Robert Hunter wins first stage and also takes overall lead in 2011 Int. Osterreich-Rundfahrt
RadioShack’s team’s Robert Hunter won the mass sprint of the opening stage and also took the overall lead yellow jersey in 2011 Int. Osterreich-Rundfahrt, on Sunday, July 3.
The race started in Dornbirn and ended in Gotzis. The 34-year-old Hunter took a total of 3 hours, 16 minutes and 34 seconds to cover the distance of 139.7 kilometres.
After winning the stage, Hunter told the media, "I have oriented myself on Sky and Christopher Sutton. They kept up the speed in the last kilometers, Christopher opened the sprint too early and I could celebrate my second win of the season."
Recently, Hunter took the first place in Tour de Mumbai. He also grabbed first and second stage of Tour of Murcia in 2010.
Christopher Sutton of Sky Procycling was runner-up and Roberto Ferrari of Androni Giocattoli finished third.
Florian Bissinger (ARBO Gebrüder Weiss – Oberndorfer) was in good form and tried his best to catch the 22 cyclists, but he failed and grabbed 23rd spot with a difference of 4 seconds ahead of Oliver Zaugg (Leopard Trek).
With 51 kilometres to go, a group of four cyclists made their first breakaway including, Greg Van Avermaet (BMC), Dimitry Kozontchouk (GEOX), Nicolas Edet (Cofidis) and Martin Schöffman (Viperbike Karnten). All of them gain a lead of four minutes over the
peloton.
Greg Van Avermaet took the first sprint of the race ahead of Martin Schoffmann. After 86 kilometres, Kozontchouk jumped and took a lead ahead of three cyclists. Edet tried his best to follow, but Avermaet maintained his pace, caught the Russian and took
the second sprint.
With 126 kilometres to go, Stefan Kirchmair and Bartosz Huzarski worked together and built a lead over the peloton, but Stefan maintained his pace and took the third sprint of the stage. However, in the final 13 kilometres Hunter increased his pace and crossed
the finish-line ahead of other cyclists.
Robert Hunter took the overall sprint classification with 15 points ahead of Christopher Sutton and Roberto Ferrari. Greg Van Avermaet took the overall mountains classification and Jens Keukeleire took the title of best young rider’s classification ahead
of Daniel Schorn.
Hunter also took the overall lead with a time of 3 hours, 16 minutes and 24 seconds. Christopher Sutton was the runner-up with 4 seconds and Roberto Ferrari finished third, 6 seconds behind Hunter.
The next stage will start in Innsbruck and end in Kitzbüheler Horn. All the riders will cover the distance of 158.3 kilometres.
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