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Int. Österreich Rundfahrt Discussion
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| Heine |
Posted on 22-04-2026 07:09
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Grand Tour Specialist
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 Int. Österreich Rundfahrt
Welcome to Austria and one of the mayor stage races of the C2 calender. 3 mountain stages (2 of the MTF), 1 TT, 1 hill and 2 flat stages makes this one of the real big races of the division. Most of the main climbers in CT are here and ready to battle it out!
Considering that this is a stage race we will focus on the GC winners here in the history section to not make it too large, but safe to say considering the race has been around since 2008 there has been ALOT of stage winners.
First year of the race a for me PCM legend Bernhard Kohl (I bought him so many times on older PCMs) won, then we have 2 years where 2 of the biggest mangame legends in Andy Schleck and Damiano Cunego took the title, followed by Perez Sanchez in 2011. In 2012 another name that will make old managers nod won in Jose Alarcon, before Iglinski took it in 2013.
In 2014 it was David Abals turn, and then we have Brajkovic, Dekker and Amador winnin one each. So for the 10 first years we had 10 different winners, but from 2018 that would not continue as Pluchkin made the race his and won 4 times in a row! Making him the only multi times winner of the race.
Getting to 2022 we are back to new winners with first Oomen, then Chiarello and last year Jorgenson winning, looking at the startlist this year it seems like we once again will have a new winner and Pluchkin will keep his record as the only rider to win more than once!
| 2024 | Matteo Jorgenson (Newton Foundation p/b Zwift) | | 2023 | William Chiarello (Crabbe-CC Chevigny) | | 2022 | Sam Oomen (Lierse SK - Pizza Ullo PCTeam) | | 2021 | Aleksandr Pluchkin (Team Popo4Ever p/b Nemiroff) | | 2020 | Aleksandr Pluchkin (Team Popo4Ever p/b Nemiroff) | | 2019 | Aleksandr Pluchkin (Team Popo4Ever p/b Nemiroff) | | 2018 | Aleksandr Pluchkin (Team Popo4Ever p/b Nemiroff) | | 2017 | Andrei Amador (Team UBS) | | 2016 | Thomas Dekker (Compal - Merida) | | 2015 | Janez Brajkovic (ONCE-Eroski) | | 2014 | David Abal (Team CSC-Orbea) | | 2013 | Maxim Iglinski (LukOil-Rostelekom) | | 2012 | Jose Alarcon (Aker Solutions - Bergans) | | 2011 | Francisco Perez Sanchez (UBS - Annie Chun's) | | 2010 | Damiano Cunego (La Gazzetta dello Sport) | | 2009 | Andy Schleck (Domina Vacanze) | | 2008 | Bernhard Kohl (Barloworld) |
| 1 | Matteo Jorgenson | Newton Foundation p/b Zwift | 24h52'47 | | 2 | Julien Bernard | Genii Hyundai N Cycling | + 28 | | 3 | Richard Antonio Carapaz | Zain-Omantel | + 1'03 | | 4 | Rasmus Guldhammer | Tafjord Kraft | + 1'23 | | 5 | Sindre Skjostad Lunke | Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team | + 1'46 | | 6 | Pierre Paolo Penasa | Ethiopian Airlines | + 2'37 | | 7 | Thymen Arensman | Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 8 | Dion Smith | Duvel-Tsingtao | + 2'47 | | 9 | George Bennett | Spark Team NZ | + 2'49 | | 10 | Victor Lafay | Euskotren - Pays Basque | + 2'52 |
Sprinters
2 flat stages for the sprinters and we have some sprinters who will be quite happy as this is NOT the strongest sprinter field of the season. Best pure sprinter is  Hayakawa, followed by  Tivani. None really ranked as the best sprinters in the world, and none of them top 5 in CT. Still they are the fastest here and ready to fight for the 2 flat stages!
The closest competitors in my eyes are 2 sprinters who are also really good puncheurs in  Lagane and  Korosec. Both good sprinters with a good punch up the hills. This might help them have fitter legs as we get to the flat stages after some really hard mountains and a hilly stage thrown in.  Eislers and  Visser is somewhat of the same type
Other than this Sinclair deserves a mention, while personally it would be interesting to see if  Thomas can do anything in this weakened field.
| Name | FL | SP | AC | | Hayakawa | 72 | 78 | 77 | | Tivani | 70 | 77 | 78 | | Lagane | 70 | 76 | 77 | | Eislers | 74 | 76 | 75 | | Sinclair | 70 | 76 | 75 | | Korosec | 71 | 75 | 78 | | Visser | 73 | 74 | 75 | | Van Lerberghe | 73 | 74 | 71 | | Thomas | 73 | 74 | 79 |
Puncheurs
Only one hilly stage and I will therefor not use a lot of the time on this, Lagane and Korosec already mentioned but also  Boswell, Watson,  Dieteren and  Kanepejsare here as pure puncheurs / stage hunters.  Budyak could be mentioned but he is a better climber aswell. My guess is that the hilly stage will see either a BOTD or a big peloton where positioning will decide
| Name | MO | MM | HI | ST | RS | SP | AC | | Lagane | 70 | 74 | 78 | 70 | 71 | 76 | 77 | | Boswell | 69 | 74 | 78 | 74 | 70 | 63 | 73 | | Watson | 65 | 72 | 78 | 76 | 72 | 62 | 72 | | Budyak | 74 | 76 | 78 | 72 | 67 | 57 | 68 | | Dieteren | 70 | 74 | 77 | 75 | 70 | 63 | 66 | | Kanepejs | 67 | 72 | 77 | 72 | 71 | 62 | 71 | | Schönberger | 72 | 74 | 76 | 73 | 74 | 65 | 71 | | Korosec | 68 | 72 | 75 | 74 | 71 | 75 | 78 | | Holmes | 72 | 74 | 75 | 71 | 73 | 67 | 71 |
TT
The race ends in a pretty long Time Trial and we have several pure time trialists present, where the biggest favorite might be  Belevics, followed by Thomas and Politt. There are several other strong ones, including  Mathis,  Sterbini, Hepburn, Cardona and Nyoni.
The question is however how the stage might be affacted by it being on the last day, considering that a rider like  Cattaneo might be the biggest favorite considering he is the best TTer among the climbers, followed by Habtemichael and  Prado.
| Name | FL | MO | TT | RC | | Thomas | 73 | 56 | 78 | 70 | | Politt | 73 | 63 | 78 | 72 | | Belevics | 76 | 60 | 78 | 73 | | Mathis | 72 | 62 | 77 | 64 | | Sterbini | 67 | 55 | 77 | 66 | | Hepburn | 69 | 62 | 77 | 67 | | Cardona | 73 | 64 | 77 | 68 | | Nyoni | 69 | 56 | 77 | 69 | | Frison | 70 | 56 | 76 | 65 | | Fraile | 65 | 72 | 75 | 63 | | Cattaneo | 66 | 78 | 75 | 71 |  Hofer | 70 | 55 | 75 | 63 | | Terada | 69 | 60 | 75 | 71 |
Climbing / GC
The biggest favorites has to be Galta and  Meintjes. Strong climbers both of them with Galta having a small advantage in climbing, TT and energy stats whil Meintjes is the best puncheur and attacker. This will be the big CT battle between the best climbers in the division!
Behind them we have a strong field, with Munoz being the best pure climber among them. He would however need to secure time on the climbs and hills to keep the for me last podium favorite Habtemichael behind him who is a much better TTer. Same can be said about Smith and Buitrago who will loose time on the last stage and needs to be offensive early on.
Cattaneo on the other hand will have to try to hold on for dear life and then get time back on the last stage, same for Prado and Rachid who should be able to take back time on the TT.
Last honorable mentions to Seboka, Quintana and Petelin. Good climbers but for me they are just not strong enough to really compete for the top spots.
| Name | MO | MM | HI | TT | ST | RS | RC | AC | | Galta | 80 | 76 | 72 | 72 | 77 | 78 | 75 | 65 | | Seboka | 80 | 71 | 62 | 53 | 63 | 70 | 73 | 67 | | Meintjes | 79 | 78 | 77 | 70 | 76 | 75 | 76 | 68 | | Munoz | 79 | 76 | 73 | 66 | 72 | 72 | 74 | 71 | | Cattaneo | 78 | 72 | 66 | 75 | 70 | 74 | 71 | 64 | | Habtemichael | 78 | 76 | 74 | 74 | 74 | 73 | 76 | 66 | | Smith | 78 | 77 | 75 | 68 | 72 | 74 | 75 | 74 | | Quintana | 78 | 74 | 70 | 67 | 71 | 70 | 70 | 60 | | Buitrago | 78 | 77 | 76 | 66 | 70 | 74 | 76 | 80 | | Petelin | 78 | 76 | 74 | 62 | 70 | 71 | 71 | 75 | | Prado | 77 | 75 | 73 | 74 | 73 | 73 | 75 | 70 | | Rachid | 77 | 74 | 70 | 74 | 73 | 73 | 76 | 68 |
Spoiler | Jang | Junhyeok | Air New Zealand-Prada | | Koutounis | Aristeidis | Air New Zealand-Prada | | Murphy | Finnegan | Air New Zealand-Prada | | Persico | Davide | Air New Zealand-Prada | | Petilli | Simone | Air New Zealand-Prada | | Raccani | Simone | Air New Zealand-Prada | | Visser | Louis | Air New Zealand-Prada | | White | Alexander | Air New Zealand-Prada | | Boswell | Ian | Assa Abloy | | Culey | Marcus | Assa Abloy | | Hänninen | Jaako | Assa Abloy | | Morris Berroa | James | Assa Abloy | | Murillo | Luis Esteban | Assa Abloy | | O'Connor | Ben | Assa Abloy | | Penasa | Pierre Paolo | Assa Abloy | | Quicibal | Romeo | Assa Abloy | | Korosec | Rok | Bianchi Enel | | Nerurkar | Lukas | Bianchi Enel | | Romele | Alessandro | Bianchi Enel | | Sandri | Edoardo | Bianchi Enel | | Sangulin | Robert | Bianchi Enel | | Smith | Dion | Bianchi Enel | | Watson | Calvin | Bianchi Enel | | Yarrell | Guy | Bianchi Enel | | Buitrago | Santiago | Ethiopian Airlines | | Dina | Marton | Ethiopian Airlines | | Eislers | Sandis | Ethiopian Airlines | | English | Felix | Ethiopian Airlines | | Frison | Frederik | Ethiopian Airlines | | Grmay | Tsgabu Gebremaryam | Ethiopian Airlines | | Matte | Charles | Ethiopian Airlines | | Schönberger | Sebastian | Ethiopian Airlines | | Azparren | Enekoitz | Euskadi-Murias | | Garcia Pierna | Raul | Euskadi-Murias | | Lohinsky | Filip | Euskadi-Murias | | Munoz | Daniel | Euskadi-Murias | | Rodriguez | Juan Felipe | Euskadi-Murias | | Sterbini | Luca | Euskadi-Murias | | Tenorio | Justo | Euskadi-Murias | | Zubov | Matvey | Euskadi-Murias | | Berthet | Clement | Euskotren - Pays Basque | | Dieteren | Jan | Euskotren - Pays Basque | | Donaldson | Robert | Euskotren - Pays Basque | | Politt | Nils | Euskotren - Pays Basque | | Ramirez | Donovan | Euskotren - Pays Basque | | Rochas | Remy | Euskotren - Pays Basque | | Tronchon | Bastien | Euskotren - Pays Basque | | Vadic | Baptiste | Euskotren - Pays Basque | | Bouchard | Felix | Glanbia | | Child | Orion | Glanbia | | Dunne | Conor | Glanbia | | Healy | Ben | Glanbia | | Mannion | Gavin | Glanbia | | Meehan | Jamie | Glanbia | | Meintjes | Louis | Glanbia | | Warbasse | Lawrence | Glanbia | | Chiarello | William | IncaLine Pro Cycling | | Dulanjana | Sachin | IncaLine Pro Cycling | | Gonzales | Charles | IncaLine Pro Cycling | | Gonzales | Andre Alexander | IncaLine Pro Cycling | | Prado | Ignacio Jesus | IncaLine Pro Cycling | | Seboka | Matala | IncaLine Pro Cycling | | Umba | Santiago | IncaLine Pro Cycling | | Woronieski | Brian Jesus | IncaLine Pro Cycling | | Bellan | Juraj | JEWA TIROL | | Bosnjak | Fran | JEWA TIROL | | Buschek | Paul | JEWA TIROL | | Hofer | Andreas | JEWA TIROL | | Orue | German Anibal | JEWA TIROL | | Terada | Yoshiki | JEWA TIROL | | Bergstrom Frisk | Erik | Kone-Nordea | | Helme | Sasu | Kone-Nordea | | Juntunen | Antti-Jussi | Kone-Nordea | | Kallberg | Axel | Kone-Nordea | | Kanepejs | Deins | Kone-Nordea | | Lehtinen | Sakari | Kone-Nordea | | Nesset | Sigurd | Kone-Nordea | | Vainio | Veeti | Kone-Nordea | | Aebersold | Nils | Kraftwerk Man Machine | | Donze | Robin | Kraftwerk Man Machine | | Gall | Felix | Kraftwerk Man Machine | | Habtemichael | Daniel | Kraftwerk Man Machine | | Ho | Burr | Kraftwerk Man Machine | | Koch | Jonas | Kraftwerk Man Machine | | Luehrs | Luis-Joe | Kraftwerk Man Machine | | Mathis | Marco | Kraftwerk Man Machine | | Avila | Freddy Alejandro | Parmalat - Ecopetrol | | Cattaneo | Mattia | Parmalat - Ecopetrol | | Fraile | Omar | Parmalat - Ecopetrol | | Miholjevic | Fran | Parmalat - Ecopetrol | | Pereyra | Pedro Pablo | Parmalat - Ecopetrol | | Pinarello | Alessandro | Parmalat - Ecopetrol | | Quintana | Nairo | Parmalat - Ecopetrol | | Tusveld | Martijn | Parmalat - Ecopetrol | | Bevort | Carl-Frederik | Peugeot - Bancolombia | | Galta | Fredrik Strand | Peugeot - Bancolombia | | Gomez | Camilo Andres | Peugeot - Bancolombia | | Holmes | Matthew | Peugeot - Bancolombia | | Thomas | Benjamin | Peugeot - Bancolombia | | Van Lerberghe | Bert | Peugeot - Bancolombia | | Wallenborn | Arno | Peugeot - Bancolombia | | Watts | Kiaan | Peugeot - Bancolombia | | Gonzalez | Abner | Podium Ambition | | Lagane | Christopher | Podium Ambition | | Postma | Renze | Podium Ambition | | Richardson | Chequan | Podium Ambition | | Sinclair | Shaquille | Podium Ambition | | Vera Hernandez | Hidalgo | Podium Ambition | | Barta | William | SEE Turtles | | Cardona | Julian | SEE Turtles | | Hepburn | Michael | SEE Turtles | | Main | Kent | SEE Turtles | | Nyoni | Similo | SEE Turtles | | Rachid | Elias Abou | SEE Turtles | | Tivani | German Nicolas | SEE Turtles | | Vermaerke | Kevin | SEE Turtles | | Belevics | Arturs | Tafjord Kraft | | Fredheim | Stian | Tafjord Kraft | | Garby | Marc Christian | Tafjord Kraft | | Gautherat | Pierre | Tafjord Kraft | | Gebremedhin | Awet | Tafjord Kraft | | Gudmestad | Tord | Tafjord Kraft | | Hagen | Carl Fredrik | Tafjord Kraft | | Hansen | Alexander Arnt | Tafjord Kraft | | Budyak | Anatoliy | Team Zappes Kölsch | | Johnson | Cooper | Team Zappes Kölsch | | Kenyeres | Abel | Team Zappes Kölsch | | Majoral | Jordi | Team Zappes Kölsch | | Reinderink | Joris | Team Zappes Kölsch | | Rivera | Kevin | Team Zappes Kölsch | | Strong | Corbin | Team Zappes Kölsch | | Wilksch | Hannes | Team Zappes Kölsch | | De Laat | Jasper | THE ONE - Fox God | | Hayakawa | Tomohiro | THE ONE - Fox God | | Koide | Itsuki | THE ONE - Fox God | | Petelin | Jan Drago | THE ONE - Fox God | | Ryuki | Uga | THE ONE - Fox God | | Sanchez | Pelayo | THE ONE - Fox God | | Todome | Yuhi | THE ONE - Fox God | | Verschaeve | Viktor | THE ONE - Fox God | | Blackmore | Joseph | Zwift - Newton Foundation | | Camargo | Breinner Smaichel | Zwift - Newton Foundation | | Hlady | Gavin | Zwift - Newton Foundation | | Kopecky | Matyas | Zwift - Newton Foundation | | Lopez | Ian | Zwift - Newton Foundation | | Menshov | Ivan | Zwift - Newton Foundation | | Pronskiy | Vadim | Zwift - Newton Foundation | | Simmons | Colby | Zwift - Newton Foundation |
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| whitejersey |
Posted on 22-04-2026 07:12
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3320
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Galta vs Meintjes will be a fun battle to follow!
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 23-04-2026 14:37
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| Heine |
Posted on 22-04-2026 07:14
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Posts: 4672
Joined: 08-04-2007
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Big race for us and felt we sent a squad that can do a bit of everything!
Galta the big name for us and he should be the big favorite, even though Meintjes (and others) can beat him I will see it as a dissapointment if we do not win this! Didn't send Schultz as support (cant remember why) so have to hope that Holmes is enough.
Thomas here for the TT, but with the sprinting field he might have an outside shot there, hopefully Lerberghe can work as a leadout
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| Dippofix |
Posted on 22-04-2026 08:00
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Posts: 4001
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Should be an interesting race - hopefully Buitrago can make the most of his ACC and MM, otherwise he'll be playing catch up to the better climbers and TTers. Not expecting a win, but a podium and/or stage win could be possible if we play everything right.
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| Imladrik |
Posted on 22-04-2026 08:35
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We're here stage hunting, as I don't think Berthet or Rochas can do much in this field, and with the TT.
Hopefully them, Dieteren and Politt can make the race worthwile.
Good luck everybody!
“...the secret of the Great Stories is that they have no secrets. The Great Stories are the ones you have heard and want to hear again. The ones you can enter anywhere and inhabit comfortably."
A. Roy
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| Bjartne |
Posted on 22-04-2026 11:09
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Posts: 3134
Joined: 15-07-2007
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Belevics stahe win the best we can hope for here. 
Thanks a lot for the really great preview Heine! |
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| Dane Bramage |
Posted on 22-04-2026 11:35
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We have three stages races left to get one stage win. This looks like our best oportunity
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| Nemolito |
Posted on 22-04-2026 14:12
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Posts: 3950
Joined: 20-04-2020
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You mean Galta vs. Seboka!
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| jt1109 |
Posted on 22-04-2026 15:31
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Posts: 3590
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Galta and Meintjes be such a fun battle, I'd assume the TT is pretty significant so edge to Galta,
Smith here for us think he will go very well on the first two stages hoping he can repeat his MT form he's had this year and grab a podium or Stage win in one though i'm pretty sure he will struggle to get higher then top 5 in GC due to the TT
Korosec here for a go at the sprints as well so a couple of different areas for us to go at
Thank for the preview |
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| DaveTwoBob |
Posted on 22-04-2026 20:24
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Posts: 2584
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Habtemichael doesn't have the greatest support and has struggled to keep up with the big boys. Hope he can manage his efforts for a solid top 10.
Thanks for the great preview Heine.
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| Heine |
Posted on 23-04-2026 06:40
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Posts: 4672
Joined: 08-04-2007
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Of course Smith takes it, can Bianchi do anything wrong this year?
1-0 to Meintjes over Galta aswell, but with Smith getting 2 it throw a wrench into the fight. Hopefully Galta has a better day on the next one and takes time back!
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| jt1109 |
Posted on 23-04-2026 11:40
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Posts: 3590
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Wooo job done for this race then!
Smith has a knack on these MT stages of being able to take the wins pretty sure his Hill stat is playing a part but then beating Meintjes here who's even better is something special
No matter that Heine is worried about Smith for the GC i think thats unlikely he will lose over 2 mins in the TT to the better TT riders but the top 5 i wanted does seem to have a chance now.
Tomorrow though could be very interesting this is a horrendous MT team we have sent and we won't be able to control the race if asked possibly breakaway win? or a big Smith blow up if he tries to control himself must be possibly |
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| DaveTwoBob |
Posted on 23-04-2026 14:22
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Happy to see Habtemichael staying with the leaders, hope he can repeat in the next stage.
Congrats to jt, keeps on keeping on.
Thanks for the report kb.
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