Epic victory for Flückiger at the World Cup in Leogang
With a willpower performance in the final lap, Thömus maxon-rider Mathias Flückiger distanced himself from his last pursuer and deservedly won his fifth World Cup race in Leogang, Austria. For once, the trump cards of Vital Albin and Alessandra Keller are not decisive. Nevertheless, they achieved solid results that give hope for a successful further course of the season.
In bright sunshine, the cross country course in Leogang was completely different from the short track race on Friday. Mathias Flückiger and Vital Albin both did not have an optimal start. They were somewhat jammed in the pack of riders during the first metres. However, it soon became clear that Flückiger had good form for the day. So he closed a gap of 16 seconds on the first lap and shortly afterwards set out with compatriot Nino Schurter to distance the last competitors as well.
The two Swiss veterans completed the now completely dry course in synchronised flight and always kept the South African champion Alan Hatherly as the last chaser at a distance. With a crisp attack in the long and steep ascent on the notorious ski lift track, Flückiger finally distanced Schurter by a few metres. The man from Ochlenberg cemented his lead until the finish and rode confidently to his fifth World Cup victory.
A tough race with a happy ending for Flückiger
“In the start lap I was probably a bit too passive. That cost me some energy. But in the end, I am overjoyed with my third victory in a row,” Flückiger said at the finish. It was one of his toughest races. The long climbs and the demanding descents didn’t give you a second’s rest, he continues. Nino Schurter made life even more difficult for him with his speed forcing. “I felt mega strong and hoped that I could ride away alone after my attack. Nino was the only one who could follow me until I could shake him off in the last long climb. I’m just happy that it was enough for me!”
Vital Albin showed a solid race. His twentieth place was nevertheless a little sobering after the terrific result in the short track. “My goal was to finish in the top 15, which I just missed, but I know what I have to work on until the race in Lenzerheide,” he summed up at the finish.
In the overall World Cup, Flückiger climbed to third place thanks to his two victories this weekend.
For once, no exploit in the women’s race
Alessandra Keller rode a solid and constant race race and finished in tenth place. “The climb is brutally long. In addition, I was involved in a small crash on the first lap,” she summed up after crossing the finish line. A top ten place on this course was the best that was possible today, she said. “I’ll attack again on Lenzerheide,” she says with a twinkle in her eye at the end. The race was won by Frenchwoman Loana Lecomte ahead of Jenny Rissveds (Swe) and local Laura Stigger (Ö).
Luke Wiedmann did not have a successful Sunday in the U23 category. He already did not feel perfect on Saturday and was never able to intervene in the decision for the podium places throughout the race and finished on 45th place.