Jakob Fuglsang has sealed the overall victory at the Österreich Rundfahrt (UCI 2.HC) after Daniele Colli (Team Type 1) won the bunch sprint in front of the Burgtheater in Vienna. RADIOSHACK NISSAN TREK also won the Team classification. In addition, Austrian teammate Thomas Rohregger took the honors of the white jersey as Best Austrian Rider.
Fuglsang earned the yellow jersey in Austria after the team animated stage 4 to St. Johann/Alpendorf via the famous Grossglockner climb and Fuglsang finished solo after an attack more than 100 kilometers earlier. While defending his lead in a 24 km effort against the clock on Saturday, the Dane went into the final stage with a 1:23 advantage over Steve Morabito (BMC Racing).
Fuglsang is very happy with the overall win. “We had a great week riding the way we did. When you ride together as a team, you have fun even though you suffer. Upon arriving in Vienna and securing the overall, we can all be happy and proud with this win and the way we managed to defend the jersey and win the overall. Thank you to all the riders and staff that made this possible here in Austria.”
Today’s stage was 122.8km from Podersdorf am Neusiedler See to Vienna. Team riders controlled the break as they entered the closing circuits in Vienna. New rider attacks followed but RSNT kept things in check until the teams of the sprinters took charge of the race to ensure a sprint finish, won by Colli.
Fuglsang previously won the Tour of Luxembourg in June: “It’s another victory in a national tour, which always demands different skills. You need to be strong in the climbs, good on the TT and have a great team to consolidate the effort you put in. It’s been a good challenge this week and I’m proud of the way I won.”
After his solo win on stage 4, Fuglsang still had four days to defend yellow. Determination and dedication set the wheels in motion to arrive victorious in Vienna. Fuglsang: “It’s particularly nice that I didn’t win by merely following, but also by taking a stage win. That’s always nicer. Since I took the jersey, the team worked really hard and made it easy for me. I did what I had to do in the TT and the team helped me with everything else.”
Team Director José Azevedo echoes Fuglsang’s praise for the team in Austria and congratulates all eight riders for winning the Team classification: “Each and every rider was dedicated to winning this race. And even in the time trial, they all showed great strength and motivation. It was a great week here in Austria and we can all go home with a good feeling.”
