Sauser and Marchart-Robeischl celebrate Bike Four Peaks victories

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Jochen Käss has claimed victory on the final stage of the 2014 Bike Four Peaks. The Centurion Vaude team rider mastered the 75km stage from Neukirchen am Großvenediger to Kaprun in 2:46:55. Just a few seconds behind, Kristian Hynek (Topeak Ergon) (2:48:09) and race leader Christoph Sauser (Specialized Racing) (2:47:11) followed.

Thanks to his third place today, reigning marathon world champion Sauser, who had dominated the first three stages of the four-day event, repeated his last year's title triumph. In total, the Swiss racer had pedalled 11:19:00 from Leogang to Kaprun. Topeak Ergon racers Hynek and Alban Lakata rounded out the overall podium as second and third respectively.

"I'm very happy. It's a very nice win. Stage races are my kind of thing. Today, I wasn't focusing on the stage win but on the overall ranking. I kept my own pace in the last climb and rode well in the downhill so I could close the gap to Hynek," said Sauser, who had lost contact in an ascent for the first time during the whole tour.

In the final climb to Maiskogel, Markus Kaufmann had upped the tempo and had successfully broken away. On the race's final trail, however, the winner of the best climber classification wasn't rewarded for his brave attack.

A slow leaking flat threw him back to fourth position when Hynek, Sauser and Kaufmann's teammate Käss flew by under clear skies. It was at least a nice redemption for Käss. "It's a fortunate conclusion of the race for me after I had a really bad second day." Besides bringing home his career's second Four Peaks stage win, he was also pleased with his team's win in the team classification. "That's nice, that was one of our goals."

Team Bulls pro Karl Platt commandingly won the new enduro classification.

Women

In the women's competition, the unbeaten Petra Marchart-Robeischl (RC Union Eindruck Sarleinsbach) triumphed in a time of 3:27:54. Regina Genser (Craft-Rocky Mountain) (3:32:35) and Cornelia Hug (CrazyVeloShop-Scott) (3:33:11) followed in second and third position.

"I was expecting a top-five result. I knew that I'm strong in long climbs but I never would have thought to come in first. This is insane," said Marchart-Robeischl.

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