Kulhavy and Langvad clinch overall wins at Afxentia

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Germany's Wolfram Kurschat (Topeak-Ergon) and Tereza Hurikova (Sabine Spitz-Haibike) took the last stage at Afxentia Stage Race in Macheras Forest, Cyprus. World champion Jaroslav Kulhavy (Specialized Factory Racing) took second spot in the men's race in front of Emil Lindgren and Fabian Giger (both Rabobank-Giant). Kulhavy won the overall classification ahead of Lindgren and Giger. Sabine Spitz (Sabine Spitz-Haibike) and Annika Langvad (Fujibikes Rockets) rounded out the top three for the day in the women's race while Langvad who secured the overall in front of Hurikova and Spitz.

On Sunday, there were two races in one. First there was the multi-lap cross country stage, but there was also the overall contest to be concluded.

Men

For the first half of the men's race, it seemed like the fight for the overall would involve the same players as the fight for the stage.

Jaroslav Kulhavy, Emil Lindgren, Fabian Giger , Manuel Fumic (Cannondale Factory Racing) were all within 42 seconds of each other in the overall classification. They were joined by U23 world champion Thomas Litscher in the lead group.

Lindgren and Giger attacked Kulhavy several times, but couldn't escape.

"Fabian and I, we were trying from the beginning," said Lindgren. "We attacked several times but Jaroslav was too strong. He is not world champion for nothing. I had nothing more than I gave. The race for us was focused on the overall. Probably it would have gone another way, if we were fighting for the stage win."

It was on the fourth of six laps when Wolfram Kurschat joined the lead group, coming from a position around 30th at the beginning of the race.

"In the first lap, I had to suffer a lot, but suddenly the legs were open. Probably the others were going too fast at the beginning," said Kurschat afterward.

Kurschat pushed himself on the front of the group and then accelerated on the uphill. The others were busy looking on each other and were thinking about the overall more than the stage.

They made it back to Kurschat in the downhill on one lap, but next time they didn't follow him. The German extended his lead and secured the stage win.

"At the beginning I suffered a lot. But I think the other ones were starting too hard," said Kurschat. "So I was able to make it and get into a real flow. I felt pretty good. It's great to win a stage at the end of my stay on Cyprus."

In the last lap, Litscher lost the contact with the others, Fumic had a problem with his chain and the three overall contenders continued to fight for the seconds. Lindgren tried everything, but Kulhavy was always able to react. Kulhavy took the lead within his group before the last downhill started and so was able to secure second place before Lindgren. That also got him the overall win.

"My goal was the overall," said Kulhavy. "I don't know if I could keep Wolfram but that was not important. My legs were better than yesterday. For the whole race, I had everything under control."

Lindgren said, "I'm happy with the weekend. It’s good for the moral and it’'s good for the points."

"It was all about the overall classification," said Giger. "At the end I kept myself back, to give Emil every chance. It was another good race day for me and I'm happy to be on the podium."

Women

The women's race developed into an exciting battle for the overall although Tereza Hurikova rode to a convincing solo victory, starting with her effort to get away on the start loop.

Hurikova was riding extraordinarily. She quickly opened a gap of two minutes to three chasers, including Annika Langvad, Sabine Spitz and Blaza Klemencic (Felt Ötztal-X-Bionic). There will still two laps of 5.7km each to go. In the overall Hurikova, had gap of 2:55 to close on race leader Langvad if she wanted to move to the top of the GC.

But then the bad luck affected Hurikova again. As during the day before, she flatted her back wheel. "I could do some power training then," she joked afterward.  But the reality was that this puncture cost her a real chance to win the Afxentia overall.

"I was running through the singletrack, shouting to the Czech national coach. So they could prepare everything in the tech zone," said Hurikova. Her lead shrunk to 45 seconds, but she stayed clam and eventually extended her lead again.

In the chase group, Langvad had to do the work to defend her overall lead. As she confessed, she was not focused enough. "I was not concentrated enough and I made a lot of mistakes," she said.

Spitz, handicapped by a cold, was not willing to chase her teammate. "It was not my intention and with my cold, I was also happy not to push too hard on the limit," she said. 

In the last lap, Spitz took an advantage after a downhill and escaped from her companions. She took second place, 1:43 after Hurikova. Langvad came in third, 2:00 behind the Hurikova and close enough to finalize the overall win.

"It was my goal to take the overall. So I had to take risks," said runner-up Hurikova. "I was feeling very good and it was an advantage for me to be in front alone, riding my rhythm. It's a pity, that I flatted again, but even as second, I got a lot of points."

"My goal was to keep the overall lead and I'm happy to do so," said Langvad. "I had my problems in the technical parts. I made some stupid mistakes, and I could have lost the overall. I have to learn from this."

Klemencic took fourth position ( at 2:08). "It was better than yesterday," she said.

Adelheid Morath (Felt Ötztal-X-Bionic), second the day before, had troubles with her chain in the start loop. She had to stop and fell back to last position. From there, she tried to catch up again, and made it as far as seventh position, but in the very last lap, she paid for her effort and could not make up more time. So she lost her top three spot in the overall.

"I had pretty good legs and had a plan for today," said Morath. "When I had the mechanical, it was difficult to motivate. Anyway, I’m happy with my shape this weekend."

Race note

Thomas Litscher was entering a bridge crossing, less than 100 meters to the finish line, in sixth position, when he crashed badly. His injuries are reported painful but not serious. He has contusions on the shoulder, ellbow, hip and wrist. Litscher described the crash. "I was jumping over the bridge as always. I felt a gust of wind and so I did not land straight. I was lucky things didn't turn out worse." He broke his fork and helmet and possibly also his frame. He picked up his bike afterward and walked to the finish.

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