Only once in its long history did the Wels Cherry Blossom Race, which took place on Sunday (from 8.45 a.m. in the live stream on nachrichten.at) climbs for the 60th time and enjoys classic status in cycling circles, had to be shortened due to snowfall. According to the weather report, there is hardly any danger for the anniversary despite adverse forecasts, even if the local heroes from the Felbermayr team were well prepared. The stage of the Tour des Ardennes in France was even canceled yesterday because of the onset of winter.
“It would have been too dangerous,” said Wels sports director Andreas Grossek. Danger also threatens the home competition on Sunday. If only from a sporting point of view. Daniel Turek’s runaway success two weeks ago at the league opener in Leonding shook up the competition. Strong foreign teams have signed up for the race, which is part of the ÖRV Radliga for the first time, and the local teams also want to stand up to this time. To make matters worse, the people of Wels only return home on Sunday night.
Riccardo Zoidl, also one of the favorites and winner in 2013, saved himself the trip to France. “He had corona symptoms, but thank God they didn’t get worse. He should be fit in time for Sunday,” says Thomas Kofler, his sporting director at Team Vorarlberg.
Juniors, amateurs and women also sit in the saddle at the classic. Last year it was the twin sisters Kathrin and Christina Schweinberger who put their stamp on the Bundesliga competition and crossed the finish line hand in hand. That probably won’t be the case this time. The siblings are driving in different professional teams abroad for the first time.
Gogl protects the superstar
Sunday’s Amstel Gold Race in Holland continues at the highest level of performance. Wolfsegger Michael Gogl, who was eighth there in 2017, is again in action as the “bodyguard” in the Alpecin team for favorite Mathieu van der Poel. (free)
Source: Nachrichten
