Sauser hangs on for overall Trans Zollernalb victory

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Marathon world champion Christoph Sauser took the third edition of Sparkasse Trans Zollernalb, two seconds in front of Alban Lakata. In the women's competition, Sabine Spitz defended her one second lead against Esther Süss.

The last of three stages proved to be a race for seconds between Sauser, who had an advantage of three seconds on Lakata before the start in Albstadt.

Two intermediate sprints with the maximum of six bonus seconds were part of the 77km stage, and it was Lakata's plan to take the necessary three seconds at the first sprint at 15.5km.

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But German eliminator national champion Simon Gegenheimer changed this plan, by sprinting first over the line, followed by Markus Bauer. One second was left for Lakata, who was supported by his teammate Robert Mennen.

All the following attacks, especially from Jochen Käß, were neutralized by Mennen, who threw everything in for Lakata. But the former marathon world champion missed out also the second chance in Albstadt-Tailfingen.

"There was a dangerous corner, and I didn't want to take a risk," said Lakata. So he crossed the intermediate sprint in fourth position, behind Kevin van Hoovels, Matthias Pfrommer and Markus Bauer.

After that, the following attack from Käß was successful. He took van Hoovels with him and the two were fighting for the stage win, while Lakata tried one more time to get Sauser off his wheel. But the Swiss rider was too strong.

"My job was to keep his wheel and I could," Sauser said. He did so up the 300m climb toward the finish line in Hechingen. Lakata went full gas into the climb, but Sauser jumped on his wheel and stayed there.

"I was missing the very last punch to get rid of Christoph," said Lakata. Nonetheless, he was showing good form two weeks before the marathon world championships.

"I am really happy to win against the superior strength of the teams. Moritz Milatz and me, we were the only ones without teammates," Sauser said after winning.

Milatz, 1:17 back before the stage, was trying to go for the stage win. "I had good legs but nobody helped me to follow Käß and van Hoovels," he said.

Van Hoovels attacked Käß in the last climb and took the stage victory. "I knew the finish from my victory two years ago. I am happy to finish the competition like this. The first two days were not so good for me, but now I looking forward to the Worlds," van Hoovels said.

Käß showed himself disappointed. "I worked more in the front and didn't expect his attack. But that's the sport,"he said.

Photo finish between Spitz and Süss

Sabine Spitz and Esther Süss were at the same level going into the final stage. In an unspoken agreement, they declined to attack each other until the last 300 meters. When the climb began, Spitz opened the fire, and Süss followed.

"I didn't think that the climb to the finish line was so long. When we reached the cobblestones, I went very hard," said Spitz.

Süss tried to pass on the last few meters, but in the opinion of the finish judges, she couldn't. They looked closely at the finish photo, and it was difficult for them to call the race.

Spitz got the stage win, but even without it, she would have taken the overall race victory by one second.

"It was great to ride here, the spectators here are really great. Even yesterday in rainy and cold conditions, the people came out to cheer for us," Spitz said. She is among those here preparing for marathon Worlds.

"To keep Sabine on this kind of course, it's good for me. At the Worlds we find some more climbs. The Trans Zollernalb was good training for that," said Süss.

Norwegian Borghild Loevset lost contact very early, but rode to a solid third place. "I am fine with my race. It was a good preparation for the Worlds," she said.

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