Being the designated Katusha sprinter in the race, Marco Haller hopes to end a 6-year drought for the home riders in the Tour of Austria. Yesterday he got close when he finished third in the second stage.

Katusha's sprinter Marco Haller took a nice third place in stage 2 of the 66th Tour of Austria. Haller finished in Bad Ischl behind stage winner Oscar Gatto (Cannondale) and Juan José Lobato (Movistar).

"I had a really good feeling all day long," he said. "In the last kilometer there were two nasty corners. I knew I had to pass the last corner in first position. I was just too late to make the right move. It was so tricky, I almost collided with Lobato.

"It is a pity as I came out of the Tour de Suisse with a very good condition but there will come other occasions. I don't give up. Especially the last stage looks good. It would be nice to win. Since 2008 no Austrian rider has won a stage in this Tour. It would be nice to change this situation."

The team tactics were perfect. Maxim Belkov went again in the break of the day with four other riders. Belkov took extra mountain points and will start tomorrow again in the polka dot jersey in Stage 3, the dreaded stage to the top of the Kitzbüheler Horn.

"As Max was in the break, our team did not have to work in the back," Haller said. "It was perfect for me and put less pressure on the team. As I had today's stage in mind for the win, the team was motivated. In the final ten very fast kilometers they did a perfect job for me. One day our efforts will pay off."

Peter Kennaugh (Team Sky) kept the yellow leader's jersey. Pavel Brutt is still 17th, +1.24 far from the leader.