The 12th International Tour of Upper Austria continued on Saturday with the second stage from Eferding to the finish at the ÖkoFEN company headquarters in Niederkappel. On the 129.3 kilometer section with several demanding climbs, the spectators were offered everything that makes top cycling.
Right from the start, more than 130 professional cyclists from 20 nations set a high pace. Towards the middle of the race, a 45-strong lead group formed with all the top Austrian drivers, from which attacks were repeatedly launched. With 40 kilometers to go, Jan Barta from the Elkov-Kasper team attacked, an established driver who only Tomasz Budzinski from Poland (Team HRE Mazowsze Serce Polski) was able to catch up to. The two professional cyclists worked well together and gained a 35-second lead over the peloton. Then Barta had to let it slide and Budzinski drove solo towards the finish line with ten kilometers to go. The 18-year-old Norwegian Per Strand Hagenes (Jumbo Visma Development Team) then broke away from the peloton. The Junior World Champion overtook the leading Pole and saved a 3-second lead over the oncoming peloton to the finish. all results
1,000 spectators at the stage finish
The winner Per Strand Hagenes reached the finish line after 3:07:37 hours, which meant an average of 41.4 kilometers. The sprint of the pursuers was secured by yesterday’s winner Andreas Stokbro Nielsen (Team Coop), who was also able to take the lead in the overall standings and now has a ten-second lead over his closest pursuers Dan Soete and Per Strand Hagenes in the overall standings.
Daniel Eichinger as the best Austrian in 11th place
The strongest driver of an Austrian team today was Jaka Primozic from the Hrinkow Advarics Team with 6th place. The best Austrian of today’s stage was his teammate Daniel Eichinger in 11th place. Florian Gamper from the Felbermayr Simplon Wels team was only one place behind. Florian Gamper is also the best Austrian on the tour and is in 13th place overall, a total of 33 seconds behind the overall leader.
3rd stage from St. Florian/Asten to Hinterstoder
The 3rd and last stage on Sunday goes at 11 a.m. over 133.5 kilometers starting at the Paneum of the Backaldrin company in St. Florian/Asten to Hinterstoder, where the tour is decided with the mountain finish on the Höss, the finish line is around 2.15 p.m clock expected. The nine-kilometre climb with around 1,000 meters in altitude will shake up the overall result again and ensure excitement right up to the last minute on the tour of the country above the Enns.
We will also broadcast the third stage live.
Source: Nachrichten
