Mühlberger top again

“I prefer the cold to pollen”

National champion Gregor Mühlberger is helping out in the Movistar team at the Tour of the Alps.

(Bild: Andreas Tröster, Krone Kreativ)

Spaniard Juan Pedro Lopez stormed to his first victory as a professional cyclist at the Tour of the Alps on Wednesday in the rain and cold. Austria's flag was held high by national champion Gregor Mühlberger with 13th place in the home stage around Schwaz: "I rode for my captains." 

"This is a wonderful day for me, but with four degrees and rain it was a shitty day for all of us and one of the hardest for me on the bike," confessed Spaniard Juan Pedro Lopez on Wednesday in Schwaz after his first professional victory on the third stage of the Tour of the Alps. The 26-year-old also took the overall standings as the solo winner.

For me, the whole thing was half as bad. For the first time I was properly dressed in a rain race."

Radprofi Gregor Mühlberger über die Kälte

National champion Gregor Mühlberger fought his way through the cold battle on the mountain and valley course around Schwaz to finish as the best Austrian in 13th place: "For me, the whole thing was half as bad. For the first time I was properly dressed in a rain race."

The current bad weather is also not entirely inconvenient for the allergy sufferer: "I got really bad last week and had to take antibiotics. I prefer the cold to pollen."

Helper job reduces chances of victory
The climber is therefore feeling better every day of the five-day tour. However, a stage win like last year is hardly possible for the 30-year-old. This time, Mühlberger will have to make do with the role of helper for the Colombian Ivan Sosa in the Movistar team at the dress rehearsal for the Giro d`Italia: "He is our strongest man on the mountain, a lot is still possible in the overall standings."

The former Tirol Team rider is set for the Tour de France with the Spanish racing team: "I'll certainly have more freedom there."

TOUR OF THE ALPS

SECOND STAGE: Schwaz - Schwaz, 124.8 km: 
1. Lopez (Sp) 3:16:11,
13th Mühlberger +1:20, 
29th Pernsteiner +4:25, 
32nd Messner +4:49, 
44th Eckerstorfer +12:01, 
46th Schönberger gl. time, 
61st Gamper +16:02, 
69th Schrettl +17:36, 
70th Pöstlberger +18:03.

TOTAL: 
1st Lopez (Sp) 11:22:34, 
34th Mühlberger +10:05, 
41st Pernsteiner +14:45, 
50th Schönberger +20:46, 
57th Gamper +24:14, 
69th Messner +29:07, 
74th Schrettl +31:48, 
89th Eckerstorfer +36:19, 
101st Pöstlberger +42:21.