Frederik Backaert (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) confirmed his classics potential by riding to a fantastic solo win on the final stage of the Tour of Austria. Attacking on the lower slopes of the cobbled Kahlenberg in Vienne, he put 9 seconds in Markus Eibegger (Felbermayr) and 14 seconds into a select group of favourites that included race leader Jan Hirt (CCC) who took the overall win ahead of Backaert’s teammate Guillaume Martin and Patrick Schelling (Vorarlberg).

 

We have gathered a few reactions.

 

Jan Hirt proud of breakthrough GC victory in Austria

Jan Hirt claimed an overall win at Tour of Austria. He finished 11th in the final stage which ended with a short climb, while Frederik Backaert (Wanty – Groupe Gobert) took the win.

 

”The final stage was very hard and stressful. Not only because of the last climb, but also due to strong crosswind throughout the day. Other teams tried to take advantage of that and launched attacks. We stayed at the head of the bunch though to bring attackers back in. In the end, on the climb I attempted to pull away, but my legs were not strong enough to go clear and decided to react to other moves.

 

"Today was harder than expected because of the strong headwind. And the final climb was hard as well. I won my first Tour and I am more than happy.

 

”I’m very happy about this win and the teamwork. Despite the fact that we had very young roster here in Austria, everything worked out perfectly for us. My teammates and the staff were great and everyone worked really hard for that victory. “

 

Triumphant Frederik Backaert: What an incredible day for me

The team Wanty - Groupe Gobert took part in the Tour of Austria (2.1) and lined up with Boris Dron, Frederik Backaert, Guillaume Martin, Marco Minnaard, Thomas Degand, Mark McNally and Björn Thurau. With a stage victory for Frederik Backaert and a second place in the general classification for Guillaume Martin the Belgian pro-continental team can look back with happiness upon the week in Austria.

 

"I'm glad I finally won a race. I also get the points jersey. It was really a beautiful day”, a relieved Frederik Backaert said.

 

Frederik Backaert showed great things during the whole week. He finished twice in the first ten in bunch sprints. He took the fourth place in the second stage and the sixth place in the sixth stage.

 

"I wanted to show that I also have fast legs. I am pleased to get results in sprint stages.”

 

The 22nd of Paris-Roubaix was also part of the breakaway in the third stage with uphill finish in Sonntagberg but the lead group was caught just before the final climb.

 

"This is my only regret of the week. I wanted to make it to the end. I could forget the GC. The focus was then on stage win.”

 

Frederik Backaert got it on the final day in the capital city of Austria, Wien.

 

“I attacked with 3 kilometres to go. Delio Fernandez joined me. I let him ride 500 meters in front and then I attacked again. I managed to maintain a sufficient gap to finish alone. A great moment of joy."

 

”It was an incredible day for me and my team: my first professional win, the points jersey and we have also won the team title,” he said.

 

Breakthrough performance by Guillaume Martin in Austria

Frederik Backaert was not the only rider of Wanty-Groupe Gobert to shine in the Tour of Austria. The Frenchman Guillaume Martin got the best result of his young career by finishing second in the general classification. He was four times in the first ten. He took the third place in the queen stage to Edelweißspitze.

 

"I think I could do a little better on that day. I got a little enthusiastic when I attacked with six kilometres to go. Jan Hirt countered my move. I’m still happy with my Tour of Austria.”

 

The team Wanty-Groupe Gobert won the team classification. Marco Minnaard (10th) was the second rider in the top 10 overall. Thomas Degand followed him at the 11th place. Frederik Backaert also won the green jersey in the points classification.

 

Local rider again misses out on victory in Austria

Markus Eibegger from Felbermayr Simplon Wels secured his second second place:

 

"It was a very hard day, the Wanty riders were in the majority in the end and too strong. But we are absolutely satisfied with the Tour, eventually we got three podiums (two for Eibegger and one for Auer).”

 

25-year-old delivers major surprise in Austria

The surprise of the tour was certainly the 25-year-old Hermann Pernstein.

 

"If someone had told me before the tour, that I would place sixth overall and become best Austrian rider, I would have looked at him in doubt. But my form was very good this week and my teammates have done their best for me. Sixth place and the "Manner" -Trikot are incredible for me and I need a few days to realize that,” he said

 

Stölting neo-pro shines on final day in Austria

Thomas Koep was one of the stars of the final stage of the Tour of Austria, making the day’s breakaway of six, which was reduced to four, then being the last rider out front before being caught by the peloton. He was caught by the peloton on the stage’s final uphill climb to the line, where Christian Mager finished 14th, ending the race in 20th overall.

 

The stage was dominated by the six rider break that went clear early in the stage, with Koep making the move. Heading into the final 25 km the six were reduced to four but still had an advantage of over two minutes. The finish line was atop a sharp climb at the end of the day, and the catch was made on these slopes with Koep the last rider out front. Mager made a big push to finish 14th and maintain his top 20 position overall, rounding out a strong tour for the young German.

 

“It was a really strong ride from Thomas today; first he made the break, then the selection from 6 to 4, and at the end he was the last survivor,” explained Sports Director Gregor Willwohl after the finish. “The final climb started full gas with attacks coming from the GC guys, and Chris was in a great position for a long time. He dropped back a bit towards the final kilometre, but it was another promising climb from Chris today.”

 

Aggressive showing by Roompot in Austria

In the shadow of the performance of the Tour de France, Roompot - Orange Peloto performed excellently in Austria. Despite the setback of the early loss of injured Pieter Weening and Wesley Kreder, the young team of Jean-Paul van Poppel animated the race almost daily, with three top ten results for Sjoerd van Ginneken as the outcome.

 

In addition to the strong sprints from van Ginneken, Nick van der Lijke and Antwan Tolhoek showed themselves. The latter who won the mountains jersey in the Tour de Suisse proved that he's at his best when the road goes uphill. Tolhoek was on the attack until shortly before the finish on the Edelweissspitze in the queen in Austria. One day later, the youngster was a fine eighth in Dobratsch.

 

Van der Lijke was on the attack three days in a row. 

 

"After some abdominal pains in the early days, I end the race happy,” he said. "I wanted to try in the last stages and that worked out just fine. Of course I hate that it just did not work three times, but persistence will pay off.

 

Sjoerd van Ginneken proved in Austria that he is as all-rounder par excellence even can do well in a bunch sprint. He got a third place in the stage to Steyr.  Van Ginneken’s first podium as a pro was almost followed by another one in Stegersbach but he had to settle for the 4th place. 

 

After a short break of about ten days, the GP Pino Cerami, on July 20, is the next race for the team.

 

Alessandro Vanotti uses aggressive ride in Austria to prepare for the Vuelta

"Even today I was second in the last GPM,” said Alessandro Vanotti who won the mountains jersey. “I think I really deserved this polka-dot jersey." 

 

"It 'a great satisfaction and a sign that I'm getting better in the sight of my season goal, the Vuelta Espana. I have to thank the team that always helped me day after day.”

 

From the Astana team, Bakhtiyar Kozhatayev and Valerio Agnoli will now continue at the Tour de Pologne.

 

Rusvelo climber shows himself in Austria

For Gazprom-Rusevlo, Alexey Rybalkin took 24th place in the final stage of the 68th Tour of Austria, losing one minute to the winner.

 

In the points classification Rybalkin scored six points, taking 36th position, and in the mountain classification he took 10th position, chalking up 10 points.

 

The 22-year-old Russian completed the stage race in 12th position, giving up 5 minutes 54 seconds to the victor of the prestigious cycling race.

 

"From the very beginning of the stage race I felt that I had the strength to fight for the general classification. In the process it became clear that the team wasn't a mountain one," he said.

 

"Nevertheless, all the guys helped me really well. I wanted to live up to their expectations, trying to show a good result in the GC of the Tour of Austria. I didn't manage to do everything, but I gained unforgettable experience.

 

"During one of the stages, no one from the team escaped into the breakaway. Alexander Serov and Kirill Sveshnikov moved to the head of the main group and headed the pursuit of the escapees, setting a fast pace for the peloton.

 

"The next day, the entire group rode against us. Not one rider could leave for 90 kilometers, but we showed character, sending Evgeny Shalunov into a long breakaway.

 

"Overall, the race was nerve-wracking and difficult, but I was pleased with with its outcome."