Hermans was on a dramatic stage on Sonntagberg no longer burns

Hermans could no longer burn on a dramatic stage on Sonntagberg

Belgian should win at Wels today as a winner, Pernsteiner was the hero of yesterday.

Hermans parried the attacks of Pernsteiner and Zoidl (from the left). Image: APA

Who else wants, who does not? The cycling team of Bahrain-Mérida continues to impress impressively the 70th Tour of Austria. Antonio Nibali scored the fourth victory of the state-sponsored team at the seventh spectacular stage of Sunday in Sonntagberg yesterday. But before that, the team has experienced a few moments of fear. Ben Hermans (Israeli Cycling Academy) has defended the leader's red jersey and is now eligible for the 70th edition at Wels today.

The area around the Baroque Pilgrimage Basilica above the Mostviertel has become a pilgrimage destination for thousands of natives Cycling enthusiasts, including former riders such as brothers Ludwig and Rudolf Kretz. The 70th Tour of Austria has leaned on the infamous ascent of their crucial section. The clbadic character had.

From the first kilometer, the pilots gave nothing. The hectic initial phase quickly resulted in casualties. Mark Padun from Bahrain-Merida had to be hospitalized after an accident during the fast descent to Waidhofen / Ybbs. His teammate Hermann Pernsteiner also fell. The second blotted her left shoulder and injured her finger. The hard bones, but the cyclists, prove that Lower Austria bit his teeth and continued. Despite two wheel changes, he came with Hermans at the same time and defended second place in the standings. "In the race, I was able to hide the pain, but now everything is hurting me," says Pernsteiner.

Others had also experienced dramatic hours in the saddle. Riccardo Zoidl, for example, who tried it like in the last days with an attack, but did not escape decisively. As a consolation was the fact that the catfish pilot as in 2014 will be strong overall Fnfter. "I can not blame myself, I have tried everything," said Zoidl, who could not summon his teammate Stephan Rabitsch because of radio problems in crucial moments at his side. Dominik Hrinkow, Steyr's pilot, made his way through the race, allowing him to lead the group on his tenth round trip. The beaming man, however, was once again Hermans, standing in front of his greatest success as a rider. "I have survived this step, now nothing should happen," said the 32-year-old Belgian with confidence.

Triumphal procession in Upper Austria

Like last year, the finish line in Wels is the Austrian tour. The final leg of the Jubilumsrundfahrt (163 km) begins at Scheibbs. About St. Peter in the Au (11:54 clock), Steyr (12.15), Bad Hall (12.44), the mountain clbadification Kremsmnster (13.02), Sattledt (13.08), Steinerkirchen (13.20) and Fischlham (13: 22) leads to the Wels section, where the destination is on the Ringstrae. At 14:20, the winner of the last stage will be crowned.

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