Periklis makes history with stage three win

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For the first time in the history of the Alpentour Trophy, a Greek rider won a stage. Periklis Ilias (Team Protek) is the winner of today's time trial onto the Planai Mountain, Jacob Nimpf (Zweirad Janger Simplon) was third as best Austrian in the field. Uwe Hochenwarter (Muskelkater Genesis Team), second overall, took a beating

As if the steep incline of the mountain didn't exist – that's how the Greek rider Ilias raced towards the finish at the Schafalm, which lies high above Schladming on 1,100m. He was also the only rider among the by now 276-strong field who stayed below the magic 50-minute mark. He stopped the clock at a time of 49:36.

Yesterday, a crash yesterday had set Ilias back right after the start (fourth), but today the course was right up the Team Protek rider's alley. "Technically I'm not too good, but climbing I like. I gambled with a win. And that it actually worked out today makes me really happy," said the mountain bike and road racer.

Coming in 27 seconds behind Ilias, the current leader in the King of the Mountain classification, Jukka Vastaranta (Milka Trek), held true to his word from yesterday that he would push hard during the time trial.

The real sensation of the day, however, happened 34 further seconds behind the Finnish rider: Jacob Nimpf (24) from the Zweirad Janger Simplon Team astonishingly took out the third podium position as best Austrian among the field. "This is unreal, especially because I had to study until way past midnight for my upcoming exams," said the medical student from Lower Austria, who has a bit of a soft spot for climbing and riding at the limit.

A reverse podium for the elite women

There was a surprising turn of events in the elite female field. The to date third-positioned Dutch rider Mirre Stallen (Cube - Nutswerk MTB Team) took out the day's stage win in 1:05:45 ahead of Mary McConneloug (Kenda/Seven/NoTubes) and Katrin Leumann – even though the two elite racers confirmed at the top that they had ridden well and with "good legs".

"It's weird that I love the mountains, being Dutch and all, but it's true," said the amateur rider from the Cube Nutswerk team, visibly excited not only about climbing hills but also about the Alpentour in general.

Even though today's stage with 15 km / 1,100m was short in comparison to the ones so far, most of the riders arrived at the finish line drained and worn out. Many hobby riders had completely exhausted themselves in the soft alpine grassland terrain and gravel roads – among them was snowboard double world champion Benjamin Karl. "I knew that I would suffer today," said the Lower Austrian. Overall, however, the winter sports athlete is coping surprisingly well with his first mountain bike stage race – together with Mario Färberböck and Martin Feichtegger his "Weltmeisterteam" (World Champion Team) is leading the team classification within the sport category.

Considerably more relaxed "MTBabe" Eva Bouwen approached the exceptional physical stress. The Belgian sport category rider is coming in at the end of the field, holding the "Lantern Rouge" with her teammate Hanne Geudens. Yesterday the two outgoing ladies in hot-pink had reached the finish at 17:30 with a few photo-stops and walking some sections and today they used the time trial to "take in even more impressions of this breathtaking landscape".

Fight for second place overall

In the overall classification the heat is on. Not in terms of the overall lead, though.  that one is firm in Russian hand – Alexey Medvedev increased his lead to over eight minutes with a fourth place today. However, Ilias, with his stage win today is causing Muskelkater Genesis Team rider Uwe Hochenwarter (currently in second) distress. Contrary to expectations, the Austrian had struggled physically today with his "body that was not performing as it should" and came in 12th. Now he has only a 16-second lead against his chaser, who smells the bacon already.

"I do think that a second place is within reach," said the Greek racer.

In the masters and female overall categories, everything seems to have been decided – Robert Novotny leads with 11 minutes, Katrin Leumann with 13. Nevertheless Mary McConneloug wants to take her last chance to take out a daily stage and for that she hopes for a course that is as tough as the one from yesterday. "That was unbelievable, inspiring, just glorious! I love this kind of suffering and the battle against the elements," said the American who is on tour racing in Europe.

With an undulating, singletrack-heavy first third part of the course, a tough climb onto the Hauser Kaibling Mountain and a last trial of the riders' endurance on the Fastenberg peak those desires could well be fulfilled...

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