William Clarke (Drapac) confirmed that he is one of the best prologue riders in the world when he powered to victory in the very unique 600m uphill prologue at the Tour of Austria. Powering up the 11% climb on the Kitzbüheler Horn, the Australian was 1 second faster than young Austrian Lukas Schlemmer (WSA) who was a surprise second while Sylwester Janiszewski (Wibatech) was one second further adrift in third.

We have gathered a few reactions.

Triumphant William Clarke: This was my shortest race yet

The fast-paced sprinting specialists fought to win the Prologue. Incremental weather deterioration, with rain and heavy wind, also played to their advantage though. 31year old Australian William Clarke, winner of two stages at the Herald Sund Tour, thriumphed today with a time of 1:10,63minutes and will wear the yellow leader’s yersey tomorrow.

Clarke was thrilled about his win at the prologue:

“I was fortunate with the weather. This was my shortest race yet and I hope I get more opportunities this week to score at mass sprints."

Young Austrian sprinter delivers massive surprise in Austrian mountain prologue

Austrian sprinter Lukas Schlemmer took out second place, only one second behind Clarke.

“I knew a short prologue would work in my favour, but I never expected to place second,” he said.

Katusha sprinter shines in Austrian mountain prologue

"I'm happy with my fifth place,” said Arman Kamyshev from Astana. “It is a good start.

Artyom Zakharov and Maxat Ayazbayev did well too so Astana Pro Team was awarded as the best team of the day.

"I'm pleased,” commented sport director Alexandr Shefer. It was a very short prologue on a climb with gradients of 10-12%.”

Gerald Ciolek: I’m never going to finish 13th in a mountain stage again

The Tour of Austria (2.1) started today with an unusual prologue. The riders had to cover 600 m, but these were uphill on the Kitzbüheler Horn with an average gradient of more than 10%. Gerald Ciolek put in the 13th-fastest time.

The hard climb overlooking Kitzbühel has been one of the deciding mountaintop finishes of the races for the last 15 years, this year the last 600 m of the ascent were used to open the race. Thunderstorms were forecast for the afternoon, but as it was only the very last starters, including Lennard Kämna, were affected by a downpour. Team Stölting Service Group’s best-placed rider was Gerald Ciolek who finished six seconds slower than stage winner Will Clarke (Drapac Professional Cycling) and reached the 13th place.

Sports Director Gregor Willwohl was satisfied with the result: “Gerald was our penultimate starter. In the last 45 minutes there was a heavy headwind from the final corner at 250 m to go all the way to the finish. Gerald rode well, pushed well through the turns. In the headwind he couldn’t push his gear anymore though, but couldn’t shift back with full pressure on the pedals either. 13th place, only six seconds back, is a good result though. Tomorrow will be a nice stage that we’re looking forward to.”

“I’ve never placed 13th at an uphill time trial and I’m never going to be 13th again at an uphill challenge,” Ciolek said. “I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s stage. We will be en route to Salzburg, where I won the U23 World Championships and a previous stage of the Tour of Austria. It will be a special day for me.”

Stage 1 starts in Innsbruck, host of the 2018 World Championships, and finishes in Salzburg where Ciolek became U23 world champion ten years ago. Despite a couple of climbs, a sprint is expected at the end of the 186.2 km.