Cycling: As expected, the German team Bora – hansgrohe dominated the first stage of the Sibiu Cycling Tour. The Austrian duo Patrick Konrad and Gregor Mühlberger decided to win the stage among themselves.
Stelvio of Romania
Already on the second day of the Sibiu Cycling Tour the decision in the overall standings should be made due to the profile of the stages. Because after the start in Sibiu, there was a distance of 183,0 kilometers to go to Lake Bâlea Lac. In itself not a problem - if this body of water were not at an altitude of 2.040 meters. So the professionals had a final climb - also called "Stelvio of Romania" - with a length of over 20 kilometers and an average gradient of approx. 6 percent. Too difficult for leaders Nicodemus Holler (Bike Aid)? The 29-year-old German won the yesterday Prologue of the Sibiu Cycling Tour and was therefore surprisingly allowed to start in the yellow jersey today. However, the two Austrians were the favourites Patrick Conrad and Gregor Muehlberger from the Bora team – called hansgrohe. Accordingly, the two German teams took control of the peloton early on.
Konrad & Mühlberger are serious
The six escapees were granted a lead of more than six minutes at times. Nevertheless, this cushion should not be enough for them. At the latest when the second WorldTour team, Israel Start-Up Nation, joined the chase, the lead dropped rapidly. Arrived on the final climb, the peloton was decimated very quickly, as expected. Bora – hansgrohe succeeded with Gregor Mühlberger and Patrick Konrad make the race difficult. The Swiss was able to break away with the Austrian duo Matteo Badilatti (Israel Start-Up Nation), the French Remy Rochas (Nippo – Delko Provence), the Italian Francesco Manuel Bongiorno (Vini Zabù – KTM) and the Pole Piotr Brozyna (Voster ATS). Much to the disappointment of local fans Serghei Tvetcov (Romanian national team) do not follow.
No chance for the competition
After a further tightening of the pace of Gregor Muehlberger it was over Francesco Manuel Bongiorno and Piotr Brozyna happen. The remaining quartet should decide the victory among themselves. Although two pros from the WorldTour team Bora – hansgrohe were in the leading group, dared Remy Rochas completely fearless an attack. After this gap was closed by the Austrian duo, went Patrick Conrad went on the offensive for the first time - and this attack was successful. The Austrian champion left promptly and was later joined by his compatriot and teammate. Together they drove safely towards the stage win. Patrick finally left this to Konrad Gregor Muehlberger. However, he will wear yellow tomorrow. The decision about overall victory will be made in the time trial the day after tomorrow. In this regard is not out of the race Matteo Badilatti, who lost only a few seconds as third of the day.
?ﾟﾇﾹ@muehlberger_94 of ?ﾟﾇﾪ@BORAhansgrohe wins stage 1 of ?ﾟﾇﾴ@SibiuTourEN #SibiuTour pic.twitter.com/jgFtR925Ij
- World Cycling Stats (@wcsbike) July 24, 2020