Giger and Neff win Afxentia stage 2

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Giant Pro XC riders Jolanda Neff and Fabian Giger won stage 2 of the Afxentia stage race and took over as race leaders on Friday. Following 52km starting and finishing in Lefkara, Giger defeated Ondrej Cink (Multivan Merida) and Julian Schelb (Multivan Merida) while Neff finished ahead of Annika Langvad (Specialized) and Adelheid Morath (Sabine Spitz Haibike).

Men

In the men's race, Giger and Cink moved to the front on the first climb and got a gap. Then, five riders closed to them as they went into a lengthy singletrack descent.

The lead group split up on the downhill, but later came back together. Florian Vogel (Scott Odlo), who was struggling on the first climb, also closed the gap. Then yesterday's time trial winner and race leader Jan Skarnitzl (SRAM Rubena Trek) got a flat tire and lost contact with the leaders.

The last 4km brought steep climbing. Giger attacked, and Cink was the only one who could follow. They were in touch until the last kilometer when Giger attacked again and went on for the stage win with a 12-second advantage.

"Today, I felt good and my result is good, too," said Giger. "In the uphill sections, I felt very good, but I think Jan Skarnitzl would have been a strong contender without his flat tire. It's great to have such a good start into the season."

Cink finally was fine with his second place. "I felt very good today, but Fabian is a strong rider. He was attacking and I tried to keep the pace. I am happy with the result, it's a good start into the season."

Behind them, Schelb tried to keep his rhythm, then lost the contact for short time, but was able to close again. Together with Vogel, he reached the finish straight. The runner up at last year's U23 world championship was able to outsprint the former European champion, taking third position on the podium.

"At the beginning, I had to suffer to close a gap I got. Then I went in to first position on the downhill and into control," said Schelb. "Afterwards my speed was going down a bit. It was rather clear that Giger and Cink will be the strongest in the last uphill. I tried to keep my own rhythm in the climb and then I was able to outsprint Vogel on the finish straight. I think I did everything right." Schelb finished 20 seconds back.

Vogel missed the podium, but was not unhappy with his day. "The speed on the first uphill was too fast for me. I was able to come back together with Michiel van der Heijden because the gap never was really big. I felt good, and I was really excited about the cool singletrack. That was a lot of fun and despite missing the podium spot, my balance is positive."

Marco Fontana (Cannondale Factory Racing) finished fifth, despite a crash. "It was a mistake, but it was not the big thing. I am okay with it," he said.

Swede Emil Lindgren (Giant Pro XC) lost all chances after a flat tire right at the beginning of the race.

Women

The three top female finishers led from the start. After 15 kilometres, Jolanda Neff, Adelheid Morath and Annika Langvad were leading with a comfortable one-minute gap.

The trio was also on the podium after day 1. When it came to the singletrack down from Kionia, Neff was able to drop Langvad and Morath. The Swiss rider is well known as a fast downhiller and her escape proved decisive for the stage.

"I felt very comfortable today. The downhill was really cool," Neff said, all smiles after finishing 2:30 in front of her nearest next competitor.

Behind her, Langvad escaped from Morath. The time trial winner came closer at the end, but Langvad put in everything she had in the last uphill and crossed the finish line 23 seconds in front of Morath.

"I still miss the intensity, but when I saw Adelheid coming closer, I decided to test how my body reacts, when I go full gas. It worked out and so I am happy with my day," said Langvad.

Morath was also satisfied with the second stage. "It was clear that Jolanda would attack on the downhill. I tried to ride safe, because I didn't know the singletrack. Of course, it was a disadvantage not to know it before."

Her teammate Sabine Spitz missed the attack at the beginning. "There was a mix with the juniors, and I could not follow. After that point, I was solo the entire time. Anyway, I am fine with my performance," said Spitz at 6:32 back.

Tereza Hurikova was fifth after suffering on the first climb. "I could not hold the speed. It's mostly the same as always, but then I was finally going like someone switched me on, and I could go faster." She lost 7:25 minutes on the day.

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