Kaufmann wins stage 2 and takes over Trans Zollernalb lead

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German marathon champion Markus Kaufmann grabbed the win on the second stage of Trans Zollernalb from Balingen to Albstadt and took over the yellow leader's jersey on Saturday.  After a crash, the initial leader of the race, Urs Huber, abandoned while Esther Süss won her second stage in the women's category.

Men

It was a turbulent second day. Leader Huber crashed after 20 kilometers while sitting in the four-man leading group at the time. Huber "only" suffered abrasions, but abandoned the race.

Afterward, Torsten Marx and Matthias Pfrommer got punctures. They were riding as part of a seven-rider leading group when the flats occurred.

When it came to the second intermediate sprint, Kaufmann and Mennen left the other three. Matthias Leisling, Kristian Hynek and Hannes Genze couldn't follow the duo.

With four kilometers to go, in an uphill section, Mennen flatted his front wheel. So the way was open for Kaufmann to take his first Trans Zollernalb stage win. His advantage ended up being 1:15 to Genze and 1:17 to Leisling.

Kaufmann was also able to take over the race lead, after having bad luck on stage 1, when he had chain suck with two kilometers to go.

"Bad luck for Robert and also for Urs," Kaufmann said regarding his competitors. "Today I felt much better than yesterday, and I realized that Robert and me, we were the strongest in the uphills."

Kaufmann will start with 55 seconds of advantage to Leisling into the last stage from Albstadt to Hechingen. Genze is exactly one minute back.

Mennen lost 1:53 and is now fifth (1:21) behind Hynek (1:21).

Women

Esther Süss also had to survive some difficult moments. She was riding together with Silke Schmidt in the lead, but for around 15 kilometers, she had less air in a tire.

"It was difficult in the corners and in the downhills. So I decided to change the wheel at last tech zone in Meßstetten," said Süss.

Schmidt had no hope to escape. "I was sure, that Esther would come back up to me again," said the 26-year-old, who is battling a cold and therefore not in perfect form.

Süss indeed did catch yer, leaving Schmidt with only a few kilometers to go. She won the stage by 35 seconds.

Jana Zieschank got the third spot on the podium, 12:54 back and took third overall.

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