July 6/09 15:27 pm - Tour of Austria: Stage 2

Posted by Editoress on 07/6/09
 

Columbia-HTC has racked up their second win in two days in the Tour of Austria after Michael Albasini powered away for an emphatic victory at the summit of the Kitzbuehler Horn climb.

Now Albasini takes over from Columbia-HTC teammate Andre Greipel as race leader.

"It was a spectacular victory. Michael managed to wear out all the other guys in a break on a really steep 10-kilometre final climb and finally he went for the win," commented team sports director Tristan Hoffman. "He and [Columbia-HTC teammate] Gert Dockx had been away most of the day in a 13-rider break that always looked like it might be able to stay clear, and that's what happened. But it was a real team effort because Gert did a lot of the work to ensure the break stayed away. Then Michael helped a bit because we wanted to be sure the move had a good few minutes at the bottom of the final climb. After the break started the ascent, Michael kept in front, and the group shrank to four and then two. He just wore them out! Finally Michael was able to win the stage, although it was close because a rider caught him with 200 metres to go. And now he's race leader as well."

Hoffman is hopeful that the team will be able to defend Albasini's lead in the race, which finishes next Sunday, but he recognizes the team will have to be very careful tactically. "We lost two riders today. Adam Hansen is sick and Kanstantsin Sivtsov pulled out because his wife is just about to give birth, so we'll have to play our cards right. Still, two wins in two days is a great result, and whatever happens it's been a very good race for us."

Albasini's victory was the second of the day for Columbia-HTC on Monday after Mara Abbott won stage three of the women's Giro d-Italia.

Report by Team Columbia-HTC