersey (2:58:58.9) thus earning his second stage win at the 2013 BIKE Four Peaks.
Reini Woisetschlaeger (AUT, 3:00:24.5) took third in today’s as well as the overall master classifier.
Technical problems at Heinz Zoerweg’s front tire caused a totally new stage podium on side of the 50+ participants. When the undisputed Austrian bearer of the Green Jersey and later on winner of the grand master category lost more than ten minutes after three kilometres due to a flat, the Arboe Wienenergie Roehsler team rider’s rivals battled it out for victory.
With the better end for Reinhard Braun (GER, 3:17:45.9) who edged off Werner Hoepperger (AUT, 3:18:50.0) and Henrik Cohen (DEN, 3:20:16.5) to second and third. The Danish mountain biker also took the second spot in the final grand master ranking ahead of Paul Scheffauer (AUT).
Results
Men’s Overall results
1. Christoph Sauser (SUI) – Specialized Racing – 12:14:36.7
2. Alban Lakata (AUT) – Topeak Ergon Racing – 12:17:29.1 – + 2:52.4
3. Markus Kaufmann (GER) – Centurion-Vaude – 12:18:59.5 – + 4:22.8
Women’s Overall results
1. Borgild Loevset (NOR) – 14:46:19.1
2. Anja Gradl (GER) – Team Bulls – 15:19:52.9 – +33:33.8
3. Bettina Uhlig (GER) – Wheeler iXS – 15:59:29.1 – +1:13:10.0