Cyclists are tough. In the heart of Linz, the 12th edition of the Tour of Upper Austria started on Thursday evening in pouring rain with the prologue to the Castle Museum. As in the previous year, the steep sprint over 651 meters and 37 meters in altitude fell to the Belgian Daan Soete, who reached the top in 1:04.37 minutes and relegated compatriot Lander Loockx to second place. As tenth in the cyclo-cross World Championships, the explosive Soete was one of the few to be happy with the adverse conditions.
Sports celebrities such as ice hockey crack Brian Lebler, athlete Verena Mayr or ex-biathlete Christoph Sumann also braved the weather and mastered the slippery cobblestones in the city center on racing bikes. Those responsible for the local cycling association around President Harald Mayer, who canceled the Tour of Austria for the third time a few days ago, left the event in the rain and were only noticed by their absence. The OÖ-Tour is the largest road bike race in this country again this year.
Not only yesterday’s start was spectacular, today’s trip from the Max.Center in Wels to Ranshofen in the kingdom of Austria’s largest aluminum group, AMAG, also promises a lot. At one stage of the tour last year, Upper Austria’s all-round enthusiastic association president Paul Resch was introduced to a cycling fan who turned out to be AMAG board member Gerald Mayer. “Normally, it’s not that easy to get into the plant, it’s like a high-security wing,” says Resch. Spectators are therefore not allowed, with the exception of company employees and members of the tour entourage.
Tour de France in mind
The Innviertler Sebastian Schönberger is currently recommended in France for higher orders. The 28-year-old, who works for the B&B Hotels team, drove for the second time in the breakaway group of the day on Thursday’s top-class Dauphine Tour and was only caught 50 meters from the finish line. Overall leader Wout Van Aert (Jumbo) won the stage. After the hussar rides, the first start in the Tour de France is within reach for Schönberger.
Prologue in Linz (651 m):
1. Daan Soete 1:04.37 mins,
2. Lander Loockx (both Bel) both CX Team Deschacht-Group 1:05.06,
3. Rick Pluimers (Ned) Jumbo-Visma 1:05.61;
also: 11. Daniel Federspiel (Austria) Felbermayr Simplon Wels 1:10.20.
Today, from 12 p.m.: 1st stage (168.4 km) Max.Center Wels – AMAG Ranshofen
Source: Nachrichten
