Lakata clinches stage win

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Austria's National Champion Alban Lakata won the second stage. After 74.40 kilometres, 1,863 metres in altitude, the Topeak Ergon racer finished in 2:46:28, one tenth of a second ahead of Christoph Sauser (Specialized Factory Racing), who is still leading the overall ranking. German Champion Jochen Käß from Multivan Merida Biking came in third, crossing the finish line while leading a group of seven pursers.

It was Lakata's second stage win - he also won the opening stage in 2009. "Mainly, I was aiming to secure my second ranking. That worked out fine. And to win a stage is always a nice-to-have."

The 2009 Marathon World Champion runner up cemented his runner-up position in the Trans Germany classification after he shared the work with Sauser from Adlerhorst to Tannheimer Tal and on the following climb from Zöblen to Lohmoos.

Also, the 30-year-old wasn't deterred by bad weather conditions, which had caused a lot of flooded passages on the route. The next two stages to Sonthofen, Germany, and Bregenz, Austria, will answer the question of whether Lakata is able to take over the lead.

Close battle for victory to be expected

"I would like to win the whole race, of course. But Susi (Christoph Sauser) is a top mountain biker. It's not easy to catch up one minute. But I'm feeling good and a lot of things can still happen. I'm not giving up," said Lakata, who - by limiting the gap of 1:03 minutes on Sauser - hopes for another good result tomorrow. "The stage is short but tough for the stamina. Maybe I will do better than him?"

But Sauser showed good form again today, and he is expecting something good on the 55-kilometre stage through the Allgau region finishing in Sonthofen. "It has a cross country character and a final climb. The climb could be something for me," said the Swiss rider, who is also leading the best climber classification.

Brandau extends lead in women's race

Elisabeth Brandau has extended her lead in the battle for the Red Jersey. The Schönaich resident from Team Haibike crossed the finish line in Pfronten after 3:04:45. Her main contender for the title, the Freiburg resident from Finland Pia Sundstedt from Craft-Rocky-Mountain, lost 2:49 and is now 6:27 minutes behind, still sitting in second position of the ranking. Birgit Söllner from Team Firebike-Drössiger finished third.

Change of lead in the master class

Among the 40+ participants, Johann Grasegger from Team Garmisch-Partenkirchen not only secured the stage win in 2:59:00. The defending champion of the master category also took over the lead in the classification by earning 4:19 over today's runner-up and previous leader Heinz Zörweg. Belgium's Erik Evers from MTB Rudi rounded out the podium as third.

But Grasegger also took advantage of the bad luck of one other contender for the master crown when throwing in his ride to victory. Christian Pösl, who was all alone in the lead until the very last downhill lost everything when a flat put him back.

"I'm really sorry for him," said Grasegger. "I achieved my goal with my stage win. Everything which follows now is an extra bonus. Let's find out what the next days will bring."

The Austrian Zörweg will need some better legs than he had today. "It didn't go well for me. From the start on, I noticed my muscles and didn't get into my flow."

Spolc continues 50+ domination

The man in the Green Jersey of the best senior master again was a class of his own today. In 3:10:57, Milan Spolc gave his pursers some hard times, having gained a lead of more than 10 minutes until the finish. Behind the rider from the Czech Republic, Netherland's Ad van De Sande from Team Ventoux Tilburg and Belgium's Rudi Geentjens from MTB Rudi came in as second and third respectively.

Stage 3: Pfronten, Germany - Sonthofen, Germany

The sprint stage will be a sweat-inducing and thrilling ride into the wild Allgau region offering crisp climbs and rustic downhill parts. After the quite prelude to Jungholz, it's time for some real hard work - the 24 percent steep climb to the best climber classifier to Buchelalpe. On top of the ridge it's no time to relax as the route leads rapidly down into the Schnitzlertal, from there on up again to Sonthofer Bildstöckli. Thereafter, another ascent to Strausbergsattel comes before reaching Sonthofen.

ResuFull lts

General classification results after stage 2 not available.