Wloszczowska wins Bike the Rock

Maja Wloszcowska (CCC Polokowice) and Florian Vogel (Scott Swisspower) grabbed the elite titles the at third round of MTB Bundesliga International in Heubach, Germany. Poland's Wloszczowska had a hard battle with Lisi Osl (Ghost Factory Racing Team) while Irina Kalentieva (Topeak Ergon) took third in the HC-category race. Vogel showed himself to be stronger than Wolfram Kurschat (Topeak Ergon) and Moritz Milatz (BMC).

First time in 11 editions, the Bike the Rock mountain bike festival had a winner from Poland. After winning the silver medal at Worlds last weekend, Wloszczowska extended her season until the 2012 Worlds test race in Saalfelden, Austria. So she was in a good shape but had a hard time againt Osl. The Austrian was able to keep with Wloszczowska until the last lap.

"She was really strong today," Wloszczowska said of Osl.

Russian Kalentieva, who has lived for eight years in the Heubach area, was happy to make the podium in front of her "home crowd". "I felt good but Maja and Lisi were stronger. I'm fine with my third place," she said.

Olympic Champion Sabine Spitz (Central Haibike) of Germany took fourth place. "I had some problems in the downhill... maybe caused by my hard crash at the Worlds. But on the climb, I felt pretty good," she said after finishing ahead of Italian Eva Lechner.

Vogel races to solo win

In the men's competition, Florian Vogel struggled during the first two laps on the slippery downhill. Then he earned a gap in front of his chasers, Wolfram Kurschat, Moritz Milatz and Lukas Flückiger (Trek World Racing)

Kurschat was strong in the uphill section, but only until the fourth lap. "My energy was down then. I was not that strong in the uphill today. Florian was strong as me, but I'm satisfied with my second place"," Kurschat said.

In the remaining three laps, Vogel raced hard to grow his advantage.

"It was not too bad today. But it is hard to fight if you know a locomotive is coming behind you," said Vogel, pointing to Kurschat.

Milatz had a crash in the very first lap and lost contact with Vogel. "It makes me worry, but I felt much better than at the Worlds. I don't know whether I could stay with Florian," Milatz said while bleeding from his elbow.

Nino Schurter (Scott Swisspower) finished on ninth position.. The runner up at the Worlds was ill. He held onto sixth place until last lap, when he flatted and lost three places. "I knew that I could not deliver a big show today," he said.

Litscher raced the U23

U23 world champion Thomas Litscher (Felt Ötztal X-Bionic World Cup Team) raced the U23 event so he'd have one chance to present his rainbow jersey in competition.

"This is not a good course for me, but I enjoyed riding in the jersey," said the Swiss racer after finishing third behind German national Under champ Markus Schulte-Lünzum (Focus MIG) and another German Julian Schelb (Lexware Racing).

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