In the current competition season, the Jedermann Team Corratec is on the road to a major event every weekend and is extremely successful. With all the podium finishes and great results, the drivers once again show their strength. Here you can find out how things went at the Amade Cycle Marathon, the Glockner König or the Super Giro Dolomiti.
Team Corratec at the Amade Cycle Marathon
At 7.30 a.m. on May 28.05.2017th, 24, the starting shot was fired in Radstadt – using the old cannon of the Citizens’ Guard – for the 1200th edition of the Alpencup Amade Cycle Marathon. Then the crowd of more than 20 starters from 146 nations rolled out of the small town - surrounded by a medieval city wall - on the two offered cycle marathon routes (2215 km / 96 m altitude or 1535 km / 28 m) through the wonderful landscape of the Salzburger Sportwelt and the always impressive Dachstein massif. The Corratec team, which has been successful for years, with the leader and Ötztal winner Bernd Hornetz, Stefan Oettl, Martin Reisner, Wolfgang Hofmann and Tomas Mojares, the young and likeable member of the Philippine junior national team and the Corratec team of the Philippines. The team has once again prepared and adjusted well for this further event: physically, mentally and strategically. With glorious weather up to 1,5 degrees during the day, the race exploded after 4 km at the junction to Forstau, a 270 km long climb with 8 meters in altitude. After a rapid descent, the second ascent from Pichl via Vorberg up to Ramsau at the foot of the Dachstein awaited. As every year, this 12 km long ascent with its often 14-30% incline is a first "executioner", where the peleton splits into groups and at least the first preliminary decision is made. In the first group, Bernd Hornetz and Stefan Oettl easily reached Ramsau. XNUMX seconds behind, the second group also arrived at the highest point of the route, with Martin Reisner and Wolfgang Hofmann, who, after a serious bicycle accident, under the
week certainly could not be in full possession of his strength. The Team Corratec youngster Tomas Mojaresoben also arrived in the third group. After a first fast team supply service, almost 12 fast "downhill kilometers" were announced, to Filszmoos at the foot of the Bischofsmütze mountain and the home of the well-known top skiers Michaela Kirchgasser and Philipp Schörghofer. In Niedernfritz, the 146 and 96 km routes split up. Even if there weren't any more difficult climbs on the route, there were always many exhausting meters to climb. All Team Corratec drivers were able to keep their top positions at the top and in the groups, from now on it went back to Radstadt via Flachau, mostly on a flat route: On the flat, wide finish line, which was changed in 2017 due to a construction site, the groups were extremely tight target sprint decisions.
The Corratec team with the almost sovereign victory in the team classification with a lead of 12 minutes The corratec team riders with their top final places 1, 2 and 3 (Oettl, Hofmann and Hornetz) in their categories discussed something at the finish about the final sprint design, so that the proven corratec "climbers" can further develop their potential even with flat sprints. The declared goal of this factual "immediate feedback campaign" for further optimizations in the team: With super-fast overall target sprints instead of 4th, 6th place .. to be able to sprint on the podium in the next similar finals.
Team Corratec at the Glocknerkönig
The 24th edition of the Glocknerkönig is a classic on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, which is closed to motorists. 2.500 starters from 25 nations with 6 Team Corratec drivers. The route: 27 km and 1694 vertical meters with a maximum incline of 12%. A voluntary "limit experience" for every passionate cyclist, a limit experience for body and mind alike. Ötztal winner Bernd Hornetz said after his first Glocknerkönig: "In my long and successful career I have never ridden a race like this: extremely hard, where I had to constantly work at the limit of my potential for about 1:20 hours to the finish line, without knowing if I with my "grains" to the finish." Everyone in the Corratec team was well prepared and everyone was clear and fully aware of their personal goals when the race started at 07:00 a.m. on the village square in Bruck. As every year, a tough fight developed at the top and equally in the entire field for every meter of altitude, every second, every place and with yourself: at the latest in the last 12 km from the Fernleiten toll station to the finish at Fuschtörl at 2445 m above sea level. After 17 Corratec Glocknerkönig victories in the past, it wasn't quite enough for the overall podium. The best driver on the Classic route from Bruck up to the Fuschertörl this time was tour ace Michael Markolf with 7th place overall (2nd place in the category). Our young Filipino friend Tomas Mojares was the best team driver on the "Light" route from the Ferleiten toll station up to the Fuschertörl with 12th place overall (1st place in the U20 category). In addition, Wolfgang Hofmann achieved a hard-fought but nice victory in his category with 16th place overall. The special reward for this determined effort at the big award ceremony: 1st place in the team ranking. It was again an exciting experience to be able to be part of the Glocknerkönig. On June 04.06.2017th, 2, Bart Burry was the best non-Italian in his categories (10th place overall) during his high-altitude training camp for the Tour Transalp at the Marcialonga cycle marathon with start and finish in Predazzo / ITA in the race over 135 km and 3279 m for the team Corratec can reach.
Double victory for the Corratec team at the SuperGiroDolomiti
On Sunday the alarm clock rang at 04:30 a.m., so that everyone and everything was ready for the start at 06:30 a.m. of the 6 riders for the ultra-bike marathon with 238 km and 5234 vertical meters. The young Tomas Mojares from the corratec team was “allowed” to do longer sleep: His start on the classic route with 112 km and 1870 m altitude difference was "only" scheduled for 09:30 a.m.
Our team tactics on the ultra course: On the one hand, staying together as long as possible in order to be able to effectively pursue the interests of Team Corratec together in the race. On the other hand, the race at the front should be made so difficult that a successful escape attempt could be made towards the end of the race. After the first climbs, the Gailbargsattel and the Plöckenpass, the lead group had become quite "manageable". Michael Markolf, together with Bart Bury, made a promising first attack, which could eventually lead to a lasting break. But somehow this attack on the Lanzenpass was not "granted" a preliminary decision. Meanwhile, Bernd Hornetz and Stefan Oettl were able to save some energy in the pursuit. A little later, in coordination with Bury, Markolf and Oettl, Bernd Hornetz launched a courageous and determined attack in a difficult phase of the race. Bernd Hornetz skilfully put everything on one card and didn't give up. It was definitely a long ride on the “razor blade”. And the Team Corratec riders in the chasing field did their part so that Bernd Hornetz could successfully finish his thing. And it did so in a convincing manner: the winner of the Nove Colli, Ötztaler Cycle Marathon is now also the winner of the SuperGiroDolomiti - with a fabulous 10-minute lead. In the first chasing group were Oettl and Markolf, both of whom had the next podium positions in mind. A powerful escape attempt by Michael did not succeed in the strong headwind in the final. So Michael Markolf then skilfully and energetically started the sprint for second place for Stefan Oettl. Stefan Oettl then won the difficult sprint finish on cobblestones in the city center of Lienz: double victory for the corratec team and 2th place for "starter" Michael Markolf. Bart Bury spontaneously provided first aid after another racing driver at the front of the race had a serious fall until the ambulance came. Even if he gave up his good starting position in the race, he still managed a great 5th place at the finish.
Just behind, Martin Reisner started the sprint for a possible victory for Wolfgang Hofmann in his category: And Wolfgang was the deserved winner of his category in the sprint – albeit narrowly. A rarely good day of racing came to an end, and everyone in the team was equally happy about it.
And how was the race of Team corratec youngster Tomas Mojares?
It was fast, very fast. With a time of 3:02 h and a brisk average of 37,3 km/h at 1870 m altitude difference, Tomas Mojares crossed the finish line with the second larger group and was right at the front in the sprint, which gave him 3rd place in the category. Tomas Mojares was able to stay in the leading group for a long time. The groups only shared a bit on the super-fast descent from the Gailbergsattel. However, after a lot of work, the 2nd group was no longer able to catch up to the top.
