Cycling: Jonas Koch (CCC) finished fourth on the first stage of the Tour of Austria. Stage winner was the Spaniard Carlos Barbero (Movistar).
Strong breakaway group with many Austrians
On the second stage from Grieskirchen to Freistadt, the Tour of Austria covered a total of 138,8 kilometers. Three final laps were nice for the spectators on the track bike, so that they got to see their heroes several times. A group with the Austrians had already managed to get away in the light rain Matthias Brandle (Israel Cycling Academy), Mario Gamper (Tyrol KTM Cycling Team), Daniel Lehner (Felbermayr – Simplon catfish), Dominik Hrinkow (Hrinkow Advarics Cycleang) and Felix Ritzinger (Maloja Pushbikers) as well Roberto Carlos Gonzalez (Neri Sottoli – Selle Italia – KTM) from Panama and Scott Davis (Dimension Data) from Great Britain from the peloton.
Barbero wins - Koch is fourth
As the weather improved at the Tour of Austria, the peloton got closer and closer to the breakaway. Even before the last mountain classification, all breakaways - except for Scott Davis - be asked. The Briton stayed in the lead for a surprisingly long time, but was eventually caught ten kilometers from the finish. So it came to the sprint of a decimated peloton. In a gripping finish could charles barber (Movistar) just ahead Emils Liepiņš (Wallonia – Bruxelles) and Pieter Vanspeybrouck (Wanty – Gobert) prevail. Jonah Koch (CCC) was before Jannik Steimle (Vorarlberg – Santic) Fourth. Jannik Steimle also lost his red jersey to Emīls Liepiņš.
Falls on the Tour of Austria: Brändle in the hospital
There was also a serious crash within the final 1.000 meters, involving a number of riders. Immediately after crossing the finish line, we didn't know which professionals were involved and how serious their injuries might be. The Tour of Austria is definitely over for Matthias Brandle (Israel Cycling Academy). He fell at the first crossing of the finish line and was taken to the hospital with a suspected broken collarbone.