Most of Austria's interest these days seem to be based in the CTour with UBS' Bernhard Kohl winning the Tour of Langkawi and taking a spectacular queen stage win at the Volta a Portugal. Bimbo Nutella's classics man Bernie Eisel and Telenor's Thomas Rohregger may not have promoted to the top league like Kohl but look set for solid results next year.
Austria did have some good riders in the big leagues, though Eibegger (Domina Vacanze) and Denifl (Festina) are more known for domestique duties. The best looking young Austrian prospect at the moment looks like young Unicredit rouler Brandle. These riders and Bbox' Trampusch make up our favourites for the day and some fairly tough parcours:
It is strange stuff in the early going and four riders drop the ball badly getting distanced from the rump of the 15 riders and it contains four fairly big players.
As Denifl, Brandle, Eibegger and Trampusch struggle behind four riders up front begin to get away. Kohl is leading the moves over the climbs ahead of Eisel and two Telenor rider Pfannberger and Rohregger.
With about 110km to go, Kohl decides to kick up the pace a notch on a tough climbing section. It proves too much for his three companions and he begins to build a big gap.
Still going solo with more than 100 km to go seems ambitious even for Kohl, but with 50km to go he has a 6.18 gap. Behind things have reformed with the four riders dropped joining the other three up front. Domina Vacanze's Eibegger is trying hard to organise a chase...
This briefly looks like it is bearing fruit but with 30km to go the gap is still five minutes and Eibegger sits up resigned to his fate. Kohl can celebrate his teams low key promotion with a nice national win.
Thomas Rohregger looks a strong favourite in the Austrian Time Trial championships. In fact often his overconfidence in his time trialling has lead to negative tactics in stage races over the course of this year.
Eibegger (Domina Vacanze) looks hungry to put his good form shown in the Road race to effect here.
Eibegger 18.54 48.38 1.11.59
It may not look good compared to the other nationals but in Austria it seems the wind is in the riders faces! Thomas Rohregger is eager to get out there and set a winning time.
Rohregger 18.45 48.11 1.11.19
and it looks good as both Trampusch and youngster Brandgle struggle to get close.
Trampusch 18.57 49.06 1.12.18
Brandle 18.53 48.58 1.12.00
It is left to last years champion Bernard Kohl to try and do something.
However it is pretty clear that the RR champion has nothing left to give by the first check.
Kohl struggles hard and just about snatches second place off of Eibegger by the end. But Rohregger can get up on that podium and receive some kisses and the national TT jersey!
