Lakata takes stage 3 win at AlpenTour Trophy

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Alban Lakata won a shortened, 53km stage 3, the queen stage, despite a mechanical. He crossed the line in a downhill sprint finish, just ahead of fellow Austrian Christoph Soukup. Jiri Novak was third, ahead of race leader Kristian Hynek, who was able to defend his leader's jersey today.

A lead group of four riders took off quickly after the first feed zone at about 21 kilometres. Apart from the three overall leading elite men - Hynek, Lakata and Novak - Soukup was there and able to ride away with them.

At the last descent from the Dachstein range, Lakata took his chances and attacked. "It looked promising, and I was able to get away," said Lakata, who hasn't given up on the overall win yet.

"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."

"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 was very content with his performance. The Austrian was pleasantly surprised about the comfy temperatures out on course. "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 Hynek defended his leader's jersey ahead of Lakata and 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," he said.

Women

The overall lead in the elite women's field is firmly in the British hands of Sally Bigham, who took out the day'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 Bigham, who is preparing for the British marathon championships next weekend in Scotland.

Bigham's teammate from the Topeak Ergon Racing Team, Milena Landtwing came in second and is also second overall ahead of Norway's Kristin Aamodt

Stage 4: Last stage onto the Hauser Kaibling mountain

Tomorrow is the final stage of the Alpentour Trophy. It will kick off at at the Planai Stadium at 10:00 am and take riders over 56 kilometer and 2,000m of climbing.

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