Team Spur Specialized puts the breaks on as Team Ascendis Health speeds to Stage 1 victory
Team Spur-Specialized had a fantastic start to the race building a three-minute lead heading into the final 20km leading the world-class chasing ladies’ peloton. Ariane Kleinhans slipped on a turn and bent her bike’s rear brake disc, engaging the rear brake, and it wasn’t long before Ariane felt the effects of riding flat-out with her brakes on!
The inform Team Ascendis caught leaders within the final 2km and beat them to the line by 38 seconds. According to Nic Lammond (Team Spur Manager) Ariane was shattered as she crossed the line, but ultimately relieved to hear the problem was with her bike, and not her legs!
German birthday boy Karl Platt, riding for Team Bulls with Swiss Urs Huber, was still on track for a record-equalling fifth win after winning Stage 1 by 38 seconds, but second placed Albvan Lakata of Austria and his Czech teammate Kristian Hynek signaled their intent with a strong finish.
