Fredrik Kessiakoff wins second stage as also takes overall lead in 2011 Int.Osterreich-Rundfahrt
Pro Astana team’s Fredrik Kessiakoff won the second stage and took his first professional victory in 2011 Int.Osterreich-Rundfahrt on Monday, June 4. The race started in Innsbruck and ended in Kitzbuheler Horn.
The 31-year-old Swedish cyclist took a total of 3 hours, 50 minutes and 11 seconds to cover the distance of 158.3 kilometres.
After winning the stage, Kessiakoff was very happy and said, "I've felt very well since the last training camp at altitude, the legs are there, Yesterday evening I studied the route of the stage and saw the mountainous profile and I felt that it could suit
me.”
Mauro Santambrogio of BMC Racing was the runner-up with a difference of 1 minute and 14 seconds. Leopold Konig of NetApp finished third with a difference of 1 minute and 19 seconds.
With 150 kilometres to go, a group of nine riders made their first breakaway including, Yann Huguet (Skil-Shimano), Julien Fouchard, Daryl Impey (NetApp), Nicolas Edet (Cofidis), Reto Hollenstein (Vorarlberg), Diego Caccia (Farnese Vini-Neri Sottoli), Simon
Clarke (Astana), Manuele Boaro (Saxo Bank-SunGard) and Jan Ghyselinck (HTC-Highroad).
All of them worked together to build a lead of four minutes over the peloton. However, in the final kilometres all the cyclists increased their pace, but Kessiakoff was the first rider who attacked and gained a good lead.
The four cyclists attacked and also took a lead, which includes Thomas Rohregger (Leopard Trek), Leopold König, Denis Menchov and Carlos Sastre. But Kessiakoff maintained his speed and was able to cross the finish line first, ahead of other cyclists.
Kessiakoff further added, "The team worked very well to put me in good position before the mountain, then after a kilometer of climbing the attacks started. I got into a group and decided not to respond to attacks, I preferred to keep my own rhythm."
Fredrik also took the overall lead with a total time of 7 hours, 6 minutes and 39 seconds, while Mauro Santambrogio was the runner-up with 1 minute and 18 seconds behind Fredrik.
Leopold Konig (Team NetApp) finished third with a difference of 1 minute and 25 seconds, ahead of Carlos Sastre Candil.
Greg Van Avermaet took overall mountain classification with 17 points ahead of Nicolas Edet. Leopold Konig took the title of best young rider, ahead of Chris Butler and Petr Ignatenko.
The next stage will start in Kitzbühel and end in Prägraten am Großvenediger. All the riders will cover the distance of 174.5 kilometres.
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