Cyprus Sunshine Cup #2 Afxentia 2

Description

Women have to race only 38,9 kilometers but they are also riding through landscape which is challenging and in the same time beautiful. Long climbs are dividing the bunch and it is expected that there will be no sprint finish.

More than 20 nations were found on the start lists of 2010 edition of Afxentia stage race. In 2011 there have been 30! In between them one could find a lot of riders who has claimed already world champion titles and medals in the Olympic games.
In 2011 the competition by International Cycling Federation UCI first time is ranked in the highest status (Hors Category) below the world cup races. Riders will get a lot of world ranking points and so it will attract again a lot of professional mountainbikers to come to Cyprus for both training and competing.
Vice world champion Jaroslav Kulhavy (Czech Republik) and Annika Langvad (Denmark) in 2010 were taking the victory in this prestigious event.

The courses are interesting as well as demanding. But for sure they are giving a lot of fun, exciting views and experiences.

The mountainbike event is titled to the honor of Cyprus freedom fighter Gregoris Afxentiou and is situated in a beautiful place in the mountains. Mantra tou Kampiou is a picnic place as well as an initial point for hiking and biking in the mountains.

The point-to-point race is the second of three days. After the time trial on Friday, on Sunday the cross country race will decide the overall ranking.


RACE REPORT 2011

Annika Langvad and Karl Markt at Cyprus Sunshine Cup were taking the second stage of Afxentia stage race. The Dane and the Austrian will ride the final cross country competition on Sunday as overall leaders. In the point to point race at Macheras Mountains Markt was in front of Fabian Giger (Sui) and Jan Skarnitzl (Cze), Langvad ahead of Lene Byberg (Nor) and Blaza Klemencic (Slo).

The decision in men’s 44,7 kilometer point to point race was made in the long uphill single trail which starts at around kilometer 35. Karl Markt (Felt Ötztal X-Bionic) and the Swede Emil Lindgren (Rabobank-Giant) were in front, the Greek Periklis Ilias (Protek) was sitting in third position of a 15 men strong group.
Then Ilias made a mistake. This helped Markt and Lindgren to escape. When they reached the top and then went into the long downhill, they had a gap of around 20 seconds to Fabian Giger (Sui). “I couldn’t follow them because of Periklis but when I saw it’s my team mate Emil with Karl, I thought it will be okay because Emil is a good downhill rider”, Giger said at the finish.
He couldn’t calculate that Emil Lindgren would have a flat tire in the downhill. Indeed Lindgren went in front of the race but then punctured the front wheel and he crashed. The rest of the race he did on the rim and ended up on a disappointing 12th position. So the way was free for Karl Markt to get his second season win by 36 seconds to Fabian Giger and 1:08 minutes to Jan Skarnitzl (Cze/Rubena Birell Specialized).
In the Afxentia overall classement Markt leads now by 59 seconds to Giger. Skarnitzl has 1:07 minutes difference before the final cross country race on Sunday.
Karl Markt: “I had another good day and the luck that Emil was crashing (due to his flat tire). When we were pushing the uphill nobody was able to follow us. I hope for the same legs tomorrow to secure the overall title.”
Fabian Giger: “My shape is okay and maybe I could have been able to follow Karl and Emil. I hope to make it for the podium tomorrow.”

Jan Skarnitzl: “It was good today but in the long downhill I had problems with my chain. Since that it was not possible to follow Fabian. Maybe I would have been able to follow him, but it’s only a maybe”.
Another day, same story. Annika Langvad (Easton Rockets) again was too strong for the rest. When the women’s leading group went into the uphill single trail (at kilometer 30 out of 39,8) Langvad was following some junior riders who where together with the women leading group.
Her competitors were not able to do it and so Langvad extended her lead.
Elisabeth Brandau (Central-Haibike) followed her on second position but when she started to get problems Lene Byberg (Specialized) passed her. Brandau at the end was nearly caught by Blaza Klemencic who was set on fourth place. (Felt Ötztal X-Bionic).
Unfortunately some hundred meters before the finish the course was signed in the wrong way. So Langvad got into troubles and her chasers as well. At the end the time went into the results they riders had, when they passed the start finish area with around 500 meters to go.

Annika Langvad: “It went perfect for me. My tactic was not go as fast in the beginning and it went well, when I was able to follow the juniors.”

Lene Byberg: “It was an on and off today. I need to find the balance in my speed. It was not possible to follow Annika but I felt not bad.”

Elisabeth Brandau: “Everything went fine today until I was struggling. I had nothing more to drink. That’s why Lene could pass me 300 meters before we reached the highest point. Annika is unbelievable strong.”

Blaza Klemencic: “The start and the end was good but in the middle of the race I had bad legs. Don’t know why. At the end I felt very good and came close to Brandau.”

On Sunday the Afxentia stage race ends with a cross country race.

Results Top 5 Point to Point
Women 39,8 Kilometer
1. Annika Langvad (Den) 2:04:15 hours
2. Lene Byberg (Nor) 2:08:18
3. Elisabeth Brandau (Ger) 2:10:12
4. Blaza Klemencic (Slo) 2:10:17
5. Anja Gradl (Ger) 2:11:12 9:30
6. Silke Schmidt (Ger) 2:13:02
7. Rie Katayama (Jpn) 2:14:02
8. Anne Terpstra (Ned) 2:14:23
9. Laura Turpijn (Ned) 2:15:48
10. Ekaterina Anoshina (Rus) 2:15:49

Overall women after two days:
1. Annika Langvad (Den) 2:23:36
2. Lene Byberg (Nor) 2:28:54
3. Blaza Klemencic (Slo) 2:30:25
4. Elisabeth Brandau (Ger) 2:30:55
5. Anja Gradl (Ger) 2:32:24
6. Rie Katajyama (Jpn) 2:35:03
7. Anne Terpstra (Ned) 2:35:26
8. Laura Turpijn (Ned) 2:37:00
9. Janka Stevkova (Svk) 2:37:40
10. Ekaterina Anoshina (Rus) 2:37:58


Men 44,7 Kilometer
1. Karl Markt (Aut) 1:58:36
2. Fabian Giger (Sui) +0:36
3. Jan Skarnitzl (Cze) +1:08
4. Periklis Ilias (Gre) +1:42
5. Jaroslav Kulhavy (Cze) +1:44
6. Jiri Friedl (Cze) +1:59
7. Alban Lakata (Aut) +2:03
8. Thomas Dietsch (Fra) +2:13
9. Magnus Darvell (Swe) +2:37
10. Kevin van Hoovels (Bel) +2:37

Overall after two days
1. Karl Markt (Aut) 2:15:10
2. Fabian Giger (Sui) +0:59
3. Jan Skarnitzl (Cze) +1:07
4. Jaroslav Kulhavy (Cze) +2:01
5. Periklis Ilias (Gre) +2:15
6. Alban Lakata (Aut) +2:23
7. Jiri Friedl (Cze) +2:37
8. Henk Jaap Moorlag (Ned) +2:38
9. Emil Lindgren (Swe) +2:40
10. Magnus Darvell (Swe) +2:59

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