With no GC rider in the team, Katusha's main objective in the Tour of Austria is to defend's Maxim Belkov's mountains jersey. Yesterday Pavel Brutt played a key role in the mission.

The 5th stage in the Tour of Austria was the feared stage with the ascent of the mythical Grossglockner (18,3 kilometer, average 7,6 %). The bad weather all day long didn't prevent Katusha's Pavel Brutt from going in the break of eleven riders. In the break Pavel Brutt tried to collect as much mountain points as possible.

"Pavel did a very good job as he took all the biggest points on the climbs and by doing that was protecting Maxim Belkov's King of the Mountains jersey," said Team Director Claudio Cozzi.

In the end the victory went to one of the eleven. After a 25 kilometer solo effort, Jesse Sergent (Trek Factory) won ahead of Yoann Bagot (Cofidis). A group with leader Peter Kennaugh (Sky) finished at 57 seconds.

Team Katusha’s best performer was Dmitriy Kozonchuk, who finished 24th, 1.25 behind the stage winner.

A sick Giampaolo Caruso had to leave the race. Tomorrow's stage finishes uphill at Dobratsch.