Longo takes over lead atAlpenTour Trophy

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Yesterday's victory took its toll on the Colombian rider Leonardo Paez. During today’s second stage of the AlpenTour Trophy in Schladming he finished third and lost too much time against the Italian stage winner Tony Longo, who took the overall lead. In the women’s classification, the Belgian National Champion Githa Michiels secured herself the stage win on today’s 14km time trial onto the Planai mountain.

Weather conditions were perfect again as Longo clocked a 52:36 record time. Swiss rider Lukas Buchli was second at 1:12 and third, with a gap of 1:15, was the previous overall leader from yesterday Paez. Austrian Hermann Pernsteiner was sixth with a gap of 1:44 behind the Dutch rider Hans Becking and former world champion Roel Paulissen.

"Today was my first mountain time trial, and my legs felt great. Right from the beginning, I found my rhythm and was able to keep up a good pace," said the happy reigning Italian Marathon National Champion Longo at the finish. A

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At the 2009 Alpentour Trophy, Long was third and he has since has proven his talent at numerous World Cup races. In contrast to Longo’s strong performance, was the Colombian Paez's race. "Today I rode at my limit. My legs were heavy from yesterday’s stage."

Paulissen made a technical mistake right at the start and slowed himself into third overall. "I should have checked out today’s track beforehand. The ascents were so steep and lighter tires would have been a big advantage."

Women

Reigning Belgian National Champion Githa Michiels was unbeatable today among the women. She won with a gap of 1:15 ahead of the Ukrainian overall women’s leader Yana Belomoina. Third was the Swiss rider Milena Landtwing.

In the overall classification, the Ukrainian National and European Champion as well as World Cup winner Belomoina is ahead of Landtwing with an impressive lead of 7:17 and she is 8:43 ahead of Michiels.

"I lost my chances to win the race overall yesterday, because of bad stomach cramps. I’m racing for the second overall place now. Unless Yana still has a really bad day I think the top spot is out of reach now," said Michiels today.

Tomorrow’s third stage starts again at 10am at the Planai Stadium. With 69km and 2,800m of elevation, it will be the longest stage in the race and will take riders high up to the Türlwand Hut at the foot of the Dachstein mountain and then on to the picturesque towns of Ramsau, Pichl and back to the finish in Schladming.

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