Multivan Merida dominate stage six

Hannes Genze won the sixth stage from Schoeneck to Oberwiesenthal. The 2005 European Champion was able to decisively break away from his competitors on the last downhill from the Fichtelberg, thus celebrating his third stage win. Andreas Kugler and Jochen Kaess rounded out the total podium sweep for the Multivan Merida Biking Team.

While his combatants for the yellow jersey were satisfied with their team performance, Thomas Dietsch was glad that he didn’t lose his leadership due to misfortune as the Team Bulls athlete suffered from flat tyres twice in the climb up to the roof of the tour, the Ichtelberg (1,214 m). While he was able to handle the first one through exchanging front wheels with his teammate Stefan Sahm, the second one turned out into a serious problem as effort to fix it didn't work out.  Thus, the French National Champion risked not only his overall lead, but also his health as he raced downhill with a rear tyre that was consistently loosing air.  

"I really had to be very careful on the downhill but also had to give everything as I was the leader of the field. I was hoping that I wouldn’t lose my jersey because of some flat tyres. It really was blessing in disguise,” he said.

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Due to his recklessness and a time of 2:53:11.8 hours, the 34-year-old successfully defended his lead in the ranking finishing fifth. After he lost about 30 seconds of his lead today, Dietsch is still 1:05 ahead of today’s winner Hannes Genze.

Genze had a much better day.  He launched an attack that helped him move up in the overall ranking by one spot from third to second.

“My plan was to benefit from my downhill abilities. This worked out perfectly. We attacked Thomas (Dietsch) all the way up to Fichtelberg. On top, I was the fastest to react and pedalled away,” said Genze.

Genze, the two time German Champion, now has the most 2009 stage victories to his credit.

It will be an enthralling final day at the Trans Germany tomorrow as the technical demanding course offers several chances to attack the Yellow Jersey. “The lead is not that big that we could make peace. Maybe we get our chance. We will see,” said the 27-year-old.

Grah claimes first stage win

The winning streak of Johann Grasegger in the Master category is over: Branko Grah from RC Sereno brought home his first stage win. The Austrian crossed the finish line after 3:15:04. According to this, the Vienna resident was all smiles. “I pedalled like crazy and gave everything I had,” he said.

However, he also had to handle gear problems. “I was racing about 40 kilometres losing air the whole time so I had to refill and refill. Finally it was OK. But now, I’m done,” he added.

Peter Paelinck (www.revax.be) came in second, making it on the podium for the first time. Denmark’s Bogi Kristiansen followed as third also having his first top-three result this week.

Grasegger, who remains the undisputed Master competition leader, said “I’m no machine!” after finally losing a stage.

Suess on top again

It seems as if the plan of winning all stages could work out as Wheeler Pro Team racer Esther Suess was able to clinch also the sixth out of seven Trans Germany stages. The Swiss Champion rolled into the finish after 3:15:51 having collected a lead of about five minutes over Sally Bigham, who came in pretty ravaged.

The Topeak-Ergon Racing rider directly pedalled to the first aid tent with a blood-smeared thigh - apparently after crashing. Switzerland’s Milena Landtwing from Rothaus Cube placed third.

Spolc with sixth consecutive triumphs

The story keeps on repeating: Milan Spolc from Sachsen. Land von Welt brought home victory on the sixth stage. The leader in the Super Master category also bears the Green Jersey.  He mastered the 85 kilometres of the stage and was followed by Rudi Geentjens as well as Bernhard Spieler from race worx.