Alban Lakata takes stage win at Alpentour Trophy ahead of Soukup
Double victory for Austria at the third stage of the Int. Alpentour Trophy via the Dachstein mountain.
The European Marathon Champion Alban Lakata won on the shortened 54 km and 2200m queen stage despite a mechanical and crossed the line in a downhill sprint finish just ahead of fellow Austrian Christoph Soukup. Third was Jiri Novak from the Czech Republic ahead of fourth finisher Kristian Hynek, who was able to defend his leaders jersey today.
Austria is celebrating a stage win in Schladming at this year’s Int. Alpentour Trophy, which is one of the four biggest UCI mountain bike stage races world-wide. A lead group of four riders took off quickly after the first feed zone after about 21 kilometres. Apart from the three overall leading elite men Kristian Hynek, Alban Lakata and Jiri Novak also the double-Olympian Christoph Soukup was able to ride away.
At the last descend from the Dachstein range Alban Lakata took his chances and attacked. “It looked promising and I was able to get away. However, right then I had a mechanical and had to get off the bike to fix my flat tire. Luckily I was able to close up to the leaders again. And at the downhill section into the finish I was lucky to be the first to get onto the narrow trail – it was very slippery and dangerously fast and I’m happy that I made it”, said Lakata across the line, who hasn’t given up on the overall win just yet. “I wanted to get away from Hynek today and create a gap and without the mechanical I would have made it. The overall win is still on the cards, tomorrow everything is possible. I will attack on the last stage and try hard. However, in these rough weather conditions a lot of things can go wrong and a mechanical costs always at least two minutes.”
Soukup: "It was surpirsingly warm"
Christoph Soukup was very content with his performance today. The Austrian was pleasantly surprised about the comfy temperatures out on track, “Compared to the last two stages today was practically a tropical race. My legs felt heavy during the first half of the race, I was just able to hold onto the lead group. Tomorrow’s plan is to attack again and maybe I’ll get even a stage win.”
In the overall elite men’s classification, last year’s winner Kristian Hynek defended his Milka-leaders jersey ahead of Alban Lakata and Jiri Novak. “Today wasn’t my day and I had to work hard to stay with the front group. I’m content with my fourth place today and to hold onto my gap. Tomorrow is another race day and I’ll give it my best”, said the Czech rider.
The overall lead in the elite women’s field is firmly in the British hands of Sally Bigham, who took out today’s stage win again. “Finally it was a bit warmer today! On top of it I put on more clothes and for the first time I was able to go to the limit”, said the successful rider who added that she this year’s Alpentour Trophy will be good preparation for the British marathon championships in Scotland next Saturday for her.
Sally’s team mate from the Topeak Ergon Racing Team, Milena Landtwing (SUI) came in second today and is also second overall ahead of Norway’s Kristin Aamodt who completes the very international elite women leaders podium.
In the overall amateur classification a young Austrian defended his lead again today. “Today I took it easy on the descends”, said the 29-year old Christoph Zaller from Salzburg. “I didn’t want to risk anything on the steep downhill sections”, he added and that he was confident to claim the overall win tomorrow. Zaller leads by 13 minutes ahead of Koen Van Haaster (NED).
Last stage onto the Hauser Kaibling mountain
Tomorrow is the final stage of the 15th Int. Alpentour Trophy. It will kick off at at the Planai Stadium at 10am and take riders onto the 56 kilometer and 2000m stage, which will run via the Weissenbach village and onto the Hauser Kaibling mountain. This year’s winner is expected to cross the finish line by 12:30pm back in Schladming.
Results Stage 03, Schladming-Dachstein-Schladming:
Elite Men:
1. Alban Lakata, AUT, 2:34,14 Std.
2. Christoph Soukup, AUT, 2:34,15 Std.
3. Jiri Novak, CZE, 2:34,16 Std.
4. Kristian Hynek, CZE, 2:24,20 Std.
5. Sören Nissen, DEN, 2:36,58 Std.
Elite Women:
1. Sally Bigham, GBR, 3:02,57 Std.
2. Milena Landtwing, SUI, 3:15,34 Std.
3. Kristin Aamodt, NOR, 3:24,52 Std.
Overall standing after 3 stages:
Elite Men:
1. Kristian Hynek, CZE, 6:47,24 Std.
2. Alban Lakata, AUT, plus 2:03 Min.
3. Jiri Novak, CZE, plus 4:50 Min.
4. Christoph Soukup, AUT, plus 8:24 Min.
5. Frans Claes, BEL, plus 10:14 Min.
Elite Women:
1. Sally Bigham, GBR, 8:29,04 Std.
2. Milena Landtwing, SUI, 8:50,44 Std.
3. Kristin Aamodt, NOR, 9:11,12 Std.